Nockamixon State Park
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| Nockamixon State Park, Pennsylvania, USA | |
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| IUCN Category III (Natural Monument) | |
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| Location: | Haycock Township, Bedminster Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Nearest city: | Quakertown, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates: | |
| Area: | 5283 acres (21.38 km²) |
| Established: | 1973 |
| Governing body: | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
Nockamixon State Park is a Pennsylvania State Park located along the boundary of Haycock and Bedminster townships in northern Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The park is one of the most popular in southeastern Pennsylvania, with most tourists visiting in the summer months.
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[edit] Lake Nockamixon
Lake Nockamixon is an artificial reservoir it is formed by a dam on Tohickon Creek and is the centerpiece of Nockamixon State Park. Swimming is not allowed in the lake, but boating is popular, and the park maintains several marinas and boat rentals. Fishing is also popular, and common species include walleye, pickerel, carp, and various kinds of bass and catfish. The water is clean and blue and has a very faint current, since the lake is part of the course of Tohickon Creek. In the winter, the water generally freezes over, allowing for ice skating and ice fishing.
Visitors to the lake can stay in one of several cabins or at a nearby youth hostel.
Another recreational activity at the park is whitewater kayaking. Every June and November, if high water conditions exist, there are timed water releases from the dam for one day. This turns all of Tohickon Creek south of the lake into a whitewater course, and kayakers can go all the way from the lake to where the creek meets the Delaware River.
[edit] Hunting
Hunting is permitted at Nockamixon State Park on about 3,000 acres. Hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania State Game Commission. The common game species are squirrels, turkey, pheasant, and white-tailed deer. The hunting of groundhogs is prohibited. Hunters are limited to using shotguns at the park as per the regulations established by the Game Comission for southeastern Pennsylvania.
[edit] Swimming
The swimming pool is open daily from 11:00 am until 7:00 pm beginning Memorial Day weekend and ending Labor Day weekend. The pool is operated by a private company and there is an admission fee. The pool is one half acre in size and features slides, fountains, and a children's area.
[edit] History
Creation of the lake was first proposed by the Secretary of the Department of Forests and Water, Dr. Maurice K. Goddard, for recreational uses. It was originally to be called Tohickon Lake, after the creek, but its name was later changed to Nockamixon, meaning "place of soft soil" in the Lenape language. The park today contains several historic Native American sites.
Following its proposal in 1958, the dam was built by the Army Corps of Engineers. The state park was opened to the public in December of 1973
[edit] Nearby state parks
The following state parks are within 30 miles (48 km) of Nockamixon State Park:
- Benjamin Rush State Park (Philadelphia County)
- Bull's Island Recreation Area (New Jersey)
- Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park (New Jersey)
- Delaware Canal State Park (Bucks and Northampton Counties)
- Evansburg State Park (Montgomery County)
- Fort Washington State Park (Montgomery County)
- Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center (Northampton County)
- Neshaminy State Park (Bucks County)
- Norristown Farm Park (Montgomery County)
- Spruce Run State Park (New Jersey)
- Ralph Stover State Park (Bucks County)
- Round Valley State Park (New Jersey)
- Tyler State Park (Bucks County)
- Voorhees State Park (New Jersey)
- Washington Crossing State Park (New Jersey)
[edit] References
- Nockamixon State Park. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on 2006-11-16.
- Nockamixon State Park, USGS Quakertown (PA) Topo Map. TopoZone. Retrieved on 2006-11-16.
