Lake Nockamixon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lake Nockamixon
view of the lake near the boat rentals
Lake Nockamixon Location in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Lake Nockamixon Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Coordinates	40°27′56″N 75°13′16″W / 40.46549°N 75.22099°W / 40.46549; -75.22099
Type	Reservoir
Primary inflows	Tohickon Creek
Primary outflows	Tohickon Creek
Basin countries	United States
Max. depth	90 ft (27 m)

Lake Nockamixon is a large reservoir (a human-made lake) in southeastern Pennsylvania, United States. It is the biggest lake in Bucks County. This lake was created by building a dam across Tohickon Creek. It is the main attraction of Nockamixon State Park.

You can't swim in Lake Nockamixon, but boating is very popular. The park has a marina and a place where you can rent boats. There are also three other spots to launch your own boat.

Many people enjoy sailboating on the lake. There's even an active club that organizes sailing events. Kayaking and using small motorboats (up to 20 horsepower) are also common for fishing and fun.

Fishing from boats or the shore is a favorite activity. You can catch many types of fish here, including striped bass, walleye, pickerel, carp, largemouth and smallmouth bass, muskellunge, and catfish. The water looks a bit cloudy because of plants, and it has a very slow current. This is because the lake is part of the Tohickon Creek. Two other creeks, Haycock Run and Three Mile Run, also flow into it.

Lake Nockamixon Marina in 2012

In winter, the lake sometimes freezes over. When it's safe, people go ice skating and ice fishing. Trails for horses surround the lake, which are also great for hiking.

If you want to stay overnight, there are several cabins near the lake. You can also find lodging at the nearby Weisel Youth Hostel or at many private campgrounds in the area.

Sometimes, water is released from the dam to help people go whitewater paddling on Tohickon Creek. This usually happens on the third full weekend of March and the first full weekend of November, if there's enough water in the lake. These releases provide enough water for paddling the entire creek, from below the dam all the way to the Delaware River. The most popular part for paddling is the last 3 miles, from Ralph Stover State Park to the Delaware River. The releases are timed so there's enough water from about 9 AM to 4 PM on both Saturday and Sunday.

History of Lake Nockamixon

Tohickon Creek flowing out of the dam that created Lake Nockamixon

The idea for creating Lake Nockamixon first came from Dr. Maurice K. Goddard in 1958. He was the Secretary of the Department of Forests and Water. He wanted to create a lake for people to enjoy outdoor activities.

The lake was originally going to be named Tohickon Lake, after the creek that feeds it. However, its name was later changed to Nockamixon. This name comes from the Lenape language and means "place of soft soil." Today, the park is home to several historic sites that were once important to Native American communities.

After the idea was proposed, the dam was built by the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters. The state park officially opened to the public in December 1973. To create the lake, the state bought about 5,286 acres of land. This area was known as the Tohickon Valley and included the community of Tohickon and other parts of Bucks County.

Climate at Lake Nockamixon

The amount of snow that falls at Lake Nockamixon each year is usually between 24 inches (61 cm) and 36 inches (91 cm).