"The verdict on the bridge itself was grim: it was beyond repair. Only the footing could be saved." That is how the Friends of Nockamixon State Park describe what was left in 2022, after a storm dropped a big red oak and an ash tree onto the Sterner Mill Trail bridge. The project then stalled for years. The volunteers were ready to build, but the group had no money for lumber.
The bridge is now finished, and it opens up a park calendar that runs on a schedule most visitors never see. At Nockamixon, hunting is allowed six days a week during established seasons on about 3,500 acres. In 2026 it is allowed on only three Sundays: November 15, 22, and 29. That means every Sunday between now and mid-November is the one day of the week when no hunting is allowed anywhere in the park. If you live in Quakertown, Perkasie, Sellersville, or along Route 563, the rebuilt loop gives you a reason to go this fall, and the hunting calendar tells you which days to pick.
How a Bridge Got Built Without a Budget
The fix started with a casual conversation. A Friends member mentioned the broken bridge to someone in the Wehrung family, and Wehrung's offered to help. The group wrote up a sketch and a bill of materials, and Wehrung's supplied everything on it. The volunteer crew did the rest in three work parties and about 60 hours of labor. They finished the new bridge on August 4, 2026.
The same volunteers also just met their fundraising goal for a tractor fund. The Friends say the trail crew now has the equipment to keep trails safe and usable for hikers and horseback riders. So this season's trail work comes from local donations and members with tools, much like the bridge did.
The Sterner Mill Trail is a 1.8-mile loop with red blazes. DCNR rates it more difficult and allows hiking only. It runs past the lake, a small pond, hardwoods, and pine plantations in the park's southwest corner. From Route 313, take Route 563 north for about 0.8 miles and turn right into the trail's only parking lot. Coming from Route 412, follow 563 south for about 7.5 miles and look for the lot on the left.
Picking a Loop for the Afternoon You Have
Sterner Mill is the trail people will want to see first, but it doesn't have to be your whole day. The 1.2-mile High Bridge Trail runs along both sides of Tohickon Creek and connects the Sterner Mill Hiking Area to Quarry Trail. With those two connections, one parking lot can be the start of a longer walk.
| Trail | Length | DCNR rating | Who can use it | What sets it apart |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sterner Mill | 1.8-mile loop | More difficult | Hikers only | Pond, hardwoods, pine plantations |
| High Bridge | 1.2 miles out and back | Easiest | Hikers | Both banks of Tohickon Creek |
| Quarry | 2.65-mile loop | More difficult | Hikers, equestrians | Lake views, old-quarry overlook |
| Old Mill | 5.6-mile loop | More difficult | Hikers, equestrians | Crosses the mill-pond stream and dam breast |
| Church | 5.1-mile loop | Easiest | Hikers, equestrians | Links Elephant and Mink trails |
| Elephant | 4.6-mile loop | Easiest | Hikers, equestrians | Shoreline and woods |
| Mink | 3.8-mile loop | Easiest | Hikers, equestrians | Forest and warm-season grass fields |
| Old Haycock Road | 1.3 miles out and back | Easiest | Hikers | Haycock Boat Launch to the lake |
| Bike Trail | 2 miles out and back, paved | Easiest | Bikes, walkers | Marina toward a waterfall and Old Mill Pond |
Bikes are not allowed on Old Mill. Riders can use the 10-mile mountain bike system east of Haycock Cove instead. It is rated more difficult, it is open to bikers and hikers but not horses, and it closes when the ground is wet. After a rainy week in October, that closure rule is the one most likely to change a weekend plan.
The Calendar Behind the Quiet Sundays
Hunting is already underway. In Wildlife Management Units 5C and 5D, which cover the park, deer archery season runs from September 19 to November 27. The Game Commission requires no fluorescent orange for archery hunters. Most of Nockamixon is in 5C, and the section south of South Park Road is in 5D. So on a Tuesday or Saturday this month, archers may be in the woods, and you may not see them.
The season changes in steps from here:
- October 17 to 25: antlerless muzzleloader season. Hunters must wear 250 square inches of fluorescent orange.
- November 15, 22, and 29: the park's three Sunday hunting dates for 2026. Migratory game birds can't be hunted on any Sunday.
- November 27: archery season ends in 5C and 5D.
- November 28 to December 13: statewide regular firearms deer season.
Some places in the park are off-limits to hunting. It is prohibited from the dam, the spillway, and the settling basin. An area by Church Road, in the northeast section of the park, is archery-only. Waterfowl hunting is barred in the marina basin, in the boat rental area, and on the part of the lake west of the Three Mile Run launch. The scraped DCNR text doesn't show exact parcel lines, so check the park's hunting map or call the park office before choosing a trail on a weekday.
On days when hunting is allowed, DCNR's alert page asks visitors in hunting areas to wear a fluorescent orange vest and hat. This is safety advice for hikers. It is separate from the orange rule that hunters must follow. On the three November Sundays, the vest and hat belong in the car along with the water bottle.
Free Programs That Land in the Window
DCNR's Nockamixon events calendar has a full October. Every program below is free. Several require registration, and the foliage dates will likely fill up.
Saturday, October 10. Friends of Nockamixon and the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation hold an Adopt-a-Highway cleanup at 8:30 a.m. Volunteers meet at the park's main office and must register in advance through DCNR. A Starwatch runs from 7 to 10 p.m. that night at Tohickon Boat Launch.
Sunday, October 11. A Fall Foliage Hike leaves from the Mink Trail East Trailhead and runs from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Registration is required. It falls on a Sunday, the one day this fall with no hunting anywhere in the park.
October 15, 16, and 19. Fall Foliage Pontoon Boat Tours leave the Marina Visitor Center at 1 Harrisburg School Road. Times are 1 to 3 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. on October 15, and 4 to 6 p.m. on October 16 and October 19. Registration is required. The October 19 tour falls during muzzleloader week, but it is on the water.
Friday, October 23. A Night Hike Scavenger Hunt meets at the Environmental Education Center from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Saturday, October 24. A Full Moon Walk starts at the Fishing Pier and runs from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 7. Another Starwatch at Tohickon Boat Launch runs from 7 to 10 p.m. No registration is needed.
The Friends of Nockamixon also hold open monthly meetings at the Environmental Education Center on October 14 and November 11, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Anyone curious about how the bridge was built, or what the crew might take on next, can ask the volunteers in person there.
What Is Open After Labor Day
The park itself is open year-round from sunrise to sunset, and day-use areas close at dusk. The pool runs from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, so it is closed now. Swimming in the lake is not allowed. The five public launch areas are open 24 hours. The boat rental concession says its hours vary after Labor Day and asks visitors to call ahead. It also says electric motorboats may not be available in spring and fall.
The park's ten modern cabins rent year-round. Outside summer there is a two-night minimum. That works for out-of-town guests who want a November weekend at the lake. Book around November 15, 22, and 29 if they plan to spend Sunday on the trails.
DCNR's alert page directs visitors to the park's Facebook page for current conditions. Check it the morning of any trip, especially if you're headed to the mountain bike trails after rain.
Fitting the Park Around the Rest of October
The park's quiet Sundays overlap with a busy month in the boroughs. Quakertown's 57th Annual Halloween Parade is on Sunday, October 18. Marchers line up at 12:30 p.m., and the parade starts at 2 p.m. on a route along Juniper Street, 11th Street, and Broad Street. A morning on the Sterner Mill loop still leaves time to get back for it. The Perkasie Farmers Market on 7th Street runs Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon through October 31. That is a weekend when Saturday belongs to the market and Sunday to the trails.
From November 15 on, Sundays at the park follow the hunting calendar too. Until then, every Sunday is a hunting-free day on the rebuilt Sterner Mill loop.
When I help clients in Upper Bucks compare one corner of the area with another, how close they are to Nockamixon's trailheads is a real part of the conversation. If you'd like to know which local roads put Route 563 and the Sterner Mill lot a short drive away, Bernadette Rabel is glad to walk through it with you. Let's Connect.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your situation.
