The trails have begun to dry out in many areas and should improve even more with a couple more days of dry, warm weather predicted. Cold Spot, Hammer, Haycock Run, LOWER EWR, LOWER Jaywalk, and South Park overlooking the Tohickon are in generally good shape.  Meanwhile, South Park in the cedars is beginning to dry as well in most areas.

Please consider avoiding UPPER Jaywalk right now (a lot of running water over parts of it nearer the dam - NOT a pleasant ride at the moment).  UPPER EWR continues to be CLOSED due to continuing serious mud issues on its eastern end near the dam access road -continue using the LOWER EWR detour until further notice. 

On a separate note, the RIDENOX Council worked on some drainage issues along the Upper Hammer on Sunday and noted that most riders respected the Council's request to ride elsewhere this weekend due to last Wednesday's storm.  That substantial level of cooperation has really helped the majority of the trails avoid rutting and they have dried faster as a result.

-RIDENOX Council

Between 4 and 5 inches of rain on Wednesday has resulted in a lot of water on the move throughout Nockamixon State Park and this has had serious consequences . . . .

A member of the RIDENOX Council went out on Friday afternoon to both survey the damage throughout the trail system on behalf of the Council needing the information to plan repairs as well as to issue the following advisory to all riders:

1.) There are a number of stretches of trail on nearly every loop where significant water continues to flow/stand.  Not pleasant to ride through and harmful for the trails.  
2.) Other areas like the Upper EWR continue to hold large muddy spots.  This trail remains CLOSED regardless of conditions improving elsewhere until either permanent drainage repairs can be made or a very long stretch of warm, dry weather takes hold - whichever comes first.  The Lower EWR detour remains in effect.
3.) There are a number of areas where debris has washed down the slopes and into the trail while others contain very greasy/slick corners where it is easy to lose control.  
4.) Other sections of trail have experienced some degree of washout due to extreme rainfall rates and which the Council will be repairing ASAP.   
5.) Several large tree limbs have just come down since Sunday's Adopt-a-Loop event - one on the Lower Jaywalk and one on the Upper Hammer.  These will need to be removed.
6.)  The creek crossings remain high and part of the rock armoring has been washed away in the flooding at the upper crossing between Cold Spot and Haycock Run on the return to Tower Rd. lot.  Please cross with caution until repairs can be made. 

Please wait until next week to ride at Nockamixon - do NOT ride this weekend as the high ground water levels must be allowed to subside and this will take at least several more days.  Thanks goes out to all of those who have stayed away on Thursday and Friday - there were virtually no new tire tracks evident on the trails since the storm and there were no vehicles in the Tower lot Friday afternoon either.


-RIDENOX Council

Thanks to all who volunteered from the local bike shops to come out and clear the winter's damage yesterday!  All loops have been cleared and are now open for the season with the exception of Upper EWR.  The Upper EWR contains a number of locations with extremely deep mud related to drainage issues/riders riding too early that the RIDENOX Council will be working to fix in the weeks to come.  In the meantime, please use the Lower EWR as a detour and all riders should thus expect heavier-than-average two-way traffic there as a result. 

HOWEVER, as always wet weather riding rules remain in effect  whenever conditions apply which means it is very likely that predicted mid-week wet weather will require riders to avoid Nockamixon Tuesday through Friday of this week with rain on Tuesday-Thursday and Friday as a recovery day for the trails.




-RIDENOX Council

Local bike shops assembled teams of volunteers registered with DCNR this past winter in order to adopt individual loops of the Nockamixon system which is scheduled for its winter clean-up this Sunday, 4/27.  Fallen trees, protruding branched, low-hanging vines, and other winter debris will be removed at this time in preparation for the official season opening.

All bike shop team DCNR-registered volunteers are to meet at the Tower Road trailhead at 2:00 P.M. with appropriate hand tools (hand saws, pruners, etc.) to receive instructions and disperse to their assigned trail sections.

Torrential windswept rains fell across Upper Bucks County this afternoon (including a rumble or two of thunder).  Between 2" and 3" were recorded in many locations with more projected through the evening.  This rain plus cooler temps predicted for the next day or so will minimize drying of the trails.

Please avoid riding at Nockamixon until warmer, drier weather returns.  The trails thank you.




_RIDENOX Council

This past weekend the RIDENOX Council made a big push to complete trailhead improvements at Tower Road that were commenced last year with the kiosk, boulder landscaping, and parking lot expansion.  The area has now been raked clear of debris and additional custom-made park furniture  has been placed at the trailhead for all to enjoy.  An additional hint that spring has arrived - the portajohn has made its seasonal reappearance!

As for trail conditions this afternoon - one member of the RIDENOX Council made a complete inspection today and found that all of Coldspot, Hammer, Haycock Run, and Jaywalk loops very dry.  LOWER  EWR and most of South Park were also in good condition drainagewise.  

HOWEVER, UPPER EWR remain very muddy in numerous spots especially nearer the dam access road.  Please detour onto Lower EWR to avoid.  A few spots on South Park approaching the Bump Track  are also somewhat muddy as well. Much of this mud is due to the irresponsibility of a few riders riding much too early in late March/early April placing deep ruts adjacent to drains trapping the waterflow.

It should be noted that numerous fallen trees,pulled-up roots, protruding branches, low-hanging vines, and significant amounts of loose debris from this past winter particularly characterize a lot of Upper EWR, Upper Jaywalk, and South Park. This debris is scheduled to be removed in early May. Until then, ride with caution.

More than an inch of rain is predicted on Tuesday, 4/15.  Please stay off the trails entirely until warmer, drier weather returns.


-RIDENOX Council

More rain at Nockamixon on Friday has kept the trails in an unridable condition.  The reality is that this winter's melt moisture in the grounds, recent rain, AND what's looking like a wet early next week mean that the trail closure will remain in effect for at least the near future.

Please continue finding paved trails to ride in the meantime. - minimize the damage to the Nockamixon trails until they dry out properly.



-RIDENOX Council

Today members of the RIDENOX COUNCIL made repairs to the Tower lot entrance to remedy some pothole and drainage issues in conjunction with a reforestation effort to an area where significant loss of old growth trees was suffered in the last seasons storm. In an effort to curb the growth of invasive species occurring in the openings of the canopy left by the downed oaks at the trail head, a dozen white pine were planted to give four season greenery to the damaged area. 

Members of the RIDENOX COUNCIL performed the spring "adopt a highway" litter clean up on Saturday morning despite the threat of rain. Five bags full of roadside litter and various large debris were removed from 563 between 412 and the Tohickon boat launch.  Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful !

Rain fell Friday morning across Upper Bucks County and between 1 and 2 inches of additional rain is expected Saturday afternoon and evening.  This will obviously NOT help improve trail conditions any time soon.  Please continue to refrain from riding at Nockamixon for the time being.

 - RIDENOX Council