Full list of the Strava segments in Nockamixon

Most of the Strava segments in Nockamixon are my work.  After seeing the awful mess that is segments in Wissahickon, I decided to create what I thought were the key segments for Nockamixon and hopefully that would prevent everyone and their mom creating new, conflicting segments.  The only problem is sometimes I have trouble keeping track of all of them!  Plus, there are a couple good segments that were created by other folks.  Just creating this post so that I have a list of all the Nox segments, and can refer to it if I need.

Full Lap Segments:

Nox Full Loop (S/F at Tower Rd trail split) (http://app.strava.com/segments/2214794)

Originally, someone else created "Full Nox Loop" and it was good, except Strava's segment matching is kinda crappy, and if you left out the Hammer trail, you'd get a match, which is why Bob Eichlin isn't the KOM.  Someone else created Nox short loop CCW which cuts off the Hammer trail, but this doesn't fix the Strava matching problem, and so still matches both types of laps.  Someone else created Nox Full loop S/F at lot entrance tower rd sign, but that one starts at the trailhead of the lot.  I'm not a fan of that, since there is a bunch of two-way traffic on this part, and as such I prefer to roll in on that bit of trail easy, and then get going once I hit the trail split about 1/4 mile from the parking lot.  One thing that would be nice to add is a segment that matches if folks start at the 563 entrance, but since I don't do that, I probably won't bother.

North segments:

The north section of the park includes the Cold Spot and Hammer trails.

Cold Spot CCW (http://app.strava.com/segments/1079674)
Cold Spot CW (http://app.strava.com/segments/1172770)

Hammer CCW (http://app.strava.com/segments/1079793)
Hammer CW (http://app.strava.com/segments/1292643)

Cold Spot and Hammer CCW (http://app.strava.com/segments/1172780)
needed - Cold Spot and Hammer CW ( )

Central segments:

Since these two loops (Haycock Run and EWR) are rarely ridden as loops, I split them into upper and lower segments to improve matches.

Haycock Run uphill (http://app.strava.com/segments/1267108)
Haycock Run downhill (http://app.strava.com/segments/2200638)
Haycock Lower SB (http://app.strava.com/segments/2118401)
Haycock Lower NB (http://app.strava.com/segments/2119306)

EWR lower (connector) NB (http://app.strava.com/segments/1079884)
EWR lower (connector) SB (http://app.strava.com/segments/1079866)
EWR upper NB (http://app.strava.com/segments/1204480)
EWR upper SB (http://app.strava.com/segments/1247461)

South segments:

Since this is a loop that starts and finishes in close to the same area, it matches in either direction, so there's no point for CW and CCW segments.


Jaywalk and South Park: (http://app.strava.com/segments/1181277)

These two are little mini-segments starting from South Park Rd and climbing away in each direction.
South Park Rd climb (http://app.strava.com/segments/1254148)
S Park to Dam (http://app.strava.com/segments/1886087)

Strava guide to a full lap of the MTB trails at Lake Nockamixon.

A proper full lap of Nockamixon involves going all the way around in a clockwise direction, making right turns most everywhere there is an option. No crossover or duplicated riding.  (one exception, noted below)

The trail map at ridenox.com helps greatly in following these lap directions.

Start off from the Tower Rd parking lot, do the Cold Spot and Hammer loops by staying to the right at the first split. Early on, you'll come to a four-way intersection with another trail -- keep going straight, that other trail is just access to the lake for the fishermen/fisherwomen.  Soon after that, the trail comes to something like a "T", where you need to make a right turn.  Making the left skips the 1.4 mile Hammer trail -- see the Caveats below.

Coming across the stream at the end of the north trails, take the right and do the short section of trail that does not have a Strava segment.  (I informally call this one the "DMZ", although it's technically the lower part of the Haycock Run loop.)  This puts you onto the connector trail southbound, which dumps you out onto the "Sidewalk" stream crossing with the big flat rocks.

That leads to the South loop, officially two loops, Jaywalk and South Park. This is the biggest segment.

At the end of the south loop, you re-cross the stream at the "Sidewalk" crossing.  This is the only place that you ride the same trail in both directions, but only to the entrance of the Eastern Woods trail northbound. Eastern Woods takes you to Haycock Run uphill which leads you back to the stream crossing. (watch for the right turn after the stone buildup over the big log)  Cross that, ride to the split before the parking lot, and you've just done a full loop of Nox!  You are now free to revel in your awesomeness.

Have fun, ride fast, but ride safe.  Sightlines at Nox can be very short, and if you run someone over because you're chasing segments, or don't help someone who needs it for the same reason, you're a twatwaffle and should stop riding.

Caveats:

• You have to make sure to stay to the right when you get to the Hammer - otherwise, your lap is bogus and if you get the KOM, you're totally lame. (unless you're just out having fun and happen to accidentally match the full loop segment because Strava's segment matching is pretty crappy, in which case, bummer.)  If you get a bogus KOM because of shortcutting, don't be surprised if Bob Eichlin comes out and scorches the earth trying to beat you. 
• The "Bump Track" on the South Park loop is not a favorite of some, and some shortcut it. Technically you should do it if you want an honest "full lap" but I don't find it particularly interesting, and most GPS units aren't good enough to reliably report if you actually did or not sooooo...
• I've done crossovers to change things up every now and then, such as riding the Hammer trail in the CW direction, then continuing on when you get back to the Cold Spot.  It'll still match, and if anything, it'll make your full lap time slightly slower.  The key is to hit all the trails.
• Going in this direction, you will very likely miss the "Gnome Home" on the South Park loop, unless you know where to look.  It's just after a fairly large log over which is built up on either side with dirt.