In my opinion, the best day trips have multiple stops, each fulfilling a different need. These include but are not limited to: a nature experience to get moving and breathe some fresh air, an interesting small business to buy a knickknack or a reward for completing a long hike, and of course, a local restaurant with delicious food. If that sounds like your kind of day trip too, then you’re in luck!
Nockamixon State Park Marina to Haycock Boat Launch via the Highlands Trail (6 miles out and back), with lunch and shopping in Quakertown, Pennsylvania
I recommend that you begin your day with a nice morning hike. You’ll find plenty of parking spots at the Nockamixon State Park Marina, and the trailhead can be found just off of the northeastern corner of the parking lot. It’s a 3-mile hike to the Haycock Boat Launch, and then a 3-mile hike back to the Marina. Expect a rocky path and be sure to wear sturdy hiking shoes that you don’t mind getting a little mud on. If you have two cars and want a shorter hike, one person can park at the Haycock Boat Launch, and the other can park at the Marina so you don’t have to hike back the way you came.
After your hike, drive fifteen minutes southwest to the Trolley Barn in Quakertown to find a bustling public market with multiple restaurants. Even the pickiest eater can find something they like here! The Trolley Barn is a refurbished historic building that once held the trolleys that used to travel through the streets of Quakertown. Walk around the building to find old pictures and interesting bits of local history!
After a delicious lunch, you can’t leave without hitting up the four antique stores that surround the Trolley Barn! Between Dunngeon Antiques, the Pickers Junction, Rinky Dinks Antique Emporium, and 2nd Life Antiques & Collectibles, you’re bound to find something for you at one of these stores.
And that’s your day! Remember to keep track of the miles you log on the Pennsylvania Highlands Trail, because our Hike Challenge is still ongoing. Take lots of pictures and share them online with #HighlandsTrailChallenge.
Check out our PA Highlands Trail Interactive Map, the Quakertown Alive website, and the Nockamixon State Park website for more information.
Note: in order to get to all of the businesses listed in this guide when they’re open, we recommend that you take this trip on a Saturday or Sunday.