Fort Churchill State Historic Park (Blog Hike #875)

Trails: Ruins, Nature, and Railroad Trails
Hike Location: Fort Churchill State Historic Park
Geographic Location: south of Fernley, NV (39.29575, -119.26696)
Length: 1.5 miles
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: July 2021
Overview: A double loop through the ruins of historic Fort Churchill and through natural desert terrain.
Park Information: http://parks.nv.gov/parks/fort-churchill
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=891496
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: From Fernley, take US 95A south 22 miles, passing through the town of Silver Springs, to the entrance for Fort Churchill State Historic Park on the right.  Turn right to enter the park, pay the park entrance fee, and park in the medium-sized blacktop parking lot in front of the park office and museum.

The hike: Built in 1860 and 1861 at the request of United States Army Captain Joseph Stewart, Fort Churchill provided protection for early settlers and for mail traffic along the Pony Express.  The fort occupied a strategic location along the Carson River, and it provided important supplies for Union soldiers during the Civil War.  The fort was named for Sylvester Churchill, Inspector General of the United States Army.

            Only about 200 soldiers were stationed at Fort Churchill at any one time, and the fort was abandoned in 1869.  In 1932, the State of Nevada took control of the site.  Shortly thereafter, the fort ruins were partially restored, and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built the Visitor Center that is still in use today.  The site was added to Nevada's state park system in 1957, and in 1994 an additional 3200 acres along the Carson River were acquired, thus forming the park we visit today.

            The fort ruins and museum still form the park's centerpiece, but the park also offers a small 20-site campground and several miles of trails.  The hike described here takes you through the fort ruins, but it also takes you around a short loop through the natural desert terrain.  Thus, this hike samples all Fort Churchill State Historic Park has to offer.

Trailhead at museum

            From the right (west) side of the museum and Visitor Center, step off the concrete patio and head gradually downhill through the desert on a dusty dirt trail.  You can see the ruins up ahead the entire time.  After crossing a gravel park road, you reach the Ruins Trail.  Turn right to begin a square-shaped tour around the ruins.

Partially restored barracks

            The various adobe buildings have been restored to various degrees.  For the officers quarters, only the foundations remain.  The barracks and the mess hall have some walls but no roofs.  Interpretive signs describe the buildings and tell you about the soldiers that lived and worked here.

            At 0.4 miles, after walking around 2 of the 4 sides of the Ruins Trail, you reach a signed trail intersection where the Nature Trail exits right.  We will return to this point on the Ruins Trail later, but to also see the park's natural desert areas, angle right and then left to begin the Nature Trail.  The Nature Trail heads gradually downhill through thinly vegetated desert area with the dense greenery of the Carson River directly ahead and the bare desert mountains in the background.

Start of Nature Trail

            After crossing a park road and an active railroad, you reach a trail intersection marked by a wooden post.  We will eventually turn right here to begin the Railroad Trail, but first continue straight a short distance to reach an old wooden footbridge over a small stream.  Notice the dense greenery around the stream in contrast to the barren desert you have been walking through, a testament to the life water brings to the desert.

Old wooden bridge

            The trail soon ends at a park road, and while another trail heads left along the Carson River, it does not form a loop.  Thus, I turned around, walked back across the old wooden bridge, and angled left to begin the Railroad Trail.  True to its name, the narrow Railroad Trail soon climbs up and over the active railroad track.  Climbing up and down the rocky elevated railroad bed creates the only significant elevation change or difficulty on this hike.

Crossing the railroad bed

            At 0.9 miles, you reach a secondary gravel/dirt parking area.  Walk through the parking area, then turn right to begin the last leg of trail back to the ruins.  A gradual climb returns you to the ruins.  Take a soft left and then right to continue around the Ruins Trail.

Commander's office

            The Ruins Trail passes more partially restored adobe buildings including the powder magazine, the laundresses' quarters, and the commander's office before closing the square.  Turn right and retrace your steps back up to the Visitor Center to complete the hike.  While you are here, a few other places may merit your attention.  History buffs will enjoy viewing the Pony Express plaque on the side of the Visitor Center that was placed here by the National Pony Express Centennial Association in 1960-61.  Also, a pioneer cemetery is located across the entrance road from the Visitor Center.  Finally, a large number of rabbits near the parking area provided post-hike entertainment for me as they hopped around the grassy area in front of the Visitor Center looking for a snack.