Fort Bridger State Historic Site (Blog Hike #876)

Trail: (unnamed) 
Hike Location: Fort Bridger State Historic Site
Geographic Location: west side of Fort Bridger, WY (41.31828, -110.38935)
Length: 0.75 miles
Difficulty: 0/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: July 2021
Overview: A short, flat semiloop through the remnants of an 1800's fort.
Site Information: https://wyoparks.wyo.gov/index.php/places-to-go/fort-bridger
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=881527
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: In southwest Wyoming, take I-80 to Business Loop 80 (exit 34).  Exit and go east on Business Loop 80.  The entrance to Fort Bridger State Historic Site is 2 miles ahead on the right.  Park in the large parking lot just inside the entrance.

The hike: It was the fall of 1824 when James Felix Bridger first explored the Great Salt Lake region and the area we know today as Yellowstone National Park.  For the next 20 years Bridger would explore, trap, hunt, and blaze trails all over the American west, and he became known as an expert guide for American settlers who were moving west.  In 1843, Bridger established a trading post with light fortifications and a blacksmith shop along the Black Fork of the Green River on one of the main east-west routes through the region.  That trading post became known as Fort Bridger, and over the past 150 years every major route through the region including the Mormon Pioneer Trail, the Oregon Trail, the California Trail, the Pony Express, the Union Pacific Railroad, the Lincoln Highway, and even I-80 have passed through or near this post.

            In 1858, Fort Bridger became an official United States Army outpost to supply troops for the Utah War, and for the next three decades it continued to support federal operations in the region.  The fort was abandoned in 1890 when Wyoming became a state, and in 1928 the site was sold to the Historical Landmark Commission of Wyoming.  The site opened as a Wyoming Historical Landmark and Museum in 1933.

            Today the site's 27 historic structures, 4 historic replica structures, and 6 modern structures are preserved as Fort Bridger State Historic Site.  A statue of Jim Bridger greets visitors as they drive in the entrance, and volunteers provide costumed interpretation during the summer months.  The short hike described here takes you to every point of interest at the 37-acre site, and it provides a nice leg-stretch excursion with an historical flavor while driving I-80 across Wyoming.

Carter's Warehouse and Pony Express Barn

            After paying your entrance fee in the Post Trader's Store, walk north into a square of historic buildings with white sides that features Carter's Warehouse and the Pony Express Barn.  Interpretive signs tell about these buildings.  The Pony Express Monument and the Grave of Thornburgh the Dog are also in this area.  After touring these buildings, walk back out to the main road and turn right to head west toward the old fort area.

Main road into the fort

            You pass several sites of former structures before reaching the 1887 Guard House and Sentry Box.  Fort Bridger saw several iterations and renovations, and the structures in this part of the site date to the most recent and final iteration.  Continue following the main road to its end at the Fort Bridger Museum and 1880's Barracks, the largest building on this site.  You can tour the museum if it is open, which it was not on my visit.

1880's Barracks

            We will eventually continue on the main loop to the left (south) of the museum, but first take a detour on a narrower trail that heads right.  The trail passes some older infantry barracks before curving left to cross a drainage and reach a replica of the original Fort Bridger.  The wooden replica sits in a small grassy area surrounded by cottonwood and aspen trees.  The side trail ends at this small wooden structure, so next you have to turn around and walk back to the main loop.

Reconstructed Jim Bridger's Fort

            The main loop heads down the south side of the former military parade grounds before crossing Groshon Creek on a footbridge and reaching two 1880's era houses.  The first house you see was the Commanding Officer's house, while the second is a ranch house built to house fort visitors.  The final leg of the hike heads north along a boardwalk with the site's sundial and reconstructed bandstand on the left.

Commanding Officer's House

Lincoln Highway cabins

            After passing the 1858 Officer's Quarters, you close the loop.  Turn right to head back to the parking area.  Before you leave, there is one more interesting place at this site you should visit.  Just east of the parking lot (in the opposite direction from the fort) stands some cabins that provided lodging for travelers along the Lincoln Highway.  These cabins were built in 1929, and the ongoing restoration project gives you an idea of what travel through this region was like nearly 100 years ago.

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.