Fort Churchill State Park: Nevada History, Fees, Parking, Hiking and More
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Nevada has no shortage of historic sites to explore. Fort Churchill State Historic Park is more than deserving of a spot on your list. Particularly if you’re into military history.
Fort Churchill sits on 3,200 acres of protected land. It features several structures, a cemetery, museum, campground, group area and Buckland Station (which is located across the highway from the park).
If you’re going to be driving through, Fort Churchill is an easy to visit as it’s just off the highway. It’s a great way to get out and stretch your legs or to let the kids burn off some energy.
In the guide, we’ll cover how to get there, the parking situation, crowd levels, fees and more. Lets get into it!
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Fort Churchill History
Construction on the post was completed in 1861 and was named after Sylvester Churchill, an Inspector General for the Army.
Its original purpose was to provide protection for this section of the Pony Express. Later, the fort was used to store supplies for the Union Army during the Civil War.
Though many Soldiers came and went, it’s believed to have housed around 200 at any give time. Despite its importance, it wasn’t active for long as it was abandoned shortly after the conclusion of the Civil War.
Since the state declined to take ownership, the fort’s structures were auctioned off for $750. For decades, the structures just sat as nothing was done with them.
It wasn’t until 1932 that the National Park Service took control of the property and began restoration efforts on the structures. Additionally, the visitor center was built at this time.
Then, in 1957, Fort Churchill became part of the Nevada State Park system. In 1966, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Getting To Fort Churchill, Parking, Fees & Museum
The park is located between the towns of Silver Springs and Yerington along the highway. From either town, get on highway 95 and keep an eye out for Fort Churchill road and turn there.
Park fees are as follows:
$5.00 - Nevada Resident (day use)
$10.00 - Non-Nevada Resident (day use)
$15.00 - Per Night, Nevada Resident (camping)
$20.00 - Per Night, Non-Nevada Resident (camping)
$2.00 - Bike In
The park accepts cash and credit cards for fees. As you drive up to the entrance, you’ll fee the pay station on your right. There’s an area where you pull-off to do so.
Whichever payment method you use, be sure to place the receipt (face-side up) on your dashboard in case the park ranger needs to verify payment.
The parking lot and museum will be to your left after driving in. The cemetery is off to your right (above the pay station). The parking lot is small, capable of holding a dozen vehicles or so.
There are additional lots on either side of the structures further down the road if this one is full or closed off.
The entrance to the museum can be found just off of the parking lot. It’s small, but contains quite a few artifacts from both the fort and the general area.
While the park itself is open 24/7, the museum is not. It’s open daily from 8am to 4pm.
The trailhead to the structures below is located adjacent to the museum. There are two additional parking lots closer to them if you prefer to skip the trail.
Fort Churchill Historic Structures
From the trailhead near the museum and back, the trail is roughly one mile. It’s a fairly even grade and is easy to follow as it’s lined with rocks.
Most people, including children, would have no issue on this trail. Using strollers and/or wheelchairs on it, though, would be challenging.
With the exception of a couple off-shoots, the trail makes a perfect circle to each of the featured structures. There are around a dozen or so.
There are signs posted in front of most stating what the structure was, such as the Hospital. A few have bigger informative boards with broader details.
One important thing to note is to be sure to keep out of the structures and remain on the trail. The structures are old and in a state of arrested decay.
There are no doors or windows on the structures so if you’re curious as to what the inside of them look like, they're easy to see/photograph from the trail.
Something else to keep in mind is that there isn’t any shade or water fountains along this trail. So be sure to come prepared, particularly in the summer.
Fort Churchill Campground & Group Area
The campground is open throughout the year and operates on a first come, first serve basis. It’s located along the Carson River on the east side of the park.
There are 20 spots featuring a table, fire ring and plenty of shade from the dozens of cottonwood trees that dot the landscape.
Each site can accommodate RV’s or a tent. There are no hook ups, but there’s a dump station located nearby. The only real amenity are the bathrooms (no showers).
To reach the campground, drive past the main parking lot on the road and continue until you see the sign to turn right. Simply follow that road.
The group use/picnic area is a serene, often crowd less area of the park. There are many picnic tables, lots of shade, a bathroom, water bootle refill station and easy access to the Carson River.
To get to the river, walk on the paved path next to the bathroom and keep going through the grove of Cottonwood trees until you reach a gate. Go through the gate and enjoy the river.
To reach the group use area, drive past the main parking lot at the entrance and take the first left after that (the historic structures should be on your right).
Once you see the sign, turn left and follow the gravel road. At the point where it splits, turn right and continue until you reach the parking lot.
Buckland Station
Buckland Station. Fort Churchill State Park. Nevada.
Buckland Station was built in 1870 out of materials from the abandoned fort. It was first used as a boarding house and the home of the Buckland Family. Beginning in 1885, it served as a supply stop on the Pony Express.
Self guided tours are available of the interior of the recently remodeled building. The fee is $1 per person with free parking.
The fee goes towards ongoing maintenance and upkeep of the property. Bathrooms are available behind the house.
Across the street are more historic structures. These are of the farm variety. I wasn’t able to find any information on them but they’re cool to check out, nonetheless.
Additional Info, Tips & Reminders
Do not climb on or go inside the remains. The remains are fragile and entering or climbing on them could cause irreversible damage and most importantly, your safety would be at risk.
Watch out for wildlife. Rattlesnakes have been known to frequent the park so please, watch your step, stay on the trail and keep an eye on the little ones.
Buckland Station is across the highway. To visit this historic station, you’ll need to leave the park proper and drive south on highway 95. You can either drive there or you can utilize the 2 mile trail that connects Buckland to Fort Churchill.
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