Stewart Trail

Stewart Trail is one of several trails inside Fort Churchill State Historic Park. 

Lying slightly off the beaten path inside the park - access to the trail is between sites 13 and 14 in Samuel Buckland Campground - the uncrowded Stewart Trail feels like it covers a lot of ground over its short course. This is because it leaves the shady cottonwood groves of the trailhead before dropping into the riparian Carson River basin embankment and then heads back into the woodland park environment, all before crossing a canal on a railroad bed and heading back to a parking area along the group use area road.

The lack of crowds that venture to this portion of the park combined with the thick tree canopies that whisper with the sound of the wind make this trail feel like a distant corner of the park where the park's natural features are put on display rather than its cultural features.

In all, an out-and-back hike along this trail comes in at about 1.1 miles. Its general flat course through mostly hardpacked dirt makes this hike fine for most ability levels.

The best parking for the Stewart Trail may be just outside the Buckland Campground, as there are no dedicated parking spots inside the campground itself. A vault toilet is at the north side of the campground.