Fort Churchill State Historic Park & Buckland Station
Notice: Fire Restrictions in Place — details
- Status
- Open (per official listing)
- Entrance fee
- $5 per vehicleAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed6-ft leash
- Camping
- 20 campsites
- Official site
- parks.nv.gov(775) 577-2345
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. Details last changed Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Fire restriction Fire Restrictions in Place
Posted by the park. Official alert
Overview
Fort Churchill State Historic Park & Buckland Station is a historic site in Lyon County, about 19 miles south of Fernley.
Popular activities here are horseback riding, historic sites, biking, wildlife watching, and fishing. Overnight options include 20 campsites, with RV sites and tent sites.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visitor center — Buckland Station Museum | Sat–Sun | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. | — |
| Office | Daily | 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. | — |
| Daily | 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. | — | |
| Visitor center — Buckland Station Museum | Thu–Sun | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Memorial day - labor day |
| Thu, Fri | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Memorial day - labor day |
Official wording
Always Open
Buckland Station Museum: Sat. & Sun.: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. daily.
Buckland Station Museum: Sat. & Sun.: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Memorial Day - Labor Day also open Thurs. & Fri. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m
Fort Churchill State Historic Park Hours: Open seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Los Angeles).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Fort Churchill: Day use entrance fee | $5 · vehicle |
| Fort Churchill: Day use entrance fee | $10 · vehicle |
| Camping | $15 · vehicle |
| Camping | $20 · vehicle |
| Bike in | $2 · walk-in |
| Carson River Ranches: Day use entrance fee | $5 · vehicle |
| Carson River Ranches: Day use entrance fee | $10 · vehicle |
| Camping | $15 · vehicle |
| Camping | $20 · vehicle |
| Bike in | $2 · walk-in |
| Buckland Station Museum: Day use entrance fee | $1 · person |
Official wording
Fort Churchill: Day use entrance fee: $5.00 per vehicle (Non-NV Vehicles $10.00 per vehicle) Camping: $15.00 per vehicle, per night (Non-NV Vehicles: $20.00 per vehicle, per night) Bike in: $2.00 per bike Carson River Ranches: Day use entrance fee: $5.00 per vehicle (Non-NV Vehicles $10.00 per vehicle) Camping: $15.00 per vehicle, per night (Non-NV Vehicles: $20.00 per vehicle, per night) Bike in: $2.00 per bike Buckland Station Museum: Day use entrance fee: $1.00 per person
Nevada park passes
- All Access Permit — $250. Entrance, camping and boating fees at all parks for 12 months (hook-up sites +$10/vehicle) Details
- Annual Day Use Permit — $100. Entrance to all parks for 12 months; camping/boating extra Details
- Senior Citizen Permit — $30 annual administrative fee. Nevada residents 65+: entrance, camping and boat launch for 12 months Details
- Disabled Veteran Permit — $30 annual administrative fee. Qualifying Nevada disabled veterans: entrance, camping and boat launch for 12 months Details
- Veteran Annual Entrance. Nevada veterans: entrance to all parks for 12 months Details
From the Nevada state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ReserveNevada
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed · leash up to 6 feet
Pets are welcome, but they must be kept on a leash of not more than six feet in length. Pets are welcome, but they must be kept on a leash of not more than six feet in length.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Churchill State Historic Park & Buckland Station Site count parsed from park text | 20 | There are no hook-ups available, but a dump station is located near the entrance to the campground. | — |
Camping details from the park
Camping: The main campground has 20 sites suitable for travel trailers, motorhomes or tents. Campsites include a table, fire ring and charcoal grill, and all are shaded by large cottonwood trees. There are no hook-ups available, but a dump station is located near the entrance to the campground.
Scout Camp is located on the Carson River Ranch section of Fort Churchill, adjacent to the Carson River. It is a large, dispersed camping or day-use area that includes picnic tables, fire rings with grill tops, one vault toilet, and multiple horse corrals. Scout Camp is a carry in, carry out trash area. Horse manure needs to be picked up and carried out, or disposed of in the designated manure dump. There is no electricity or water available here. Sites cannot be reserved.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
CampingHikingBikingWildlife viewing and birdingHorseback ridingFishingHistoric sites and toursPicnicking
Trails
Equestrian Use: You can find information on equestrian use at Nevada Horse Trails
Hiking: From the Orchard Day Use Area at Buckland Station, visitors can access the 2.2-mile (one-way) Nature Trail which parallels the Carson River and connects Buckland Station to Fort Churchill.
American Discovery Trail: The American Discovery Trail is a great way to experience Nevada's beautiful and rugged backcountry. The Nevada portion of this 6,800+ mile trail covers 500 miles of Nevada's remarkable landscape, traversing 14 mountain ranges and challenging its explorers to a total climb of 34,000 feet! Six of Nevada's State Parks can be accessed by way of this route, including Fort Churchill State Historic Park. Stay with Nevada State Parks while exploring the American Discovery Trail!
Fishing
Fishing: Catch-and-release bank fishing techniques are used to catch walleye, white bass, the hybrid wiper, catfish, trout and other game fish. The Nevada Department of Wildlife maintains fishing regulations. See a Health Warning from the Department of Wildlife on consumption of fish.
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Drinking water
- Picnic areas
- Visitor center
- Nature center or museum
Camping
- RV dump station
- Tent camping
- RV camping
Recreation
- Horse trails
Accessibility
- Accessible campsites
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
- Accessible campsites
Equestrian Use: You can find information on equestrian use at Nevada Horse Trails
Fishing: Catch-and-release bank fishing techniques are used to catch walleye, white bass, the hybrid wiper, catfish, trout and other game fish. The Nevada Department of Wildlife maintains fishing regulations. See a Health Warning from the Department of Wildlife on consumption of fish.
Hunting: Visit the Nevada Department of Wildlife for information on hunting in Nevada. View the Fort Churchill Hunting Boundary Map.
Buckland Station Tours: Visitors to Buckland Station can get a glimpse of early pioneer life in Nevada on a self-guided tour of the ground floor of the historic home. There is a short video that provides an overview of the history of Buckland Station and Fort Churchill.
Read more from the park
American Discovery Trail: The American Discovery Trail is a great way to experience Nevada's beautiful and rugged backcountry. The Nevada portion of this 6,800+ mile trail covers 500 miles of Nevada's remarkable landscape, traversing 14 mountain ranges and challenging its explorers to a total climb of 34,000 feet! Six of Nevada's State Parks can be accessed by way of this route, including Fort Churchill State Historic Park. Stay with Nevada State Parks while exploring the American Discovery Trail!
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Rules and permits
Due to the structural integrity of the ruins and safety concerns, climbing on or entering the buildings is not permitted. Please stay on the trails.
Metal detecting is prohibited.
Fires are permitted only in designated fire rings, barbecues or approved portable stoves. Visitors should supply their own firewood.
Motor vehicles are permitted only on designated roadways and parking areas.
Getting there
- Address
- 10000 Hwy 95A
Silver Springs, NV 89429 - Nearest town
- Fernley — about 19 mi south (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 39.2944, -119.2677
- Phone
- (775) 577-2345
- ftcsp@parks.nv.gov
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Nevada State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- Nevada State Parks 'Explore Parks' directory (park cards; slug = officialId) plus each park page for title/designation/coordinates
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. “Last changed” (Oct 29, 2026) is when the information shown here last differed from the previous check. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology