Fort Richardson State Park, Historic Site And Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway

Things to Do
Fort site structures include seven of the original buildings which have been restored:  the post hospital; the officer's quarters (commanding officer); a powder magazine; a morgue; a commissary; a guard house; and a bakery, which baked 600 loaves per day. There are also two replicas:  officers' and enlisted men's barracks. The officers' barrack houses the Interpretive Center.

Activities include historical study, picnicking, camping, hiking, biking, horseback riding, nature study, wading in the creek (seasonal), swimming (accessible via Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway or by road), and fishing. For anglers, Quarry Lake is stocked with catfish, bass and trout periodically during the year. We loan fishing equipment for use in the park.

Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway:  The Lost Creek Trailway was funded through the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act, with Texas Parks and Wildlife, the city of Jacksboro and Jack County as partners, sharing in the matching funds for this grant program. It was authorized for construction in 1994. The cost for the trail was $442,000. The grand opening ceremony was held on National Trails Day, June 6, 1998.

Located at Fort Richardson and Jacksboro, this 9-mile hike, bike and equestrian trail runs adjacent to Fort Richardson and along Lost Creek, which is the main watershed for the two city lakes. The trail follows scenic Lost Creek and travels the east side of Lake Jacksboro and Lost Creek Reservoir. The trail crosses the dam at Lost Creek Reservoir and winds along the west side until it reaches the trailhead. This is a linear trail system that winds with the terrain and abounds in scenic beauty. It travels through the park with many shaded areas of pecan and oak trees. Most of the trail travels by the creek or lakes which provide numerous opportunities to fish and swim. This is a beautiful trail, abundant also in wildlife and wildflowers. There is a trailhead at Fort Richardson State Park & Historic Site and a trailhead on Lost Creek Reservoir.

This trail is 10 feet wide and has an improved surface of base material with a topping of approximately 4 inches of screening materials. This surface creates a smooth trail for many uses.