It has been three years since HNP last visited the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge (FWNC). On our last field trip there in fall 2023, we had a great time photographing deer, an alligator, birds, plants, fishermen, and waterscapes with beautiful reflections.
According to their Web site, FWNC is a natural area on the western edge of Lake Worth comprised of forests, prairies, and wetlands. In 1914, Lake Worth was built and land was purchased around the West Fork of the Trinity River by the City of Fort Worth to protect the quality of drinking water. With great persistence from citizens, particularly the Fort Worth Audubon Society, the Park Board designated land in 1964 to create a wildlife sanctuary and nature preserve, and the FWNC was born. It covers more than 3,000 acres and includes over 20 miles of hiking trails making it one of the largest city-owned nature centers in the U.S. It was designated a National Natural Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior. It provides residents of Fort Worth and the surrounding communities a place to explore and enjoy the outdoors.
Deer along Shoreline Drive
Sunrise on September 26 will be at 7:28 a.m. One Saturday each month, anyone interested in arriving ahead of the normal 7:00 a.m. opening time to take sunrise photos over Lake Worth can contact Cathy Elizondo (Senior Customer Servie Representative) at 817-392-7410 or vanessa.elizondo@fortworthtexas.gov to get on her list for early entry into FWNC. As it happens, the day we will be there, September 26, is the day for early entry in September. Cathy indicated she would open the entrance at 6:45 a.m. that morning to give people time to drive to the places they want to shoot the sunrise. On the map, below, I have identified four locations she indicated are popular among photographers for sunrise photos.
Admission is $6.00 per adult (ages 13-64); $2.00 per child (ages 3-12); $3.00 per senior citizen (ages 65+). Children under 3 are admitted free.
Bison at the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge
TRAVEL
FWNC is about an hour west of the Heard Nature Center. You should be able to program either the FWNC or its Hardwicke Interpretive Visitor Center into your car or cell phone GPS to guide you there. There should not be much traffic that early on a Saturday morning.
LUNCH
I found a great restaurant about 15 minutes from the FWNC. It’s called the Dead-End Trading Post. It’s a very funky barbecue place with great food. It caught my attention, not just because it is so close to FWNC, but because it has a 4.9 rating (out of 5.0) on Google Maps with over 1,000 reviews. When we checked it out on our reconnaissance trip, our server, Misty, was a total hoot, the food was terrific, and the setting was absolutely one-of-a-kind. It has both indoor and outdoor seating. It’s kind of out in the boonies, but I would gladly go back with or without a field trip. Plan to show up at the restaurant between 11:30 a.m. and noon.
If you drive just past the restaurant and turn left immediately after, then drive down through the RV park to the pavilion at the end, there is an impressive overlook down on an old quarry. It’s kind of fun.
Dead-End Trading Post
10250 Western Oaks Road
Fort Worth, Texas 76108
(817) 980-3448
https://deadendtradingpost.com/
Dead-End Trading Post
SUGGESTED EQUIPMENT
Wide Angle Lens (A zoom lens adds flexibility.)
A Telephoto Lens (A zoom lens adds flexibility.)
A Super-Telephoto Lens or Teleconverters (300mm or longer) for Birds and Other Wildlife.
Lens Cleaning Supplies
Tripod or Monopod
Extra Batteries
Extra Memory Cards
Long Sleeved Shirt and Long Pants for Protection from the Sun, Mosquitoes, Ticks, and Chiggers.
A Hat to Protect from the Sun
Insect Repellent
Water
Snacks
Prairie Dog Town
CONTACT INFORMATION: Contact me if you have questions:
Tom Martin
HNP Field Trip Coordinator
(469) 261-3045
hollyfox07@gmail.com
Map of Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge
I added four small sun icons on the map, below, to identify locations where photographers like to take sunrise photos. I have also added two small alligator icons to identify areas where alligators have been sited. These locations are neither prescriptive nor exhaustive, so feed free to find your own photo locations.