Digital Detox Hike at Fort Worth Nature Center

Let’s leave our phones behind and meet at Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge for a digital detox hike of approximately three to six miles. You can go for the shorter option if you are not up for six miles. We will aim for a moderate pace and stop frequently for water, lunch, snacks and catching your breath.

However, this is not an absolute beginner hike. It is on trails, not paved walkways. Be ready to exert yourselves a little. There will be hills, stairs, rocks and roots in addition to possible escaped prairie dogs. (They look harmless but who really knows?) Alligators have been sighted in Lake Worth as well although I’ve never seen one. Good footwear advised. Dress for the weather and bring plenty of water. We are starting earlier to keep it cool but it could warm up.

Note that this is a digital detox hike. That means we'll leave phones, music players, earbuds, etc. in our vehicles. (Standalone cameras are okay.) I’ll have a turned-off phone in case anybody goes into labor mid-hike. We’ll navigate using paper maps, compasses and, if necessary, look for the North Star and moss growing on the north sides of trees. We’ll admire the scenery and talk to one another instead of checking and posting to social media. It’ll be good. Weird, but good.

Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge is a 3,621-acre city park. In addition to 20 miles of trails, it includes natural exhibits in the Hardwicke Interpretive Center, an actual prairie dog town and a herd of bison (buffalo to some of us.) I plan to swing by these and a spend a few minutes checking them out. More info: https://www.fwnaturecenter.org/

The center charges an entry fee payable by cash, check and card.

• $6 Adults (13-64)
• $3 Seniors (65+)
• $2 Children (3-12)
• Under 3 are Free
• Dogs: $1. Dogs must be leashed and picked up after.

We meet in front of the Hardwicke Interpretive Center. There is a sizable amount of parking and no special events that day and we should be ahead of the thundering herd.

We will start hiking promptly at 10:30 a.m. Message if you will be late. I will turn my phone off once we start hiking and won’t be reachable.

The route will total about six miles. You can cut it down to about three miles by taking a shortcut after the prairie dogs and buffalo (or bison). Here's a trail map: https://www.fwnaturecenter.org/trails/. Free maps also handed out at the gate.

Much of the trail is shaded with some sections in direct sun. There is a bathroom at the start and you can also fill water bottles at the start. Lunch and snacks – also a good idea.

Overall, this promises to be an excellent varied hiking experience ranging from flat to challenging. Prairie dogs and buffalo (or bison) are bonuses. If you have questions now, please add them in the comments section, so the group can respond accordingly.