Pony Express National Historic Trail

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A rider in a red vest on a horse in a grassy patch surrounded by sagebrush with clouds in the sky.
A National Pony Express Association rider poses at Simpson Springs in Utah.
A tall rock buttress with a cleft in the center sits behind a sagebrush covered valley.
Devil's Gate was an important landmark on the trail in Wyoming.
A footbridge leads to a dark steel silhouette of a Pony Express rider.
A Pony Express rider silhouette can be found at the Schelbourne Station site in Nevada.
A tall obelisk monument with bronze plaques sits on a paved pathway in front of a building.
A monument and plaque about the Pony Express can be found at Fort Laramie in Wyoming.
A large brick historic stable.
Visit the historic stables in St. Joseph, Missouri.
Photos: National Park Service

About Pony Express National Historic Trail

It is hard to believe that young men once rode horses to carry mail from Missouri to California in the unprecedented time of only 10 days. This relay system along the Pony Express National Historic Trail in eight states was the most direct and practical means of east-west communications before the telegraph.

Plan a Visit

NPS DesignationNational Historic Trail
Park State / Territory MembershipCalifornia, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming
Current Alerts0
Visitor Centers0
Campgrounds0
Things To Do4

Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.

Weather & Conditions

Due to the length of the Pony Express National Historic Trail, be sure to consult local weather sources for the region you'll be visiting. Check out the forecast with the National Weather Service and search for the area you'd like to visit: weather.gov

NPS Reference Location

Park state / territory membership: California, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.

Operating Hours

The Pony Express National Historic Trail is not a clearly marked hiking trail. Instead it is a route that passes through communities, urban areas, public lands, and Wilderness. The route travels across a variety of land ownerships and management, including private land. Each location varies as to the hours of operations and access. Please contact individual trail sites before your visit for more information.

FridayAll Day
MondayAll Day
SaturdayAll Day
SundayAll Day
ThursdayAll Day
TuesdayAll Day
WednesdayAll Day

Activities

Auto and ATVScenic DrivingGuided ToursSelf-Guided Tours - AutoHikingHorse TrekkingHorseback RidingLiving HistoryReenactmentsJunior Ranger ProgramMuseum Exhibits

Getting There

You can visit many sites of the Pony Express National Historic Trail over the 1,800-mile historic route that crosses 8 states.

View Official Directions

Contact & Address

The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.

NPS-Listed AddressNational Trails Regions Office, Regions 6, 7, & 8, Pony Express National Historic Trail, Santa Fe, NM, 87505
PhoneN/A
Emailntir_information@nps.gov

Topics & Themes

ArcheologyRuinsArtsPhotographyExplorers and ExpeditionsMonuments and MemorialsWestward ExpansionTrails

Things To Do

Become a Pony Express Trail Junior Ranger

Become a Pony Express Trail Junior Ranger

Learn about the Pony Express Trail and earn your junior ranger badge! This activity can be completed virtually or after…

Walk on the Pony Express Trail

Walk on the Pony Express Trail

There are a variety of walking and hiking opportunities along the Pony Express Trail. In some places, you may find…

Check out Museums and Visitor Centers along the Pony Express Trail

Check out Museums and Visitor Centers along the Pony Express Trail

There are a number of museums and visitor centers along the Pony Express Trail. In some places, you may find…

Horseback Riding on the Pony Express Trail

Horseback Riding on the Pony Express Trail

Take a ride back in time on the Pony Express Trail! The variety of opportunities ranges from historic landscapes to…

Nearby National Park Service Sites

These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.