A rider in a red vest on a horse in a grassy patch surrounded by sagebrush with clouds in the sky.

National Historic Trail · CA, CO, KS, MO, NE, NV, UT, WY

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.

Operating hours

Pony Express National Historic Trail

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.