Pony Express National Historic Trail • CA,CO,KS,MO,NE,NV,UT,WY

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

A tall rock buttress with a cleft in the center sits behind a sagebrush covered valley.

A footbridge leads to a dark steel silhouette of a Pony Express rider.

A tall obelisk monument with bronze plaques sits on a paved pathway in front of a building.

A large brick historic stable.

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.

A National Pony Express Association rider poses at Simpson Springs in Utah.
NPS photo

Devil's Gate was an important landmark on the trail in Wyoming.
NPS photo

A Pony Express rider silhouette can be found at the Schelbourne Station site in Nevada.
NPS photo

A monument and plaque about the Pony Express can be found at Fort Laramie in Wyoming.
NPS photo

Visit the historic stables in St. Joseph, Missouri.
NPS Photo

A still reflection pond surrounded by trees and shrubs, next to tall red cliffs.

Planning a Trail Visit

Do you want to experience the trail? Learn more about where you can go, historic sites you can visit and more!

A map of the route of the trail, from Missouri, west to Sacramento, CA.

Where is this National Historic Trail?

Take a look at interactive, historic, and trip planning maps to learn more about locations along the trail.

A vast grassy range leads to towering, snow-capped distant mountains, under a cloud filled sky.

What is an National Historic Trail?

Many folks wonder what a national historic trail actually is. Hear from trail staff about how we define these important parts of history.

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Connect on social media, explore deeper on mobile apps, watch videos, and check out other digital media!

Tall grass leads to a distant barn set in an expansive grassland with distant mountains.

Annual recreation of the Pony Express in a Commemorative 10-day Re-Ride.

Last updated: March 4, 2026

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

National Trails Regions Office, Regions 6, 7, & 8
Pony Express National Historic Trail
1100 Old Santa Fe Trail
Santa Fe, NM 87505

Phone:

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