Attractions
Annual Re-Ride of the Pony Express Trail
Harrah’s Lake Tahoe
15 Hwy 50, Stateline, Nevada 89449June 24
5:30 pm - 6:00 pm
March 19 @ 4:28 pm
The National Pony Express Association will be conducting its Annual Re-Ride of the Pony Express Trail from St. Joseph Missouri, to Sacramento, California, June 15 – 25, 2026.
On Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at approximately 5:30 pm, they will pass by the California/Nevada Stateline at South Lake Tahoe.
Over 750 riders participate and around 1,000 letters are mailed each year. Riders come from all walks of life, but are all members of NPEA. We invite you to join us in this exciting event!
Annual Re-Ride Schedule
Celebrate a timeless American legacy and join the America 250 Anniversary riders. History buffs and fans of American frontier heritage are invited to experience one of the nation’s most iconic events — the Annual Pony Express Re-Ride, taking place June 15 through June 25, 2026. This year’s event celebrates not only the enduring spirit of the Pony Express but also ties into the America 250 celebrations commemorating the 250th birthday of the United States.
The Pony Rides Again
The Pony Express Re-Ride retraces the original 1,900-mile mail route established in 1860–61, with dedicated riders carrying mail by horseback across rugged terrain from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California. Participants and spectators alike will relive the courage, determination, and endurance of the young men who forged a vital communication link across the young nation.
Personal letters and Commemorative letters will be carried in a mochila (a leather square that is placed over the saddle, with four locked cantinas to hold the mail) by horse and rider relays from the Missouri River to the Sacramento River. The first rider will depart St. Joseph, Missouri, on June 15 at 3 PM CDT in front of the historic Patee house.
The route will follow the Pony Express National Historic Trail, a component of the National Trails System. The mail will travel 1966 miles across Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada to California.
Highlights of the 2026 Re-Ride include:
- A relay of horseback riders covering the historic route from St. Joseph, MO, through South Lake Tahoe, and to Sacramento, CA
- Community celebrations and educational activities in partner towns along the route
- Special America 250 events recognizing the Pony Express role in shaping the nation’s early communication and expansion https://nationalponyexpress.org/celebrating-the-250th-birthday-of-america/
- Special letters will be carried on horseback the entire route
Organized by the National Pony Express Association, the Re-Ride brings together volunteers, equestrians, and history enthusiasts from across the country to honor this uniquely American chapter of history. Whether participating in a leg of the ride or cheering from your local community, this event connects past and present in a memorable celebration of service and shared heritage.
History
The annual Re-Ride is a 10-day, 24-hour-a-day event honoring the Central Overland California and Pikes Peak Express Company. The Company carried letters and telegrams from April 1860 to November 1861, between St. Joseph and Sacramento, proving the Central Route through Salt Lake City was passable year-round. They intended to win a federal mail contract, which, unfortunately, never materialized.
Riders & Volunteers Wanted
Are you interested in participating in the annual Re-Ride? Get your mount legged up to ride a leg in the annual Re-Ride. Reach out to a State President near you and find out about riding & supporting this year’s Re-Ride. Several states have ride sections available; come experience the thrill of being a Pony Express rider! State Officer Directory: Https://nationalponyexpress.org/about/national-directory/
Send A Letter
The Commemorative letters carried this year will be a vignette of Pony Express history in America’s 250 years. The public can purchase the letters for the 1860 price of $5 each. Personal letters are also available for $10 each. All letters will be carried on horseback from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California. They will be stamped as having been officially carried by Pony Express and then delivered via USPS. The letter application form can be found https://nationalponyexpress.org/re-ride/send-a-letter/
Re-Ride
During the Re-Ride, updates and information about the progress across the Pony Express trail can be found at https://www.facebook.com/expressrider/. A GPS Device will be carried in the mochila, which transmits the real-time location of the mail. The National Parks Service (NPS) will have an interactive map to follow the transmissions at https://nationalponyexpress.org/re-ride/follow-the-ride/. Status updates will also be posted on the website, and photos & videos on the NPEA Facebook page.
Join the journey and share your experience with #2026ponyexpressreride #PonyExpressAmerica250th — ride with history!
E-mail: nationalponyexpressmedia@gmail.com
Media Kit: https://nationalponyexpress.org/news/media-press/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/expressrider/
Stories and status updates are also added to our Reports from the Trail.
It is the longest event held annually on a historical trail in the nation. The event commemorates the 1860-1861 Central Overland and California Pikes Peak Express Company which carried letters and telegrams for 19 months to prove the Central Route through Salt Lake passable year round. The owners hoped to win a federal mail contract on that route.
Pony Express history is preserved in the federally designated Historic Trail, administered by the National Park Service, in museums, Pony Rider monuments, books, and the annual recreations by the NPEA.
Every year Ham Radio plays a very important part of the Re-Ride by providing communications over parts of the trail where communication by other means is not available. This gives those personnel responsible for that part of the Re-Ride information as to where the rider is and if the mail is on time. Communications between Riders and Ride Captains will be provided by amateur radio operators in the states of California, Nevada, Utah, eastern Wyoming, Nebraska, and Kansas.
Follow the ride live via GPS tracking at https://nationalponyexpress.org/re-ride/follow-the-ride/. For more information on the re-ride, visit https://nationalponyexpress.org/re-ride/.
Note: Anyone wishing to see the Pony Express riders should be aware that they may be anywhere from two hours ahead to two hours behind schedule.
Today, part of the Pony Express Trail route is a multi-use trail located near Sierra-at-Tahoe. There are a few relay stations in South Lake Tahoe. One at Friday’s Station, just east of Harrah’s casino where the statue is today, and two others out in Meyers by Holiday Market and the Hawley Grade Trail. Another station is located at Woodfords near Markleeville.
Ranked among the most remarkable feats to come out of the 1860 American West, the Pony Express was in service from April 1860 to November 1861. Its primary mission was to deliver mail and news between St. Joseph, Missouri, and San Francisco, California.
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