Pony Express 1,900+ mile ride to Sacramento underway. How to track riders’ progress
The Pony Express rides again as re-enactors begin the 48th annual Pony Express National Re-Ride Monday from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento.
Hundreds of riders will take part, switching off every 10 miles over the next 10 days, with the last rider set to arrive in Old Sacramento on June 25.
The Re-Ride, which will cover nearly 2,000 miles, is a recreation of the traditional route of the Pony Express. The private mail service only lasted 18 months, in the years 1860 and 1861, but it is remembered for the speed of its service, its 24-hour relay of riders, and as the fastest route of communication between the East and West until the intercontinental telegraph.
What is the Pony Express National Re-Ride?
The ride is organized by the National Pony Express Association, which was incorporated in 1978. According to their website, 1980 was the first year the group succeeded in carrying mail over the entire Pony Express route from St. Joseph to Sacramento.
Over 700 riders will participate in the Re-Ride in 2026, which will continue 24 hours a day until Thursday, June 25. At each stop, riders will pass along a backpack, or mochila, of letters to the next rider. The mochila carries 1,570 real letters. The annual Re-Ride travels east in odd-numbered years, and west in even-numbered years.
Where can I track the Pony Express National Re-Ride online?
The NPEA has two regularly updated online maps that will track riders. One map shows exchange locations and planned arrival times, along with points of interest along the Pony Express National Historic Trail. Another map will track riders via a GPS device inside the mochila.
The Pony Express National Re-Ride will go through eight states: Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, and California. The NPEA has detailed information about arrival times and exchange points on its website.
How can I see the Pony Express National Re-Ride in person?
The Re-Ride’s first California stop will be in the community of Stateline at 5:30 p.m. on June 24. It will then make four more stops on June 25 before arriving in Old Sacramento around 4:30 p.m. Sacramento was the end of the Pony Express line for most of its history, and the ride will conclude at the commemorative Pony Express Statue on J and 2nd Street.
The Folsom History Museum will welcome their rider earlier in the day at approximately 11:30 A.M., and will celebrate the occasion with free museum admission, historical presentations, and activities for children.
