Pony Express National Historic Trail

Climate varies along this 1800 mile route depending on season, terrain, and elevation. Check local or regional climate sources for details.

Entrance and parking fees may be charged at some locations.

Large groups are encouraged to make prior arrangements for tours, where available.

There are a number of ways to enjoy the Pony Express National Historic Trail, including auto-touring, visiting interpretive sites, hiking, biking or horseback riding trail segments, and visiting museums. Depending on which trail segment you would like to explore, some or all of these activities may be available.

Although the word "trail" is used in the name, the Pony Express NHT is not a true hiking trail. With 1,800 miles of the original route now in the hands of various private and public entities, access to trail segments depends upon the permission of the land owner. Some segments are open to the public for hiking and other means of recreation, while others are not.

Boating

Private Boats

A permit is required for all vessels (motorized and non-motorized including float tubes) and must be obtained in person at any of the following locations: South Entrance, Lewis Lake Campground, Grant Village Backcountry Office, and Bridge Bay Ranger Station. Non-motorized boating permits are available at West Entrance, Northeast Entrance, Mammoth Backcountry Office, Old Faithful Backcountry Office, Canyon Backcountry Office, Bechler Ranger Station, West Contact Station, West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce and locations where motorized permits are sold. The fee is $20 (annual) or $10 (7 day) for motorized vessels and $10 (annual) or $5 (7 day) for non-motorized vessels. A Coast Guard approved wearable personal flotation device is required for each person boating.

Boat permits issued in Grand Teton National Park are honored in Yellowstone, but owners must register their vessel in Yellowstone and obtain a no-charge Yellowstone validation sticker from a permit issuing station.

Jet skis, personal watercraft, airboats, submersibles, and similar vessels are prohibited in Yellowstone National Park.

All vessels are prohibited on park rivers and streams except the channel between Lewis and Shoshone Lakes, where only hand-propelled vessels are permitted.

Rentals and Guided Boat Trips

Outboards and rowboats may be rented (first come, first served) from Xanterra Parks & Resorts at Bridge Bay Marina on Yellowstone Lake. Xanterra also provides guided fishing boats. Other commercial businesses are permitted to offer guided services for canoeing, kayaking, and motorized boating.

Fishing

Yellowstone National Park is managed to protect cultural and natural resources and outstanding scenery, and to provide for visitor use. Angling has been a major visitor activity for over a century, but preservation of national resources takes precedence.

Because of the increasing number of anglers in the park, more restrictive regulations have been adopted in Yellowstone. These restrictions include: season opening/closing dates, restrictive use of bait, catch-and-release only areas, and number/size limits according to species. A few places are closed to the public to protect threatened and endangered species, sensitive nesting birds, and to provide scenic viewing areas for visitors seeking undisturbed wildlife.

Catch and Release Restrictions

All native sport fish species in Yellowstone National Park are subject to catch-and-release-only fishing rules. The native species affected by this change are the Cutthroat Trout and its several subspecies, Montana Grayling, and Mountain Whitefish.

In addition to the catch-and-release-only fishing rules, the opening date of the fishing season on Yellowstone Lake has been moved to June 15.

Permits and Fees

A Yellowstone National Park Fishing Permit is required to fish in the park. Anglers 16 years of age and older are required to purchase either a $15 three-day permit, a $20 seven-day permit or $35 season permit. Anglers 15 and younger have two options: 1) Children 15 and younger may fish without a permit if they are fishing under the direct supervision of an adult who has a valid park fishing permit or 2) Children 15 and younger may obtain a free permit that must be signed by a responsible adult; with this permit, a child can fish without direct adult supervision. Fishing permits are available at all ranger stations, visitor centers, and Yellowstone Park General Stores. No state fishing license is required in Yellowstone National Park.

Non-Toxic Fishing

Because lead from fishing tackle concentrates in aquatic environments, tackle such as leaded split shot sinkers, weighted jigs, and soft weighted ribbon are prohibited. Only non-toxic alternatives to lead are allowed.

4x4 and horse access over extensive trail segments

• Oregon Trail Road: Mills, WY to WYO-220 just north of Independence Rock, 41.5 miles
• South Pass Segment: Independence Rock to Parting of the Ways, 125 miles
• Parting of the Ways: end of the South Pass segment
• Fort Bridger to Muddy Creek: approximately 14 miles
• BLM Backcountry Byway from Fairfield, UT to Ibapah, UT: 133 miles

Xanterra Parks and Resorts rent bicycles at the Old Faithful location in the park. If you plan to bring one, remember it is subject to the same traffic rules as automobiles. Bicycling is permitted on established public roads, parking areas, and designated routes. Bikes are prohibited on backcountry trails and boardwalks.

Use extreme caution when riding on park roads; roads are winding and narrow while shoulders are either narrow or nonexistent. Vehicle traffic is heavy most of the time. There are no bicycle paths along roadways.

Safety gear, including helmet and high visibility clothing, should be worn by all bicyclists. During April, May, and June, high snowbanks make travel more dangerous. Road elevations range from 5,300 to 8,860 feet (1615 to 2700 meters), and services and facilities are relatively far apart--typically 20 to 30 miles (37 to 56 kilometers).

Motorists frequently do not see bicyclists or fail to give them sufficient space on the road. Drivers sometimes pass on hill crests, blind curves, or in oncoming traffic. Vehicles, especially motor homes or those towing trailers, may have wide mirrors, posing an additional hazard. Be careful.

Bicycling Routes

Several gravel roads are open to BOTH bicycle and automotive traffic. The Old Gardiner Road and Blacktail Plateau Drive allow two-way bike traffic and one-way auto traffic. These roads are best suited for mountain bikes. Please do not block entrance gates when parking at these locations.

Biker / Hiker Campsites

Camping for bicyclists is limited to the developed campgrounds located throughout the park. Campsites are available by reservation and on a first come, first served basis.

The distances separating campgrounds and the fact that the campgrounds typically fill early each day during the peak visitation season will pose logistical problems for the bicycle camper in Yellowstone. A limited number of campsites are reserved for hikers and bicyclists at all campgrounds with the exception of Slough Creek. Camping is not available at Old Faithful.

Bicyclists camping without a vehicle can use designated hiker/biker sites for $4 per individual per night. All other vehicle campsites range from $10 to $16 per night depending on the campground. Opening and closing dates vary considerably for each campground.

The following routes are restricted to bicycle and foot travel only:

Mammoth Area

1. The abandoned railroad bed paralleling the Yellowstone River between Gardner and the park boundary at Reese Creek (5 miles).

2. Mammoth Service Road beginning at the top of the hill on the Old Gardiner Road above Mammoth, northwest to the telephone station (1.5 miles).

3. Bunsen Peak Road (6 miles) and Golden Gate Service Road between Golden Gate and Joffe Lake (1.5 miles).

West Entrance Area

4. Riverside Trail from entrance to Barnes Road (1.4 miles).

Old Faithful Area

5. Fountain Freight Road is located 6 miles north of Old Faithful. Mountain bikes recommended (5.5 miles).

6. Daisy Geyser cut-off to Biscuit Basin.

7. The paved trail in front of Old Faithful Lodge to Morning Glory Pool. Bicycles are not allowed on the unpaved trail continuing beyond Morning Glory Pool to Biscuit Basin (2 miles).

8. Lone Star Geyser Road (just past the Kepler Cascades' pullout) from the Grand Loop Road to Lone Star Geyser (2 miles).

Lake Area

9. Natural Bridge Road near Bridge Bay (1 mile).

10. The old roadbed near the lakeshore between Lake Hotel and where the roadbed joins the main road south of Lake Junction (1 mile).

Tower Area

11. Mount Washburn from the Chittenden Road parking area to the summit of Mount Washburn (3 miles). Bicycles are not permitted on the trail between the summit and Dunraven Pass parking area.

12. Old Chittenden Service Road between Grand Loop Road and Tower Fall campground (2 miles).

13. Rose Creek Service Road behind the Lamar Ranger Station (1 mile).

Related Historic Trails

The Pony Express Trail closely followed the route taken by emigrants heading to the Oregon and California territories in the 1840s - 60s.

In the early 1860s, the Pony Express mail service basically followed the Great Platte River Road across Nebraska and the Sweetwater in Wyoming, until it reached the Salt Lake Valley where it continued across the deserts of the Great Basin.

The Mormon Pioneer, Oregon, California, and Pony Express are all designated as national historic trails. Although the Mormons tried hard to avoid contact with other emigrant travelers, at times they all crossed paths - sometimes by chance and sometimes out of necessity. You may find it interesting to follow these other trails as well.

Pony Express NHT sites

• 1. Pony Express Stable - St. Joseph, Missouri
• 2. Patee House - St. Joseph, Missouri
• 3. Marysville Pony Express Barn - Marysville, Kansas
• 4. Hollenberg Station - Hanover, Kansas
• 5. Rock Creek Station - Fairbury, Nebraska
• 6. Fort Caspar - Casper, Wyoming
• 7. Camp Floyd/Stagecoach Inn - Fairfield, Utah
• 8. Simpson Springs - Tooele County, Utah
• 9. Fort Churchill - Silver Springs, Nevada
• 10. B.F. Hastings Building - Old Sacramento, California

Major Trail Museums

• Pony Express Museum in St. Joseph, MO
• Patee House in St. Joseph, MO
• Chimney Rock NHS in Bridgeport, NE
• Scotts Bluff NM in Gering, NE
• National Historic Trails Interpretive Center, Casper, WY