The Pony Express Route

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The Route

Beginning in St. Joseph, Missouri, the Pony Express followed the 2,000 mile California Trail to Sacramento, California. The route went through the present day States of Kansas, Nebraska, the northeast corner of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, and California.

There were approximately 165 stations. Some of these stations were Home Stations. These stations were placed 75 to 100 miles apart. It was here that a new rider started his leg of the journey. Other stations were Relay Stations and they were placed 10-15 miles apart. At these stations, the rider would get a fresh horse.

The following list of stations was prepared by The St. Joseph Museums Inc.

Missouri

  • 1. St. Joseph

    Kansas

  • 2. Cottonwood Springs
  • 3. Cold Spring
  • 4. Troy*
  • 5. Kennekuk
  • 6. Kickapoo
  • 7. Log Chain
  • 8. Seneca
  • 9. Ash Point
  • 10. Guittard
  • 11. Marysville
  • 12. Cottonwood

    Eastern Nebraska

  • 13. Rock House
  • 14. Rock Creek
  • 15. Virginia City
  • 16. Big Sandy
  • 17. Millersville
  • 18. Kiowa
  • 19. Oak Grove
  • 20. Liberty Farm
  • 21. Spring Ranch
  • 22. 32 Mile Creek
  • 23. Sand Hill
  • 24. Kearny
  • 25. Platte
  • 26. Garden
  • 27. Plum Creek
  • 28. Willow Island
  • 29. Midway
  • 30. Gilman's
  • 31. Cottonwood Springs
  • 32. Cold Springs
  • 33. Fremont Springs
  • 34. Dansey's
  • 35. Gill's
  • 36. Diamond Springs

    Colorado

  • 37. Frontz'
  • 38. Julesburg

    Western Nebraska

  • 39. Nine Mile
  • 40. Pole Creek #2
  • 41. Pole Creek #3
  • 42. Mud Springs
  • 43. Courthouse Rock
  • 44. Chimney Rock
  • 45. Ficklin's Springs
  • 46. Scott's Bluff
  • 47. Horse Creek

    Wyoming

  • 48. Spring Ranch
  • 49. Bordeaux
  • 50. Fort Laramie
  • 51. Sand Point
  • 52. Cottonwood
  • 53. Horseshoe
  • 54. Elkhorn
  • 55. La Bonte
  • 56. Bed Tick
  • 57. La Prelle
  • 58. Box Elder
  • 59. Deer Creek
  • 60. Muddy Creek
  • 61. Platte Bridge
  • 62. Red Buttes
  • 63. Willow Springs
  • 64. Greasewood
  • 65. Sweetwater
  • 66. Devil's Gate
  • 67. Plantes
  • 68. Split Rock
  • 69. Three Crossings
  • 70. Ice Slough
  • 71. Warm Springs
  • 72. Rocky Ridge
  • 73. Rock Creek
  • 74. Upper Sweetwater
  • 75. Pacific Springs
  • 76. Dry Sandy
  • 77. Little Sandy
  • 78. Big Sandy
  • 79. Big Timber
  • 80. Green River
  • 81. Michael Martin's
  • 82. Ham's Fork
  • 83. Church Butte
  • 84. Millersville
  • 85. Fort Bridger
  • 86. Muddy
  • 87. Quaking Aspen
  • 88. Bear River

    Utah

  • 89. Needle Rocks
  • 90. Head of Echo Canyon
  • 91. Halfway
  • 92. Weber
  • 93. East Canyon
  • 94. Henefer*
  • 95. Wheaton Springs
  • 96. Mountain Dell
  • 97. Salt Lake House
  • 98. Traveler's Rest
  • 99. Rockwell's
  • 100. Dugout
  • 101. Camp Floyd
  • 102. East Rush Valley
  • 103. Faust's
  • 104. Point Lookout
  • 105. Simpson's Springs
  • 106. River Bed
  • 107. Dugway
  • 108. Black Rock
  • 109. Fish Springs
  • 110. Boyd's
  • 111. Willow Springs
  • 112. Willow Creek
  • 113. Canyon
  • 114. Deep Creek

    Nevada

  • 115. Eight Mile
  • 116. Antelope Springs
  • 117. Shell Creek
  • 118. Egan Canyon
  • 119. Butte
  • 120. Mountain Spring
  • 121. Ruby Valley
  • 122. Jacob's Well
  • 123. Diamond Springs
  • 124. Sulphur Springs
  • 125. Roberts' Creek
  • 126. Grub's Creek
  • 127. Simpson Park
  • 128. Reese River
  • 129. Dry Wells
  • 130. Smith Creek
  • 131. Edwards Creek
  • 132. Cold Spring
  • 133. Middle Gate
  • 134. Sand Spring
  • 135. Carson Sink
  • 136. Desert
  • 137. Buckland's
  • 138. Fort Churchill
  • 139. Miller's
  • 140. Dayton
  • 141. Carson City
  • 142. Genoa
  • 143. Friday's

    California

  • 144. Woodford's*
  • 145. Hope Valley*
  • 146. Yank's
  • 147. Strawberry Valley
  • 148. Webster's
  • 149. Moore's
  • 150. Sportsman's Hall
  • 151. Placerville
  • 152. Mud Springs
  • 153. Mormon Tavern
  • 154. Fifteen Mile
  • 155. Pleasant Grove
  • 156. Folsom*
  • 157. Five Mile
  • 158. Sacramento
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