SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The Pony Express only lasted 18 months, from 1860-1861, but its history continues to be shared through the annual re-ride between Sacramento, California, and St. Joseph, Missouri. The 2025 round-the-clock 1,966-mile horseback relay departs from Old Sacramento on Wednesday, June 11 at 2 p.m., and it will end in St. Joseph on June 21.
While the re-ride will not be going through South Lake Tahoe, the public is invited to watch the mochila exchange at the Celio Ranch in Meyers on Thursday, June 12. In even-numbered years, the ride starts in Missouri and ends up coming down Kingsbury Grade and through South Lake Tahoe on its way to Sacramento. In odd-numbered years like this year, the ride starts in Sacramento, heads to Echo Summit, and drops down into Christmas Valley before heading out to Hope Valley and to Genoa.
The Celio family is opening up their ranch for the event, where the public can meet the riders, take photos, and learn more about the Pony Express. The rider is expected at the ranch at 10:42 a.m. Thursday. Their exchange location can be tracked, and the time is approximate. 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/.