Follow The Ride
A GPS tracker in the Mochila takes YOU along on the Re-Ride!
2025 Map Information
(To view past years’ Re-Ride maps, click on the red link at bottom of this page.)
Using the Two Maps below,
you can follow NPEA Members and their Horses as they Re-Ride History.
The Pony Express Re-Riders carry the mail as they cover the almost 2000 miles from Sacramento, California to St. Joseph, Missouri. The Pony Riders will travel 24/7 to make the 10 day trip. There is a GPS device (SPOT tracker) that is carried in the mochila, which sends a “ping” to a satellite every five minutes. This ping is then displayed as a Pony Rider Icon on the larger NPS Map, 2nd map below, for you to see the Re-Ride progress.
[Other Stories and Status Updates can be found on this page: Reports from the Trail.]
***** 2025 Re-Ride Maps *****
*GPS SPOT Map (#1)*
[This map only works during the 10 days of the Re-Ride]
This Map #1 records the “ping” received by the satellite, directly from the mochila that is on the Current Rider’s Horse. Time is recorded in Pacific Time (PT). This ping is then transferred to the NPS map, Map #2, where you can see the whole Re-Ride.
*Interactive NPS Map (#2) *
(National Park Service [NPS] Map)
[NPS translates the signal from the GPS Spot Map # 1, to this Interactive Map #2 for you to follow and explore the entire Re-Ride.]
The black Pony Rider icons are positioned 5 minutes apart. Click the (+) button to zoom in to any location area. Click the (-) button to zoom out. Other icons allow you to access the legend, measure distance, choose layers, including weather, change the background (basemap) or find a specific location. The current zoom “altitude” is in the lower left-hand corner, next to the coordinates (longitude/latitude) of the cursor location . Click to identify and/or freeze any cursor location, as well. Click on a blue dot or a Pony Rider icon for more information, too.
The map is best viewed within a full browser window. If 5 minutes have passed since opening the map, use the magnifying glass search option (upper left) to search for “Current Rider” and click on the result to center on the new lead rider or manually pan and select the current rider.
Please Click Here to view the full map in a new window.
**View Past Re-Ride Maps Here**
Recent Status Updates
FROM: NPEA Stablemaster, NPS Map
SENT: June 14th, 2025 | 11:50am PDT
STATUS: The Pony is approximately half-way between Overland Pass and Hwy 93. The estimator has them within a half-hour of scheduled arrival time to Hwy 93 at this point. This is pretty desolate country they are riding through, at elevations around 7000+ feet. The air is a bit thin up there, so the ponies can't go too hard.
FROM: NPEA Stablemaster
SENT: June 14th, 2025 | 7:32am PDT
STATUS: Note of explanation regarding the mapping system: When the pop-up box says the ETA of a Rider, the computer has accounted for speed as well as the geographic terrain and time. If the ping to the satellite catches a rider going slower or stopped, making a mochila exchange, the ETA may say a very long time past the "on schedule" time. If the rider is fast, the ETA may be early. Generally speaking, the accuracy of the ETA increases as the Rider approaches an Exchange Point (blue dot). Just leaving a blue dot, the ETA tends to be less accurate. It is only a guideline, and not meant to create panic or cause consternation. We try to stay as close to schedule as we can, especially at the Exchange Points (blue dot).
FROM: Spot Map
SENT: June 14th, 2025 | 6:59am PDT
STATUS: At approximately 6:55am PDT, the Pony was reported through the Overland Pass exchange and on time
FROM: Rider Reports, Spot Map
SENT: June 13th, 2025 | 11:22pm PDT
STATUS: At approximately 11:15pm PDT, the Pony was reported 2 miles East of Grubb's Well, running ahead of schedule. Impassable terrain and darkness forced riders to re-route in multiple places to the west of the exchange. The mail is back on the scheduled route and heading east to Overland Pass.
FROM: NPEA Stablemaster
SENT: June 13th, 2025 | 5:03pm PDT
STATUS: The Pony Status as of now is that the Pony is east of Railroad Pass heading towards Grubb's Well, on time. Why the pinger system quit is quite possibly due to the FAA doing GPS testing in the area. The Rider reported helicopters flying overhead very low, and, as she waved at them, one actually "tipped" at her. The HAM operators were notified of possible GPS interruptions in this area until the Grubb's Well location, so this may be the reason we have had so many problems with the pinger. I would not be surprised but what we get more interruptions till we reach the next exchange at Grubb's Well, as they said it could be constant or intermittent. Riding the Pony Express is never boring!!