The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
The Pony Express National Historic Trail (NHT) Backcountry Byway is a gravel road starting near Wendover, Utah, on the Nevada/Utah state line. You can also complete the trail going in the opposite direction, beginning at Rausch Valley Station along Utah 36. The course takes you to various sites that were important during the year that the Pony Express was in operation between 1860 and 1861. The 123-mile byway is separate from the National Pony Express National Historic Trail, which mainly follows interstate highways. This trail can be driven in an RV or passenger vehicle when conditions are not muddy. Sites along the route include Lookout Pass in the Onaqui Mountains, Simpson Springs, Fish Springs, Boyd's and Canyon stations. While the stations are gone, interpretive signage, often constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps, provides additional information. The trail ends about 30 miles south of Ely, Nevada, and it is easy to turn and take US Highway 93A to rejoin the main segment of the trail. Nearby, you can also visit Great Basin National Park.
While traveling along this backcountry trail or the main segment that runs through several states, consider staying in Bureau of Land Management campgrounds. You can camp in these campgrounds that usually offer minimal services for 14 days for free or at a low cost. Therefore, search for BLM camping near me wherever you roam.
This out-and-back trail near Wendover follows an old mining road. See the relics of two historical mines along a dry creek bed when you follow it. Trail markings end at the second mine, so you must bushwhack your way to the top of the hill if that is your goal. If you have a high-clearance vehicle, you can drive the first 1.5 miles of this trail to shorten the hike.
Length: 5.4 miles
Intensity: Moderate
You can hike or bike along this entire trail or choose one segment. This trail starts near the Bonneville Salt Flats Speedway and encircles the mountain range. One popular part of this trail is to start at the Silver Mountain Backcountry Byway parking and go four miles before turning around and backtracking your steps.
Length: 54 miles
Intensity: Moderate
This trail runs by Dollar, Lamoille, Liberty, and Favre Lakes, and you can find several places to tent camp along it before reaching Castle Lake. This trail can be a little boggy in areas. Snow often remains along this trail into the early summer.
Length: 11.3 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Blue Lake is about 15 miles south of Wendover and is a terrific place to go boating. This lake fed by an underground spring is also a great place to catch bluegill, tilapia, and largemouth bass. The lake is also popular with scuba divers.
Wheeler Peak at Great Basin National Park is a fantastic place to go climbing. While you can summit this mountain by following a trail, a much more exciting way to do it is by climbing the east face. There are several bolted routes available.
Farmington Bay Wildlife Management Area is a terrific place for wildlife viewing. Watch for areas that officials have closed because they provide essential nesting grounds for many species of birds. In the winter, you are likely to see about 100 bald eagles standing on the frozen water eating dead carp. In December, this is a terrific place to see tundra swans.
Ogden Botanical Gardens is a fantastic place for a picnic. You will love seeing the different gardens, where something is almost always in bloom. You may want to look at their calendar and plan your picnic to coincide with one of their classes, like outdoor cooking and plant propagation.
There is only one Bureau of Land Management campground for RV camping along the Pony Express National Historic Trail (NHT) Backcountry Byway. Simpson Springs Campground is a 20-site area near the Simpson Springs Pony Express Station that can accommodate RVs up to 30 feet long. Near Ely, Nevada, consider camping at Ward Mountain Campground in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. This campground is open from mid-May to mid-October.
There are many Bureau of Land Management free camping facilities where you can disperse camp. One choice is the Dugway Geode Beds, which is a terrific place to pick up quartz, and you can keep what you find. If you are camping in a small RV, you may want to stay at Garnet Hill near Ely. This is the only location where you can legally pick up garnets on BLM land in Nevada.
If you get on the Pony Express National Historic Trail (NHT) Backcountry Byway near Wendover, one of the first places you will pass through is the Onaqui Mountains. As you do, you may see wild horses. There are about 450 of these horses, and they are the most accessible herd in Utah. A large herd is almost always near the Simpson Springs Pony Express stop. While this herd often gets near the road, the Bureau of Land Management, who manages the herd, asks that you do not try to interact with them. Doing so can cause them to become dependent on humans, which is not a good idea.
Another place that you will want to stop along this road is the Dugway Geode Beds, about 1.5 miles from the turnoff. While you can drive it, the roadway's material is incredibly soft. Therefore, you should keep toward the middle of the road as the shoulders of the road may collapse under the weight of your RV. Look for rocks that are spheres and 2 to 3 inches in diameter. You will have to cut the rocks open before seeing the quartz inside them.
You must clean up after yourself when visiting areas along the Pony Express Backcountry Trail. The road often runs alongside private property, and you would not want someone's trash blowing onto your property, so please be considerate.
From Fraust, Utah, take Utah 36 South. In about one mile, you will see a sign that you are entering the Pony Express National Historic Trail Backcountry Byway.
Address: Pony Express National Historic Trail (NHT) Backcountry Byway, Toole County, Utah
Ready to visit Pony Express National Historic Trail (NHT) Backcountry Byway? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day exploring, you'll have your RV to return to for the night where you'll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and nice soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here's a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.
