Nevada · Hiking

Pony Express Loop

Pony Express LoopPhoto: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
13.6 mi
round trip
22 ft
climb
7,584 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Jun, Aug–Oct
best months

Is Pony Express Loop open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. It doesn't name Pony Express Loop, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Pony Express Loop is an easy out-and-back hike in Nevada's Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, on the Austin-Tonopah Ranger District. The trail is 13.6 miles long, with a low point of 6,255 feet and a high of 7,584 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is natural-surfaced and open year-round. The climb is gentle, with only 22 feet of elevation gain, so the hike is suited to a relaxed day on foot or on a bike. Bikes are allowed, and the trail is rated easy. For comfortable weather, late spring and early fall are the best bets. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Austin #2 show May highs around 65°F and September highs around 75°F, with July peaking near 86°F and winter highs in the low 40s. Several other hikes sit close by, including Pony Canyon Downhill at 1.1 miles and Cahill Canyon Run at 1.4 miles. Bob Scott Campground is 2.7 miles away, and Bob Scott Slide is 2.8 miles away.