Pony Express National Historic Trail

Thunderstorm-driven wind is the dominant hazard along this stretch of the historic trail, with 4 recorded high-wind events in Sweetwater County striking fast enough to upend camp setups and scatter gear. These storms typically build quickly over Wyoming's open terrain, leaving little warning time for travelers parked along exposed corridor segments. One flash flood event on record adds a secondary concern, particularly for anyone camping near dry washes or low-lying pullouts.

When a storm front approaches, stake your tent with heavy-duty ground anchors rather than standard plastic pegs, and move your vehicle away from any dry creek bed or drainage channel before rain arrives. Keep a weather radio or a downloaded offline alert app active, since cell coverage along remote trail segments is unreliable. If you're in an RV, lower slide-outs and retract awnings at the first sign of building afternoon thunderheads — wind damage to awnings is the most common storm-related repair cost for travelers in this region.