This drivable gravel road begins at the town of Fairfield, west of Provo and Utah Lake, and closely follows the Pony Express Trail as far as Ibapah near the Nevada border. A two-story adobe and frame hotel has been restored with period furnishings. Erected in 1858 the hotel served both the Overland Stage and the Pony Express. Adjacent to the hotel Camp Floyd was established in 1858 as an Army encampment within the Mormon homeland. Of the fourteen relay and home stations that existed on this segment of the Pony Express Trail, all have been identified but few original remains are left.
Interpretive signs describe the most significant locations.
At one overlook the trail follower on a clear day can look across the grass-covered rangeland and see the entire distance a rider had to cover to reach the next relay station. At Simpson Spring, one-third of the way along the byway, are a reconstructed stone station, a monument, and interpretive signs that underline the courage required of both the rider and the station keeper in this lonely landscape. At Boyd Station the visitor can see ledges that were cut into rock walls to provide primitive bunks for the Pony Express hands. 2370 South 2300 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84119. Across America is available from the Adventurous Traveler Bookstore.