The weather has been perfect so Crystal and I decided to take the kids on a short jaunt down the Pony Express Trail near Ice House Road. More of a rutty dirt road, the trail runs parallel to Hwy 50 and retraces a portion of the historic Pony Express route. If you're looking for a place to get the tires dusty that has some beautiful views and offers an abundance of places to picnic and let the kids run wild, this is a great place to check out.
Directions:Hwy. 50 East to Ice House Road
Turn left onto Ice House Road, heading North
Turn right onto Weber Mill Road (11N38)
11N38 connects to Hwy. 50 near White Hall
Trail Notes:
The
Pony Express Trail begins as a somewhat narrow shelf road and has many
turnouts that make great places for picnics or photography. Once you
pass the intersection with 11N38A, there are fewer places to stop. The
last mile or two of the trail has weathered, exposing the rocky roadbed
with a covering of loose, sandy soil. Although not particularly
difficult, this section has a downward angle, so take it slow and don't
jump on the brakes. There is a Visitor Information Center on Ice House
Road about .5 miles before the turnoff for Weber Mill Road with
restrooms and water. The trail runs roughly parallel to Hwy. 50 and
eventually intersects with it - turn right to head back toward
Sacramento.