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Katy Trail Ride/Run Reports

The next best thing to riding or running the Katy Trail, is reading about the experiences of others who have. There's something to learn from each one. Reports are listed in chronological order based on time of trip, most recent first. New indicates reports added within the past 60 days.

Share your ride report! Please contact me if you have a ride report, essay, or journal about your Katy Trail experience, that you'd like to see listed here.

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"Two Under Beauty"	Photo: Catherine Bleish
(click photo to enlarge)	More Photos by Catherine Bleish


Great Katy Trail Experience New Author: Jerry Dusterhoff Where: Clinton to St Charles When: May 2008 Having fun on the Katy Trail, by the author of Bicycle Journeys with Jerry. rrDusterhoff.asp

Endless Wildflowers and Plants Seen New Author: Jaye Dee Where: Clinton to St Charles When: Early May 2008 Photo-essay of plants and flowers along the Katy Trail. (2.6 MB, may take a few minutes to download) ridereport/KTWildPlants.pdf

Katy Trail Shelter story Author: Jay Delms When: October 2007 Everything you need to know about the Shelter in Tebbetts. ridereport/shelter.pdf

Henry & Daisy’s 2007 Tour de Katy Author: Henry & Daisy Where: Clinton to St Charles When: June 2007 A must-read for advice on trip planning and preparation, and lots of good advice along the trail too. rrhenrydaisy.asp

Preparing to Hike the Katy Author: Douglas Knox Where: Clinton to Machens When: June 2007 Follow along in the author's blog as he prepares to hike the Katy Trail in June 2007. http://www.dougknox.blogspot.com/

Trailing the Kids Author: Ligaya Figueras Where: Matson to Treloar When: Spring 2006 Facing the challenges and rewards of hitting the trail with kids. http://www.railtrails.org/newsandpubs/features/20072307_trailingkids.html

The Return of the Geezers (Geezer Jocks part 2) Author: Bruce Thompson Where: Boonville to St Charles When: April 2007 The Geezers return to finish their quest. rrthompson-p2.asp

Geezer Jocks on the Katy Trail - Part 1 Author: Bruce Thompson Where: Clinton to Boonville When: October 2006 These riders make a wise decision at the end of this ride. rrthompson.asp

A Fall Tour of the Katy Author: Kim Where: Clinton to St Charles When: September, 2006 Two friends enjoy the scenery and overcome flat tires on an end-to-end tour. Includes photos and discussion of businesses along the trail. rrkim.asp

Hiking the Katy Author: Greg Where: Clinton to McKittrick When: Late summer 2006 Greg set out to walk the Katy, recording his thoughts and experiences in this blog. It's a fascinating narrative that will make you want to experience the trail from the intimate perspective of a hiker. http://gregwalk2006.blogspot.com/

Two Weeks With Lewis And Clark Author: Moni Where: St Louis to Boonville & beyond When: May 2006 As part of a longer tour with "Lewis & Clark", the author followed the original L&C route up the Missouri River using the Katy Trail. See days 2-5 for Katy Trail. http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/journal/twoweekswithlewisandclark

Jerry and Jeanette's Tandem Katy Tour Author: Jerry and Jeanette Where: Clinton to St Louis Airport When: October 15-23, 2005 The authors came up with a unique transportation solution for their tandem bike, using a U-haul trailer. Lots of photos and helpful recommendations. http://www.touringonbikes.us/katy_trail_1.htm

The Not so Dangerous Dangers of Biking Across Missouri Author: Jennifer Popham Where: Clinton to St Charles When: October 10-14 2005 A 70 year old dad and 28 year old daughter ride end to end, discovering that dangers of the trail are not so dangerous after all rrjennifer.asp

Lewis & Clark Marathon comments Where: St Charles When: September 18, 2005 Comments from various runners about the Lewis & Clark Marathon, which is partially run on the Katy Trail in St Charles. http://www.marathonguide.com/races/racedetails.cfm?MIDD=2023040919

The Metal Cowboy on the Katy Trail Author: Joe "Metal Cowboy" Kurmaskie Where: Entire trail... and (far) beyond When: Summer 2005 The famed author rode the Katy during a coast-to-coast tour with his two young sons... and found it to be one of his all-time favorite rides! metalcowboy.asp

Hot Days and Comfortable Nights Author: Sarah McGregor Where: Clinton to St Charles When: June 2005 A pair of Colorado natives endured the summer heat by day, and enjoyed some of Missouri's finest B&Bs by night. Some great advice from all aspects of their tour. rrsarah.asp

Speaker Jetton's Fitness Challenge Where: Clinton to St Charles When: June 20-27, 2005 MO House Speaker Rod Jetton rode end-to-end to promote the Katy Trail, and the health and fitness of Missourians. This page offers a collection of articles about the ride. http://www.mobikefed.org/2005/06/speakers-fitness-challenge-katy-trail.html

2005 DNR Ride Author: MO Dept of Natural Resources Where: Clinton to St Charles When: June 20-24, 2005 Photos and day-by-day description of the big (300+ riders) annual end-to-end ride, sponsored by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. http://www.mostateparks.com/katytrail/2005ride.htm

Tips, Impressions, and Photos from Two Californians Author: Marty & Joe, Los Gatos, CA Where: St Charles to Clinton When: May 29-June 4, 2005 Marty & Joe share helpful tips and their impressions of businesses along the way. rrmarty.asp

Sylvan, dusty, rural, and always pedaling Author: Tom Gibb Where: End to end: Clinton to St Charles When: October 3-7, 2004 Tom gives lots of excellent tips on the businesses and services along the trail. http://www.bikekatytrail.com/rr.asp

A tour of the Missouri KATY Trail Author: Troy Ratliff Where: Cinton to Hermann, with later ride to Weldon Spring When: April 2004, with Sept & Nov followup The author's first multiday trip. He encounters interesting people and animals, and works out the logistics of taking the train and shuttle. http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/journal/?o=as&doc_id=500&v=g

Lewis & Clark Trail: Iowa to Illinois section Author: Denis Kertz Where: Cross-country When: Fall 2003 Denis rode the 3000 mile Lewis & Clark Trail, a portion of which runs along the Katy Trail. http://www.cyclingaway.com/home/LCtour/LCinkmi.htm

Seven Days on the Katy Trail Author: Larry Plumlee Where: Clinton to St Charles When: September 2003 A solo ride on America's Longest "Rails-to-Trails" bike trail http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/2094

Rediscovering the Katy Author: Laurie Allshouse Where: Clinton to St Charles to Clinton round trip When: September 2003 A round trip on the trail, with LOTS of pictures. Good info on B&Bs. http://www.wyokies.com/katy03.htm

Adventures With Bill Author: Ann Abeles Where: Clinton to St Charles When: June 23-27, 2003 A rider's experiences on the MO DNR 2003 end-to-end trip. The DNR offers this trip every year. http://www.frederickpedalers.org/bill2004_01-02.html

Fools On a Mission Author: Coll & Ted Where: Jefferson City to St Charles (& beyond) When: June 2003 Actually a cross-country bike tour, the riders spent four days on the Katy Trail. You'll enjoy the reading about rest of the trip too. http://www.garringer.net/foam/archives/2003_06_18.html

Jen & Andy's Katy Trail Adventure 2003 Author: Andy Where: Hermann to St Charles When: Summer 2003 Their 2002 adventure was so great (see ride report below) that they came back for more! More interesting places, more interesting people ("Blue Eyes" was a bit too interesting). http://mywebpages.comcast.net/katytrailbikers/Publish/index.html

Rails-to-trails touring in America's Midwest Author: Norman D. Ford Where: End to end (east-west) When: October 2002 [Katy Trail report starts halfway down the page] Norm's commentary has many useful hints and warnings. Browse his website for extensive information on bike touring in Germany. http://www.tourvelo.org/rails.html#trails

Walking the Katy Trail across rural Missouri Author: Phebe Novic When: Fall 2002 Rural America, best experienced up-close and on foot. http://www.americantrails.org/resources/railtrails/WalkKaty.html

Katy Trail Freedom Ride Where: Entire trail When: July 4, 2002 Three endurance fanatics tackle the entire trail in one day, making emergency repairs and enjoying Fourth of July fireworks along the way. http://www.triathletepro.com/katyfreedom.html

Katy (& Amtrak) Ride 2002 Author: Marilyn Hedges and Mike Sorensen Where: St Charles-Clinton-Sedalia-Amtrak-Washington-St Charles When: May 23 - June 1, 2002 How do seasoned bike tourists follow up a cross-country expedition? By riding a round-trip on the Katy Trail, including Sedalia to Washington on the train. http://www.biketrip2001.com/KatyTrail/KatyTrailHome.htm

Jen and Andy's Katy Trail Adventure 2002 Author: Jenny Dabbs Where: Boonville to McKittrick When: 2002 Memorial Day weekend Two old friends hit the trail and meet interesting people. http://mywebpages.comcast.net/gdabber1/index.html

Bill Keaggy's Trip Photos Author: Bill Keaggy Where: Sedalia to St Charles When: May 1 - 5, 2002 The author presents 100 photos, with commentary that is entertaining, informative, and somewhat irreverant. http://keaggy.com/katytrail/2002/

Sam and the Smoking Tire Author: Raymond Scott Where: Clinton When: March 2002 This day trip had an interesting start, with a couple of big surprises. http://www.bikekatytrail.com/samreport.asp

The Trowers Explore the Trail Author: John Trower Where: Sedalia to St Charles When: Spring 2001 After spending five days on the trail with his father, John Trower wrote a series of articles about their experience for the St Charles Journal. rrtrower.asp

On the Trail with Amy Author: Mark Smith Where: Clinton to Jefferson City & back When: June 2000 Father & daughter encounter heat, humidity, flats, and lots of fun. http://www.oklahomabicyclesociety.com/kt2000/kt2000.htm

1999 Katy Trail Memories Author: Laurie Allshouse Where: Sedalia - St Charles - Marthasville - Amtrak back to Sedalia When: Fall 1999 The intrepid duo from Oklahoma don't let a litte rain dampen their spirits. http://www.wyokies.com/memories1999.htm

Cycling from St. Louis to Kansas City Author: Charles Hansen Where: St Louis to KC, using Katy Trail from St Charles to Boonville When: 1999 A Bostonian navigates the streets of St Louis, the Katy Trail, and back roads from Boonville to Kansas City. Nice pictures. http://www.crw.org/tours/Katy_trail/

A leisurely conquering of the Katy Trail Author: Joline Groot Where: Sedalia to St Charles When: Fall 1998 Two seniors, aged 71 and 67, came all the way from Florida to tackle the Katy Trail. http://www.cccyclists.org/article.php?this_id=93

1998 Katy Trail Memories Author: Laurie Allshouse Where: Columbia to St Charles When: Spring 1998 This tour started it all for this couple from Oklahoma, who have since come back for two more tours, each longer than the last. http://www.wyokies.com/memories1998.htm

Most of the above listings include links to external websites. BikeKatyTrail.com is not responsible for the content or accuracy of any external websites linked to or referenced from this website. Links to external sites should not be considered endorsements of those sites or any of their content.

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