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Columbia, Missouri near the Katy Trail

Population 84,531

Columbia is not directly on the Katy Trail, but it is easy to reach from the trail and offers a wide range of lodging, eating, and entertainment options. Central Missouri's largest city, Columbia is home to the University of Missouri's main campus (Mizzou), as well as numerous museums and cultural attractions.

Columbia Visitors Bureau
800-652-0987 / 573-875-1231
http://www.visitcolumbiamo.com/

Columbia Chamber of Commerce
573-874-1132
http://chamber.columbia.mo.us/index.asp
Columbia Central Business District
http://www.discoverthedistrict.com/


Bonne Femme River Bridge	Photo: Irene Weinmann
More Photos by Irene Weinmann

Getting There

By trail: The MKT Nature and Fitness Trail connects the Katy Trail to the heart of Columbia. This scenic 9 mile trail takes riders through wetlands and wooded areas. The MKT Trail links to the Katy Trail at mile 169.9, just west of McBaine. ( trail map)

By car: Columbia is on highway 70, between mile markers 123 and 130. The quickest way to get to the Katy Trail from Columbia is Rocheport, which is about 10 miles west of Columbia on highway 70.

Here's a regional map showing the Katy Trail, MKT Fitness Trail, and surrounding towns.

Here's a link to Columbia Missouri on MapQuest

Columbia restaurant listing

Columbia MO Lodging

Follow this link for Columbia MO Hotels and Motels. Columbia B&Bs are listed below.


University Avenue Bed & Breakfast 1315 University Avenue http://www.universityavenuebnb.com/ 573-499-1920		Children: OK Pets: No Smoking: No

Columbia MO Bike Shops

CycleXtreme http://cyclex.com/site/intro.cfm		19 South Sixth Street 573-874-7044 Rentals available

Jim’s Bike Shop		1002 N. Old Highway 63 573-442-7011

Tryathletics http://www.tryathletics.com		1605 Chapel Hill Rd. 573-447-2453

Walt's Bike and Fitness http://www.waltsbikeshop.com		1217 Rogers Street 573-886-9258

Comments about Columbia from other riders

Share your comments about Columbia with other Katy Trail riders! Add your comment/question, or view all comments.

Subject: Columbia Started: Jun 26 2008 6:05PM by Bud Floor , Kirkwood
How far is the ride via the Katy Trail from St. Charles to Columbia? Thanks
Replies: 1 (Last reply: Jun 26 2008 6:37PM by MAH, Blue Springs, MO: "From looking at the mileage charts, looks like it ..." )	View This Topic

Subject: staying in Columbia Started: Aug 6 2007 9:44PM by condean , Council Bluffs IA
6 of us riding the trail in Sept. Want to stay in Columbia. Any suggestions? Like to stay near trail, but not necessary. Clean and decent. Thanks..
Replies: 8 (Last reply: Oct 18 2007 9:34AM by Lorah Steiner, Columbia, MO: "If you are biking or hiking the Katy Trail and pla..." )	View This Topic

Subject: try it...the MKT spur to Columbia Started: May 30 2006 11:56AM by Drew & Karen , Blue Springs, MO
It comes out on Providence...just a short trek from Broadway and all of the businesses. We ate at a restaurant that featured Kosavo cuisine...very good...Try the Opa...it's fun to watch it as she lights it up. The spur is 8.8 miles, curves a bit, can be hot but it has shade in some places. The grade may be a bit more than what you experience on the Katy because I don't think it is a former railway. Help me out here, ya all, what do you think of the MKT spur?
Replies: 3 (Last reply: May 31 2006 2:16PM by gc, Columbia, Mo: "Love the MKT spur. I try to walk it a few times a ..." )	View This Topic

Subject: Columbia - places to eat that are close to the trail spur Started: May 19 2006 2:41PM by dn , kansas
Does anyone have any recommendations for places to eat that are close to the Columbia/Katy Trail spur?
Replies: 7 (Last reply: May 27 2006 7:42AM by Nails : "I know this thread i......" )	View This Topic

Subject: St. Charles to Columbia Started: Mar 30 2006 2:18PM by Brian , Lake Saint Louis
I was interested in biking from somewhere in St. Charles county to Columbia, where I went to school, and staying overnight in Columbia. Has anyone done this route, a friend said he heard from someone that the gravel turns into larger rocks halfway to Columbia and I should expect a few flat tires and bring spares. Is there any truth to this? Can someone who's biked in this area let me know about trail conditions, Thanks.
Replies: 2 (Last reply: Mar 30 2006 5:43PM by frank, festus,mo: "hey brian. i have biked the MKT trail from the beg..." )	View This Topic

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Columbia, Missouri near the Katy Trail

Getting There

Columbia MO Lodging

Columbia MO Bike Shops