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onemoremile from SALT LAKE CITY on 12/16/24 2:59:50 PM

Planning a trip to ride from Clinton to Machens but looking for optional routes to get me back to Clinton....any ideas welcome.

Ronald Roberson from Plano on 12/17/24 9:55:58 AM

I biked into St Louis (crossing the river at Alton) from Machens and took Amtrak to Sedalia and biking back to Clinton. You can also take the train from Kirkwood.

A Sweet Expression in Pleasant Hill

anonymous on 12/14/24 7:16:47 PM

Is sweet expressions still open. I meed to stop in on Tuesday the q7th of December

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Chillhowee City Park Camping in Chilhowee

Bill from Kansas City on 12/12/24 3:23:38 PM

12/12/2024

I contacted one of two part-time City of Chillhowee employees for info about the Chilhowee City Park. Their phone number is 660-678-2081. I was informed that camping is free. Drinking water and Porta-Potties are available. There is a "cafe" in the city (population of about 300) with a limited breakfast, lunch items, and sandwiches,the latter of which are available in a cooler. I also was informed that there has been a dispute between the "corp", which I guess is the entity reponsible for the Katy Trail, and a private individual whose land the Katy Trail allegedly crosses over. The dispute is reportedly nearing resolution and, if so, the corp has proposed installing showers and toilets at some time in the future. I intend on camping there sometime in March, 2024 so things might have changed by then. Good luck.

Bill R. from Wentzville on 12/13/24 10:00:03 AM

Is the dispute about the KATY Trail or the Rock Island Trail? The KATY is 20 miles east of Chilhowee running through Windsor and to the southwest. I believe the RI intersects the KATY just a little northeast of Windsor. I'm not aware of a land use issue there.

Kim Henderson - Kim's Cabins from Windsor on 12/14/24 9:32:22 AM

You'd be referring to Chilhowee on the Rock Island Trail State Park between Pleasant Hill and Windsor. For anyone looking for the "cafe" there's a FB page Hometown Convenience Store. It would be Missouri State Parks who maintains that. Hmm haven't heard anything about improvements there but maybe we'll hear more

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Lime trail effect on chain

LU from California on 11/23/24 2:27:16 PM

Hello,
Can anyone give me info on what effects the wet or dry lime trail had on their chain? Did you get a buildup? Did you have any problems? I’m guessing it’s a good idea to clean your chain every day. Thx!

Jerry Whittle from O'Fallon Illinois on 11/24/24 1:50:59 PM

Both are rough on a chain. If it's wet, cleaning and lubing daily might help. If dry, I'd just clean and lube it once halfway through if you're doing the entire trail.

I recommend putting on a cheaper new chain shortly before the trip. Then just replacing the chain shortly after the end. That's what I've done a few times including twice on a tandem. The tandem is like changing three chains.

John Hutchins from PACIFIC on 11/24/24 3:28:50 PM

If it's dusty you will get limestone dust on your chain. Probably not much of a problem this time of year. I've never bothered to clean my chain on a Katy ride, with no problems. But others might feel differently.

Bill in Columbia (was Houston) on 12/11/24 10:46:51 AM

We ride a million billion miles on the trail and I have not noticed any crazy wear. I'd take some lube in case of rain, but otherwise, it's no biggie.

I think that the carbonates in the limestone are much softer than the silicates in sand.

Do whatever makes you the most comfortable!

Jim from St. Thomas on 12/11/24 4:11:05 PM

I agree if you're only going to ride a million billion miles you will probably not have problems. If you ride a billion billion miles I would look at investing in one of those titanium chains.

Bill in Columbia (was Houston) on 12/12/24 12:24:45 AM

I'd only go Ti if I thought I might hit a bajillion miles. ;)

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Forums

Cindy Q from Fort Worth on 11/26/24 8:11:26 AM

Hi, this is for Ray, the webmaster. Can you add a forum to the Paul Bunyan Trail and NETT websites? I have researched both trails and found a few current but mainly older reviews. It would be great to be able to get up-to-date feedback on the conditions of the trails.

Ray (webmaster) on 12/10/24 6:01:25 PM

Thank you for the suggestion Cindy. The reason that the NETT and Paul Bunyan sites do not have a forum, all comes down to the amount of visitors on those websites.
The NETT website only gets about 10% the number of visitors that the Katy Trail site gets. Unfortunately in situations like that, a forum would probably end up with just a handful of questions and few or no answers. It's depressing to go to a forum and see that the last post is several months old.
Similar situation with the Paul Bunyan site. It's a popular trail, but that website has not been on the web for very long, and it takes years for search engines to start directing serious amounts of traffic.
Having said all that, I'll try to get a forum added to the NETT site before the next season starts. A Paul Bunyan Forum is further in the future, but it will eventually have enough visitors to justify a forum.
Thanks and happy trails!

Cindy Q from Fort Worth on 12/11/24 12:20:10 PM

Thank you for explaining why there isn't a forum for the other websites. I saw firsthand about a few questions asked with little or n response. I saw it on the Mickelson site when I was planning that ride. Thank you, too, for the work you put into maintaining the websites and answering questions.

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E Bikes

Bill R. from Wentzville on 12/02/24 12:14:28 PM

Looking to purchase a new e-bike in the early Spring. I've not owned one previously. I'm not interested in an on-line purchase. I've done quite a bit of research. I have a shop in mind. Models I've researched are: Denago; Specialized; Giant; and Aventon. I ride quite a bit. I'm looking for a pedal-assist. I ride the KATY mostly and I've seen all of the aforementioned models on my rides. Anyone have any first-hand knowledge? Mid-drive vs. hub-drive seems to be the wild card. Thank you.

John Hutchins from PACIFIC on 12/03/24 1:22:34 PM

I bought a Trek ebike last year and love it. I live in the St Louis area and bought and had it shipped from a shop in Ashville NC because they had the one I wanted. The dealer said you can't go wrong with a bike from what he called the big three, Trek, Specialized and Giant. I have a Bosch hub motor which would always be my choice over a hub drive. But I'm not sure it matters that much. FWIW, Yamaha is getting out of ebikes in the US and has some great deals right now. I was very close to buying a Yamaha but backed off because their dealer network is weak to non-existent for ebikes. But they make great bikes with good components. You might want to look into those and maybe talk to a LBS about taking care of it when needed.

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Safe overnight parking in St. Charles

Hiker Largo from Columbus,Indiana on 11/30/24 1:06:11 PM

Looking for safe overnight parking in St. Charles. Comfort Inn & Suites? Suggestions?

Scotty Mac from OKC on 12/01/24 10:02:46 AM

Country Inn & Suites is a great place to stay. Ive stayed there twice after completing the ride.
It’s clean, safe, the staff was friendly and its right by the trail. Included breakfast is pretty good too!

Anne Reed from Phoenix on 12/02/24 9:24:34 AM

Oh yes. Country Inn. Every year, every time. The best people and place. Safest parking.

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Tagged: St. Charles Trailhead

Turner Shelter Winter Reservations

Jim from St. Thomas on 11/27/24 4:53:57 PM

The Turner Katy Trail Shelter in Tebbetts has been closed to walk-in traffic for the winter. Bikers wanting to stay at the shelter will need to contact the office a week in advance.

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Weather/Best time of year to do the entire trail?

Burke on Bike from San Diego, CA on 11/24/24 8:28:41 PM

Any advise on the best time of year to bike the entire trail from St. Louis to KC?

patrick from Overland park ks on 11/25/24 7:39:31 AM

mid october

Scotty Mac from OKC on 11/25/24 7:50:34 AM

Indeed, I've ridden the Katy twice, both in mid to late October. Beautiful weather. During the last few days of the end of October ride in '23 we did get a little rain and it got a little chilly. But, overall, it was great weather.

Jerry Whittle from O'Fallon Illinois on 11/25/24 9:28:48 AM

I've ridden the trail 11 times end-to-end. June mostly and it was hot and sometimes wet.

Mid-October was OK except it was wet and one morning there was frost on the tent.

The one time that I rode in September, there was one morning that was cool and very foggy. Other than that, perfect. Of course YMMV.

Deby Elliott from Dallas on 11/26/24 6:21:03 AM

For my, September (or May) is better than October, but of course every year varies. The problem with waiting until October - well there's a couple of problems. First and foremost is once the leaves really start falling they cover the trail entirely. If there is any moisture they get a little slick. But the worst part is they cover the inevitable cracks and ridges in the trail, so you are riding blind to the surface you are on. I found this messed tremendously with my confidence as a rider. The other main reason is that Octoberfest time brings in so many people, and I prefer a quieter rather than party like atmosphere.

Bill R. from Wentzville on 11/26/24 6:56:12 AM

Deby, You are spot on. If you're trying to maintain a pace, then it can affect that a lot. I find myself slowing markedly when I can't see the actual trail surface. Hitting a layer of wet leaves can easily dump your bike thus ruining your ride by either injury or bike damage or both. I don't mind the heat so I ride all season long. Happy trails.

Burke on Bike from San Diego,CA on 11/26/24 3:26:48 PM

Thank you everyone for your replies! Sounds like Sept or early Oct is best. May sounds like a viable choice as well. I'm planning the trip for next year and so will probably go in May since I don't want to wait till the fall for my annual bike trip.

Cathy from Churchill from Churchill, PA on 11/27/24 12:20:38 AM

Another thing about riding the Katy Trail in September and October is that if you are planning to stay in B&Bs, Air B&Bs in local towns or hotels in the vicinity of Columbia you might be competing with people coming in for football games. And if there is a big game the same weekend as Oktober Fest or the Hartsburg Pumpkin Fest, then it's even more challenging to find a place to stay.

May is good. There can be some rainy weather, and even temperatures in the 50s and 60s. But if you wear layers and have rain gear you'll be fine. There won't be as many people on the Katy, and the leaf problem others mentioned won't be an issue.

Enjoy planning your ride, and doing your ride. It's a wonderful trail, the best I've ridden.

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Native American Petroglyphs in Huntsdale

JD from Shawnee, KS on 06/30/23 9:57:02 AM

Two of the pictographs in question were still there in 2010 when I rode the KATY often, then. Yet, they were small and hard to find visually.

Recently, however, on June 29th, 2023, I rode the Rochport/Huntsdale section to discover these pictographs no longer exist. To me it looks like large slap-layers of rock from the face of this bluff have fallen. The face of this bluff no longer looks like it did 13-years ago.

Probably a combination of fading paint and fallen rock caused their demise.

Bill in Houston from Houston on 06/30/23 11:00:01 AM

Sad to hear that they are gone.

JD from Shawnee, KS on 07/02/23 11:23:06 AM

Yeah. The red/orange upside-down eyebrow with a dot above it on the far-left side of the bluff appears to have fallen with a large slap of rock. Not sure what happened to the black one on the far-right side of it. Sad.

anonymous on 07/02/23 12:20:49 PM

A slap of rock?

JD from Shawnee, KS on 07/08/23 11:59:40 AM

Yes. These limestone bluffs are known for their falling rocks. In fact, trail signage encourages users to keep moving while under them to avoid being hit by falling rocks.

If you look at the Big Moniteau Bluff's face today, it looks like its missing rocks fall in layers six to 10-inches thick. You can see the rough edges of slab-like missing rocks.

This bluff has lost lots of rock. Its rough looking crevices have almost disappeared.

anonymous on 07/09/23 9:34:16 AM

I see….now they are slabs. Not a geologist here so thought there was a distinguishable difference between a slap of rock and a slab of rock. I see now that they are slabs so it’s not a geological difference.

JD from Shawnee, KS on 08/30/23 10:03:21 AM

Yeah. Slabs of rock.

Kdbilyeu from Columbia, MO on 09/02/23 7:11:15 PM

I rode my bike by there today and saw the amazon looking pictograph clearly. I wasn’t sure they would be visible with the foliage on the trees, but they were almost as visible as when I rode by in early April. So don’t despair yet!

anonymous on 09/04/23 1:36:07 PM

Interesting. Am wondering why it was reported that they were no longer there.

Guessing they are there and someone just couldn’t see them and assumed they were no longer there.

JD from Shawnee on 11/23/24 10:19:59 AM

Actually, these painted pictographs are now gone. In fact, the whole face of this bluff is much smoother, now, from past recent years. Quite a bit of rock has fallen from it.

Cycle Inn in Hermann

Channabilly from Channahon on 11/22/24 6:14:55 PM

Are bikes welcome in the rooms?

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Car Parking

jim from western springs il on 09/06/15 8:51:18 AM

Hello All: We are planning to take the train from Kirkwood to Sedalia in early October. Is there anywhere to park a car near the train station in Kirkwood? Or should we park in St Charles and bike down to Kirkwood? Thanks for your help.

Anonymous from StL on 09/06/15 6:40:54 PM

Not sure about long term parking at the Kirkwood station but I do know that it would be a long ride from St. Charles. Also, in my my opinion dangerous. Lots of busy roads and highways. I wouldn't want to do it but maybe there's a shuttle that would take you.

Jim from Western Springs on 09/07/15 10:28:53 AM

Thanks for your response. I have put another question out there about a shuttle.

Hiker Largo from Columbus, Indiana on 11/22/24 12:19:52 PM

We are going to drive to St. Charles from Indiana, park, then shuttle to Clinton and ride back to St. Charles. Is there a safe place to leave the car in St. Charles?

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Happy Trails Katy-ring Service in Tebbetts

Bill in Columbia (was Houston) on 11/18/24 9:01:59 PM

Like Geo from Bentonville, we also ordered lunch from Rachel. It was more food than I expected, and it was really nice to sit still at the trailhead and eat a balanced, healthy meal. Such a welcome break from trail mix and granola bars.

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Lazy Liz Horse & RV Campground in Sedalia

Teri Lund from Laramie, WY on 11/05/24 12:52:26 PM

This was the best campground along the Katy Trail! For a mere $10/person we were able to camp (in a popup camper on our truck) near the "bath house" where there are 2 showers as well as FREE laundry facilities. It's situated in a beautiful open field, away from the road so it's really quiet. Liz & her daughter Kelly are super friendly and helpful. I highly recommend Lazy Liz!!!

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Camping for a group of 20+ Scouts?

Ted from Minneapolis on 10/31/24 3:38:34 PM

My Scouts in Minneapolis decided to bike from Kansas City to St Louis, and we are just starting to plan this Trip for June of 2025.

I'm pretty sure we won't come close to making it the whole way, and part of the planning process will be figuring out where we start, where we stop, and where we camp in between.

I've read through a lot of the reviews about campgrounds, but very few mention any kind of group reference.

Can anyone suggest some campsites that might be good for 20-25 Scouts? We'll have a few shuttle vehicles as well.

Also if anyone has any suggestions for a Scout Troop doing this we'd love to hear it.

Gary from Near Tebbetts on 10/31/24 5:03:49 PM

You could start by checking out some organized rides and see when they do their rides and where they camp. One that comes to mind is the bigbamride.com

The Department of Revenue had annual rides in June but they no longer do those.

One thing about riding in June - the daylight is longer but it can also be hotter.

Charlie W. @ Katy-Rock Junction from Windsor on 10/31/24 9:15:39 PM

Ted, we have enjoyed hosting Scout troops on many occasions at our campground at Katy-Rock Junction, LLC in Windsor, Mo. We offer a safe, clean, and enjoyable camping experience just a few feet from the Katy Trail with lots of amenities and a Scouts group rate, as well as ample vehicle parking and secure bike storage. We would be delighted if you would consider including a stay at Katy-Rock Junction in your 2025 Scouts cycling adventure. You can reach us at 660-233-1010. Happy Trails!

anonymous on 11/01/24 10:51:25 AM

Windsor has an option.

The Katy Roundhouse in New Franklin comes to mind. Have camped there before when a scout group was there also. The Hermann city park and Klondike park may also be options.

The Trip Planner will let you see where camping is available. From there I would contact camp providers directly to discuss the reality of a group of your size using there facility. Reservations and/or info directly from them may prevent the disappointment of just trying to stop in.

Being a Scout myself, I'm a firm believer in the moto "Be Prepared."

Mark from Lee's Summit on 11/01/24 5:56:37 PM

In my opinion, you would want to plan for 50 to 60 mile days, so here is my recommendation: Pleasant Hill trailhead on the Rock Island Trail just southeast of Kansas City to Windsor (48 miles and absolutely stay at the Katy-Rock Junction); Windsor to New Franklin (61 miles of rolling hills and stay at the Katy Roundhouse campsite); New Franklin to Tebbetts (57 miles and stay inside at the Turner Shelter with all of their bunkbeds); Tebbetts to Marthasville (54 miles and camp at their Community Club Park); finally Marthasville to St. Charles (40 miles). If you want to ring the bell at the end of the trail in Machens, then that will be another 13 miles and you will then have to double back a few miles to get picked up and load your trailers.

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