Katy Trail Forum

Rock slide has closed the trail between 117 and 118, the detour is fine with no real traffic issues. We could see some if the slide and it looks like it’ll tak some time to clean up.

the MO website says trail closed between mm117 -mm118 and no detour. is there a detour? how do you get around. i am travling clinton to st. charles may 13
appriciate any info!

Looking at google maps, looks like hiway 94 between Portland and Steedman is the only available route around.
Allen

I was just there. From the west you can take Schmid Way (either entrance) which parallels the trail till you hit 94 then take that another couple minutes to where it crosses back over the trail. Schmid is rocky but ok. They didn't mark this as the detour because 94 there was under water but now it is back open.

Was wondering since many are wondering about trail conditions when weather gets better to get back on the trail, is there a group like weather watchers who could post trail conditions to those who don't live close to the trail? I know DNR posts construction, post storm, downed trees and flooding but more actual trail surfaces for many who are day trippers or runners or walkers. Any ideas?

that would be very nice and appreciated!

That would be great. A place where you could get up to date trail information from trail users who have been on the trail and know what it's like. An archive of information that you could search to find information about the trail under varying weather conditions would be good too. Also it would be nice to have info available about things to see, places to stay and eat, etc.

Or...you could look at all the information available on this website.

Brilliant idea, huh?

Ray is good but he doesn't have daily or weekly actual trail conditions from people who are on the trail consistently. Especially for all the folks planning on traveling from longer distances and who have taken vacation time and booked hotels and b&b's and train tickets. You guys are pretty cynical. I thought you were encouraging out of state riders and runners.

Form a group to report here on a daily basis to accommodate the changing MO weather then. Be proactive. Or not.

So a couple from Germany have vacation, tickets, etc to ride the Katy next month and I report that the trail is mushy from rain today...would you expect them to cancel their vacation?

I don't think anyone posts daily or weekly. Why would you expect locals to post daily or weekly just because they live closer?

This site is pretty hard to beat for current info. When it floods, it's here. When there is a bridge closure, it's here. When there is a tree down, it's here. Plus you have the added bonus of our little discussion groups. Honestly, if Ray reorganized this site, some folks might like that, but most wouldn't look at it--they would do what they do now and ask a question on the Forum page.

If anyone inquires we'll just say ask the know-it alls, arky-kenny, mid-south and one of the many anonymous's, three amigos or three stooges?No problem, buddies.

Yes, glad to help, send them my way. Pseudio, just being realistic. If you think you can get anybody to make daily or even weekly updates, go for it. Even if you could get someone from say Windsor that rides to Green Ridge and back almost every day, and reports what the trail was like almost daily, that would mean very little for someone that is starting out in Augusta the very same day. Conditions are always going to be changing and descriptions for the same section of trail on the same day will vary by the reporter. There isn't even a real concensus on whether there are any hills or not between Boonville and Clifton City.

I don't understand the attitude of the regular and anon posters. The essence of Psuedio's idea sounds good.

For example, I rode in the Defiance area on 1/17/2015. There had been no significant moisture in quite a while. The day was warmer than usual than usual, and the trail was really mushy. It would have been nice to know that ahead of time.

If people would just post a comment on the forum after a ride where they found undesirable conditions indicating the location and date that would probably help many people considering a (relatively local)trip to the trail.

Did you post here on 1/17 about the trail being really mushy Dennis? If you did then the system is working because you let others know ahead of their ride. If you didn't, well, why not?

Attitude, what attitude?

Here is my view of trail conditions. The only time of year when the trail surface is poor is in cold weather when cycles of freezing/thawing weather give the trail a mushy and sticky surface problem. If soil moisture is medium to high, a thaw will give soft, sticky surface conditions where the trail will rut under bicycle tires and sometimes stick to bicycle tires. You don't want to be on the trail when a thaw has softened the surface. Otherwise, the trail is remarkably passable even after rain as water quickly percolates downward through the porous levels of graded gravel surface or runs off to ditches on either side of the trail. Continuous dry weather results in a fair amount of dust on the trail. This isn't a problem unless you are in a group and riding closely behind someone or possibly for recumbent riders who sit low and directly behind a front wheel. Riding in rain will get you a light dirt/grit racing strip up your front and back sides if you don't have serviceable fenders. Everything you carry on your bicycle will have this dirt/grit in/on it kind of like when you go the the beach and every single thing you took with you has sand in/on it. The trail surface is so porous to water that it doesn't take long after a rain for the trail to be perfect for cycling again--often only 15-30 minutes. January, February, March are the months you need to worry about the trail surface being soft and sticky. Otherwise, go for it.

I forgot to mention (in the above post) how long the trail stays mushy after a thaw. That varies according to conditions that would contribute to drying. Higher temperatures, sunny days, lower humidity, wind, etc. will firm up the trail pretty significantly in a couple of days if it doesn't refreeze overnight and recycle the mushy condition. Frozen water in the trail surface expands within the trail surface and then thaws and contracts leaving an otherwise hard surface significantly loosened until some of the water evaporates and lets the surface material pack down again.

That was as succinct a description of trail conditions as I've ever heard. It covered all the basic points plus the insight about winter conditions. Now we know what to expect and why. Thank you.

Yes. Thanks for that description of likely trail conditions.

Yates, the dry hot summer months (June-Aug) also leave larger cracks and crevices that cause unsafe riding for the typical trail tires getting wedged in them.

I have been riding the trail for years during Jun-Aug on typical tires like everyone else and never knew it was unsafe...glad I survived.

You must live alone Mid-south. You sound like a really nice guy.

This thread was started in hopes of helping people that are making plans to ride the trail. Your quote "the dry hot summer months (June-Aug) also leave larger cracks and crevices that cause unsafe riding for the typical trail tires getting wedged in them" does nothing but scare off uninitiated new potential cyclists by telling them the the trail us unsafe during the summer...the time frame that probably 90% ride the trail. And yes, I am a nice guy, many on this site know me personally. I am not anonymous.

Just as you said on 2/12 about the couple from Germany, people planning to come to the KT don't get scared off about the conditions. They just adjust with more accurate information. I know you are nice guy just argumentative. I can be NorthEast or SouthWest if you like. People and the animals know me too on the trail.

Been reading MidSouths posts for a long time, never thought of him as being argumentative, or a "know it all" as said before. He doesn't need some one else to stand up for him, but you are wrong to say he is argumentative. He knows a lot about the trail and has opinions and has added helpful posts about his experiences and is not afraid to express and stand behind what he says. He makes worthy contributions to this website and doesn't fill us with pretentious bs or "stir the pot" in hopes of getting a little attention like some do. And, he stands behind what he says.

I have been following this thread, among others, and I enjoy reading all of them. I do look forward to reading Mid South and others, because I believe their heart is in the right place. Which I believe is to support the Katy and provide information on current status and other info. I applaud each and everyone and thank them wholeheartedly!!

I believe Weather Underground or NOAA or one of those weather sights has history of weather along the Katy for anybody worried about the conditions from previous days, months or years. If that helps anyone?

What is the condition of the trail. Now?? After all the rain we were wondering.
Plans for riding it Sept. 2019

May 2019 end to end, trail conditions just fine even with recent flooding. Parts of the Rock Island Spur were a little soft but not muddy; the rest was hard-packed. A detour here and there for maintenance. Some spots rough for about 10-20 feet which is no big deal at all. All in all, it's in tip-top shape and a lot of fun.

According to the website, "The trail is temporarily closed at MM 97 (bridge just west of Case) to allow for repairs from recent flooding. There is no detour so trail users should avoid this area" Am planning to be eastbound by bike through there ~ May 22. If there is no detour, can anyone provide a realistic travel alternative given this directive from the website? thank you.

I was curious about this comment on the website as well. I think the bridge is about 200 yards west from where the Katy crosses Hwy 94 (at Case). I imagine that one could get on 94 (there is access road about half a mile to west) to avoid the closed bridge. Alternatively, one could maybe take even a shorter option near the bridge by going north to Case Road and east back to the Katy.

Planning to take the trail from Pleasant Hill to Machens beginning May 20. I was wondering if the Mo Dept. of Parks got their directions wrong, and was looking at the bridge over Loutre, slightly east of Case. Has anybody been through here recently that could give us on eyes on report?

I ended up using Google Maps satellite view to try to figure out stuff like this. If its the little bridge just west of case, it looks like a really easy little ridearound. At your own risk, etc.

Just drove through there. First, the Loutre is several miles west of there, just west of Hwy 19. If it is indeed west of Case I could not see it from the hwy (94) but would be very easy to ride out to 94 and then back to the trail. If it is east and closer to Gore then riding out to 94 would be MUCH more difficult and involve some hills. I have ridden there but would not advise it except to seasoned riders. Definitely not for families with children.

The little bridge is closed because the dirt at the end of the bridge is washed out, leaving a chasm about 4 ft deep and 1.5 ft across. If there are more than one of you and you have some dexterity you can lift your bikes over the orange fence netting, but this is obviously not sanctioned.

Does anyone know if there will be any campgrounds open in early November ?

You can camp in Hartsburg in early November. There are two options: free camping in city park or camping with us for a fee and nice amenities. If you're interested you can call us at (573) 657-4529 to get more information.

In Windsor you can check for November with both Farrington Park and Katy-Rock Junction. Many loving staying in Windsor,the crossroads of the Katy and Rock Island as can ride 3 directions.

They have started work clearing the trail and I was told possibly cleared over the weekend or by next week. Hwy 94 was still under water there and closed today, 5-6-19, but the river is dropping fast and you might be able to get through by tomorrow. If not the 2nd gravel road east of Standing Rock (459) taken north 1/4 mile to 468 and then just staying to the right will bring you around to Portland. You will climb one GOOD hill and encounter some loose gravel but it is ridable. When you get back to 94 turn left and then follow signs to trail. The gravel road route is about 5 miles long.

Hwy 94 is now open. You can get off trail at yellow sign saying "trail closed " and take the gravel road out to 94 then east 1/2 mile. It will cross over the trail and you drop down to left to get back on the trail.