Katy Trail Forum

Is a section of the trail currently closed through Boonville? The state park website shows a closure from MM 191.8 through MM 194.5 through Apr 30 for culvert replacement.

The trail was still closed as of yesterday morning. We ride the trail there often, and really miss riding into town. Spoke to a couple contractors who said they would be done today with their part (tunneling in the new culvert), but someone else still has to come in and do the dirt work. We only went down there because the barricade was down and we were hopeful. They had just pushed it into the ditch to get the big trailer in as it turns out. I'll try and remember to post here when we see they have reopened, but I expect the state web site will be updated when it happens.

Can I detour around the closed area of the trail and get back on KT if I am on foot? I will be walking from Pilot Grove East to Rocheport.

"The section of trail between MM 191.8 (Boonville Trailhead) and MM 194.5 (access point near the MFA Building) is closed through April 30 to allow for a culvert replacement. There is no detour during this closure so trail users should avoid this area."

I really can't answer that for you. If you believe the Trail Closed signs and the orange snow fence from tree edge to edge don't apply to you, and the stream/swamp/gully on either side (roughly 20 ft down) is not too muddy, I suppose you might be able to.

If you mean is there a way around via roads, it is long and not marked, but yes you can get around it. About 3.5 miles according to Google Earth (vs 2.7 on Katy). Not sure how I can post it, but I drew it up in Google Earth to see how long it was.

Deron, thank you so much for your help. It was definitely a road detour I was looking for. I had searched the forum and there was no other mention about this closure. I thought maybe seasoned riders knew of an alternate route. I will check out Google Earth.

We are planning to ride Katy Trail from Clinton to St. Charles. Is there a way around the Boonville closure? We need to get to Hotel Frederick. According to Google Maps, there is a spur from Katy Trail to the MFA training building. Is the trail closed before you get to that spur? We are riding from Pilot Grove to Boonville. I know the trail is supposed to be open by April 30, but?????

Deron: would that route around the closure use hwy 5?

I tried to come up with a ride-around, and would appreciate it if a local could tell me if it's crazy. I was trying to stay Off Hwy 5. Here it is.

As you get close to Boonville, and are almost to I-70, the trail crosses Prairie Lick Rd. Go left on Prairie Lick, next to Lion’s Light Farm and Stable. Go Left on Dunkles. Pass Fairgrounds on right. Cross I-70. Dunkles ends at Santa Fe. Go right on Santa Fe Rd. Take Santa Fe all the way to town.

Does that look reasonable? There are no shoulders, but I am hoping that the roads are not busy.

Sorry I’m a little uneducated. Is it closed east or west from Boonville?

Hi Mark,
The closure starts at the spur. You can indeed get off the trail there.

My wife and I moved to the area this past summer, so I don't feel comfortable giving people directions for a "safe" route through town past the closure. Obviously the state did not either. I can only tell you how it might be done, and how I would do it if I _had_ to. However, we live between Pilot Grove and Boonville and love to ride the trail into Boonville and eat at the downtown diner. We have not done so.

So if you get run over, lost, or otherwise, don't say I didn't warn you!

I drew up a little map in Google Earth. It should at least give you an idea where the two ends of the closure are, and one way to go between those points via a vehicle.

The link for the Google Earth file is https://razercut.com/KatyDetour.kmz

If the powers that be would like to share this some other way, or do with it as they please, I release this into the public domain. I claim no ownership of it :-)

Deron

We're riding from Sedalia to St Charles. We will make the Pilot Grove to Boonville section (where the closure is) on April 26. Bill and Deron's detailed suggestions are helpful, but can anyone post a picture and description of Deron's Google Earth directions in another format. I don't have Google Earth on my device yet.
Thanks to Ray and everyone helping on this topic.

If you are comfortable riding on blacktop county roads, this would be a way to get to Booneville:
East of Pilot Grove the trail crosses a blacktop Hwy 135, turn left, follow Hwy across I70, turn right on old Hwy 40, take left at “Y” which is Sante Fe Rd, follow Sante Fe Rd all the way into Booneville (pay attention to road signs to stay on Sante Fe) take left at West Spring St. This will bring you back to the Booneville Trailhead or you can continue on to Main Street, turn left and it will take you across the Missouri River and put you back on the trail east of Booneville.

Here's a picture of the route that Gary suggested. It's 13 miles, so actually about the same distance as riding on the trail, but you just have to be comfortrable with road riding.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Boonville,+MO/Pilot+Grove,+MO+65276/@38.9286177,-92.90294,12z/data=!4m19!4m18!1m10!1m1!1s0x87c33f8563f90b5b:0xab30f924ea062caa!2m2!1d-92.7432418!2d38.9736392!3m4!1m2!1d-92.8311814!2d38.9430288!3s0x87c36b307f647823:0x7f92e2395f514f36!1m5!1m1!1s0x87c36ddbfab821e9:0xca1956a28eacf1ba!2m2!1d-92.9115825!2d38.874744!3e0

Unfortunately I don't have any more info on the closures than the rest of you. DNR's website says the Boonville closure runs until April 30. No date given for Augusta.

You might want to call the State Parks Department - if you talk to someone there, they might be able to fill in more details. Their number is 573-449-7402

This is a frustrating situation, especially for anyone who planned an end-to-end ride for this nice time of the year. Good luck!

Disclaimer: The above link is provided for informational purposes only. I am neither encouraging nor discouraging the use of a detour. Regardless of where you ride, you assume all risk.

This has less road riding, and uses Gary's route into town.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Lion's+Light+Farm+and+Stable+LLC,+12754+Ct,+Katy+Trail,+Boonville,+MO+65233/Boonville,+MO/@38.9548654,-92.8024667,14z/data=!4m19!4m18!1m10!1m1!1s0x87c36ae26c4db499:0x1e40600f666faf61!2m2!1d-92.817208!2d38.926135!3m4!1m2!1d-92.7998423!2d38.9544505!3s0x87c36acd04a808fd:0x7652bc9c2006ee39!1m5!1m1!1s0x87c33f8563f90b5b:0xab30f924ea062caa!2m2!1d-92.7432418!2d38.9736392!3e0

Please keep the Katy trail motor free. The volume of usage and economic impact as a walking and cycling park are huge!

Last week I rode through the Weldon Spring trailhead and saw a bike repair station (you can see a photo here) with some basic tools and a hand-pump.

Maybe it's been there for a while - I haven't been through Weldon Spring for a couple years - but I was happy to see this useful amenity along the trail.

Is anyone aware of any more of these bike repair stations at other trailheads? I'd like to list the repair stations here on the website as a feature at any trailheads where they are available.

Happy trails and enjoy the spring-ish weather!

There's one at Jefferson City

There is a repair station with tools at pump at the Marthasville trailhead also.

Bike Repair Station at Meriwether Café and Bike Shop in Rocheport.

There will be a full service bike shop in Windsor later this year.
~www.surlevelo.com

There's one at Agusta.

There is one outside of the Turner Shelter in Tebbetts.

The Sedalia depot has had one for at least a couple of years.

I think the easier reply would be: Where is there NOT a Bike Repair Station along the KATY, at the Trailheads?

Boonville, Pilot Grove and Rocheport have them too. But. If the reason someone is asking is that they do not want to carry simple tools....keep in mind, it is a LOOOOONG walk, pushing a bicycle, between Trailheads that have tools.

That said. The set ups at the Trailheads are VERY nice and we have used them more than once. Very Thankful these are at the Trailheads.

Ray, I tried to send the link to the DNR site that has all the work stations listed but my post did not show up. Did you get it or are my math abilities lacking? :-)

Thank you everybody for all your input! And yes Gary I was able to use DNR's info to fill in all the rest.

I have added all of these locations so the "repair station" icon now shows up throughout the website, and as a searchable option in the trip planner.

Thanks again!

There is a repair station at the trailhead in Hartsburg as well.

There's one at Black Walnut, too!

The Busch Greenway Trail Head at the end of Research Park Drive in Weldon Springs also has a bike repair station. It leads to the Katy Trail.

I am in the preliminary planning stage for a ride this spring. My plan is to drive to Kirkwood and take the Amtrak to Warrenburg or Sedalia. My question is where is the best place in Kirkwood to leave a car for about a week? Thanks.

Have you considered the official Katy Trail ride? It's fully supported, has an optional shuttle with parking, and there are a lot of planned things to do/see along the way. Camping space and hot showers are a few perks included in each overnight town! Visit the site:

https://mostateparks.com/2019ktride

This topic has come up in the past, if you want to search the website for previous forum posts. One suggestion is that Amtrak may allow you to park next to station or in a nearby lot, but you would need to check with Amtrak about that (and arrange for a permit). The Kirkwood station has volunteers there most of the time (during the day), so they may know the answer.

Another option (suggested before) is to ask the Alpine Shop (5 blocks north of station) if you could park in their large lot (after buying something to support them).

Finally, Kirkwood is a mostly safe town, at least in most places near the station. There is unlimited (no hour limit) street parking a few blocks east or west of the station. I think if you parked near nice houses (lots of them not far from station), your car would be safe.

I echo the thoughts on parking in downtown Kirkwood. I suggest reaching out to local police and inquiring about long-term parking.

I am planning to ride from Clinton to St. Charles at the end of March. Since I am poor and also a cheapskate I want to camp whenever I can, and only stay in a B&B as a last resort. (I think they are WAY too expensive!) My question is this... I know they say camping is not allowed except in designated places. But would anyone know (or CARE) if I went off into the woods somewhere by the trail and set up my tent? Just before it got dark and just to sleep. This would be only if I was stuck with no other place to camp. Thank you and I hope this is not a stupid question.

I set up my tent at Pilot Grove and Hartsburg in the city park and never got chased.

Not sure whether anyone would know, but some people definitely would care. Here's an earlier discussion that you might find interesting. Also a list of all camping options along the trail - campgrounds, city parks that allow camping, and some businesses that will let you pitch a tent "out in back". One other inexpensive option ($5/night) is the hostel in Tebbetts. Finally, a little more expensive than camping but cheaper than B&Bs are motels, which you'll find in St Charles, Jeff City/Holts Summit, Columbia (9 miles up a side trail), Boonville, Sedalia, & Clinton.
Good luck & have fun!

Okay....wear this hat. You are the land owner. Would you like people going off into your woods and setting up their tent "just to sleep?" If I were to do that on your land without your permission, I am trespassing. You can prosecute me if you choose because I have broken the law. Not a good reminder of that trip for me! And the other side here is....if you don't care and have no intentions of ever prosecuting a trespasser, why don't you have a sign up inviting every "cheapskate" as you say, to come camp for free?



What if something on your place comes up missing. Are you going to think it just magically disappeared....or might you suspect that "someone" who camped in the woods last nite?



What if you had scouted and planned for months to hunt on your own property and when you reached your favorite spot early in the morning you found me there in my tent? Big deal...I ruined your hunt, but all I did was sleep! I'm guessing someone CARES now. Chances are you and I at that point are not going to bond into a lasting friendship.



What if your angry bull (that I have no idea about, because I have not a clue what you have on your land or how you manage it) tramples me in the night causing me bodily injury and I hold you liable? Many lawsuits are driven by the fact that a pocket with money in it exists. And I'm sure to assume that you have money beings you've paid for the land and the taxes on it each year.



For many reasons, it is usually best not to unlawfully intrude on someones land...especially if you do not know that person, their intended use of their land, or the general situation at all.

I can relate to being a cheapskate, but please don't trespass on private property to camp without permission - there is really no reason to on the Katy Trail. Use the tools on this website to plan your trip and pay for a few long distance phone calls to request permission to camp in the city parks. If you like the idea of camping 'in the woods' just off the trail, you can do so at Davisdale and Diana Bend conservation areas near Rocheport. Some free or inexpensive camping options I would recommend: Sedalia Fairgrounds, Pilot Grove city park, Diana Bend or Davisdale conservation areas, Hartsburg Volunteer Park, Tebbetts Turner Shelter(hot showers!), Marthasville community club park. I know I would sleep better camping where I have permission and not having to worry about being 'discovered'. Plus, there is something to be said for crawling out of your tent in the morning and being only a few blocks away from a grocery/convenience store or cafe for a hot cup of coffee and breakfast - especially in late March!

I'm going to add another plea here to PLEASE not camp without permission--many landowners were extremely hostile to the trail before it went in, and a few still are. These are the kinds of concerns they raise, and it makes it much more difficult to convince landowners along future trail right-of-ways to be cooperative if they know of trespassing problems along existing trails.

Oi

How far is the trail from the downtown area of Boonville?

The Katy Trail crosses the Missouri River on Hwy 40, which is Main Street, so you're pretty much in downtown Boonville.

Does anyone know how to access a map of the Katy trail that shows the actual Mile Markers along the route? I can only find version that shows miles in distance from where you center your starting point. Thank you.

I believe the paper maps available at trailheads show the mile markers of towns..

The Towns and Services page shows the mile marker at each town and the mileage from each town

I understand what you are looking for and would love to add this option to the Trail Map page.

However, I would need the geo-locations (latitude and longitude) of all the actual mile marker locations, to make this work. If anyone out there happens to have the location data for all the actual mile markers, and is willing to share it, please let me know.

The other option is to start with a few known mile marker locations and extrapolate to get the others. This would be less accurate, and would take more time. But I will put this on my to-do list if I don't hear from anyone with all the actual data. The to-do list is kind of long so it might be a month or two before this gets done, but this feature will get added sometime in the near future.

Thanks for the suggestion, and happy trails!

Couldnt you go to the trail map on this site and center your location on Machens, where the trail starts, then select mile markers every 1 mile.

Thanks Ray, yes I guess it would be difficult to show, having to know the exact gps coordinates. So I went ahead and purchased a paper map. But Thanks for keeping it all together on this website, I wouldn't have been able to plan my trip without this great site.

Troy That's a great idea... for most trails. But the Katy is different because its mile marker numbers are the old railroad mile numbers. Mile 0 is not on the trail, it's somewhere further east. Machens is actually mile 26.9.

Makes things a little confusing sometimes :-)

Just letting everyone know we are still here and open for business. 573-676-3540,573-590-9655

Does anyone know if Katy (around Definance) is flooded right now. I see Missouri River is at moderate flood stage

I rode defiance to Augusta on Sunday afternoon. There was no flooding on the trail at that time, however, the trail was closed a few miles west of defiance. Looks like bridge repair was underway. I had to take the well marked detour through Klondike Park to continue to Augusta. Hope this helps!