Katy Trail Forum

This through-rider from out of town is seeking input from some locals about an alternative. A quick look at a map shows State Route K connects in Pierpoint with State Route N that appears to go to Easley. Are these roads safe for biking? Does that route make sense?

Take a look at the thread "Bridge closures on the Katy Trail" below. The last post today includes a link to a google map of the detour using route K.

Route K has a narrow bike lane but once you get on Hwy 163 and route N you will be riding on hilly, curvey, country road blacktop with no shoulder. Really depends on how comfortable you are in that kind of environment.

This music park has actually been sold and is no longer a camping option.

I am new to the area and would like to take a 15mile ish bike ride. I need to rent two bikes. What is a good spot for the same?

Assuming you are in Columbia, drive to Rocheport, rent a bike, and head east. Near Huntsdale, you can stop at Katfish Katy's for a break, or go 2 miles further down the trail to see the big oak tree at McBaine (must see, but not as cool as it could be). Then turn around and go back. That would be a 15-20 mile round trip. You will pass the Hindman Junction shelter: That leads back to Columbia, and is how many people ride to the trail from Columbia

Would there be any interest in a BikeKatyTrail.com get together/ride say in October? Maybe some of the regular posters and Katy Trail locals could all invade someplace like the Rendleman Home or the Turner Shelter in Tebbetts for a couple days.

And all riders have to take the ice bucket challenge and donate to charity.

Cool idea Anonoh, would be buckets of fun..

I would go.

Tebbetts would probably be best if we get any size of group together...other than not many services there. Anybody know the new owners of Jim's place next door. We can do a couple of day rides for breakfast/lunch, but be nice to have something close. On the other hand, if we make the shelter the homebase, we can bring food, coolers, grills, whatever by car. I can do any weekend in October except the first weekend, have a 3 day bike festival near Springfield that weekend.

Good luck, I hope that you all are successful at organizing something. At the risk of sounding unsociable I'll just say that my kids have a million activities so chances are that I won't be able to make it on any given weekend, but will be there in spirit if not in person.

Okay, I'm going to throw this out there. I plan to show up at the Turner Shelter in Tebbetts on Friday, Oct 17th and do day rides East & West or whatever. Maybe nobody else shows up, but hey, I love my time alone on the Katy also. This of course is open to anyone and everyone, but I would like to invite and meet the following:
ArkyKenny
Trek
Anonoh
Ray(webmaster)
Dawn Fredrickson(Katy Trail Coordinator)
Gary, Neat Tebbetts
Jim, St. Thomas
Doug, Bluffton
Stevo, St. Louis, MO
Darrell, Jefferson City, MO
Billy, Mokane
Hank, New Haven
El Toro
MAH, Blue Springs
Steve, in KC
Pseudio
Kevin, Jeff City
Don, Ellisville, MO
Mimi and Papa, Springfield, MO
Sharonbikes, Kansas City
Figs, Olathe
Everyone else
And of course, all the Anonymouses!

I'm going to list my email below for anyone that would like to contact me off the forum:

ackermannsacre at earthlink dot net

MidSouth,would you post an email and be the coordinating contact? I would be up for this.

Yes, I would be the contact...

ackermannsacre at earthlink dot net

Thanks Mid I was posting mine at the same time and had not yet seen your address.

Hey MidSouth great idea! We will check our schedule and see what happens! Here is our e-mail, joebobandfaith@sbcglobal.net! Hope to see you on the Frisco Highline someday! Again great idea!!

Mimi & Papa,
Just got back from Leadville, CO, but plan to be on the Frisco tomorrow morning. There is a 20 year celebration on the Frisco on Oct. 11th. I usually ride my white and blue Salsa Vaya with red handlebar bag and rear rack.

Any that think they may participate please state if you would like to be based at the Turner Shelter in Tebbetts or the Rendleman Home B&B.

As a retired military veteran, I would like to make this a charity event with donations of $10-20 per person going to the Wounded Warrior Project.

Thanks for the invite, will try to make it, but have a new grandbaby due that week in Cedar Rapids.

Let's invite the lady working at the Mokane Market and all the people that have been offended by her.

MidSouth, that sounds good. What time on 10/17?

With the slow response so far I have decided to have the get together in Bluffton. I will be staying at the Rendleman Home B&B. Will get there Friday, Oct 17th around 7pm. Probably do a day trip to Hermann on Saturday and a short day trip west on Sunday. Will try to do some sort of BBQ on Saturday evening. Can't really come up with much more of an agenda until more people commit.

For us retired folks less than a week response is not considered slow. We have a ride scheduled on the 18th but I would be willing to grill hamburgers and hot dogs at the Turner Shelter the evening of the 17th for those who are going to ride. I'll just need a head count by end of day on the 15th.

Need refreshment donations for the cause?

i should be able to come - will bring another - but, we can't come til Saturday because I have a commitment Saturday morning. Sounds like fun!

So far I am the only one "signed up" so not much is needed as far as refreshments yet. I will be staying at the Rendleman Home for the weekend.

That is a perfect weekend MidSouth and I would be glad to meet up with you. Maybe the Portland bar for a burger and beer?
Regarding the Mokane Market, it's Mr. Grumpy, not Mrs.
As sour as Grumpy's...er, Mokane Mkt. can be...the Mokane bar is the exact opposite. Another fine place for a meet and greet.
I would love to meet some of the rest of you as well. Especially AK and his bitchin Salsa Vaya. (Like mine).

Hank, I will be on my Salsa Vaya also! The Mokane Bar & Grill sounds good for lunch on Saturday. Anyone have a recommendation for lunch on Sunday? McKittick/Hermann area.

Oooops, need to clarify my posting, I was responding to Jim's Tebbetts Turner shelter BBQ.

So far looks like we can get together at Tebbetts on Friday, Oct 17th for a BBQ. Then those that want to spend the weekend can hopefully reserve a room or camp at the Rendleman Home. Ride from Bluffton to Mokane Bar & Grill for lunch Saturday. Cookout on Saturday evening for those staying at the Rendleman Home. Ride to Hermann for lunch Sunday before returning to the real world. I think this will work for those that can only do Friday and those that can't play until Saturday.

So we have a get together:

Friday - 7pm - Turner Katy Trail Shelter
Saturday - 1pm - Mokane Bar & Grill
Saturday - 7pm - Rendleman Home (for those staying there)
Sunday - 1pm - Hermann (TBD)

How about the Concert Hall & Barrel in Hermann on Sunday...Oktoberfest!

I hope to be there Sat. Just post details here

Sounds fun but I will be out of state that weekend

Gary, I'll give you a call on the refreshment thing. I'm just planning on grilling hamburgers and hot dogs with maybe some chips and salsa. To those of you planning to use the Turner Shelter as your base and are not familiar with the accommodations it is an old building with rows of bunk beds for sleeping. The beds are just that - a bed with a pad - no linens are provided for your $5 donation. You can either bring your own (sleeping bag etc.) or Emily down the street from the shelter will provide a comfort box for $10. It includes an egg-foam mattress pad, top and bottom sheets, a pillow with case, bath towel and wash cloth, bar of soap, disposable razor shampoo and a toothbrush. You can call Emily for more information at (573) 295-4200 or leave a message on their answering machine at (573) 295-4850.

Also Pub and Grub is open across the street from the shelter serving food and beer in the evenings and during the day on Saturdays and Sundays. Here are their hours that I lifted from a previous post of Gary's.
Pub and Grub Hours
Monday Closed
Tuesday Closed
Wednesday 5:30pm-11:00pm
Thursday 5:30pm-11:00pm
Friday 5:30pm-1:30am
Saturday 11:00am-1:30am
Sunday 11:00am-10:00pm
Saturday and Sunday Dinner Specials

Hope this helps some of you with your planning.

I did forget to mention that the shelter also has a small kitchen with a full sized refrigerator, small microwave, a rather antique hot plate, a toaster and a toaster oven, flush toilets and two showers. A lot of bang for your $5.

I have yet to receive any messages that state others maybe staying overnight, so I am going to stay at the Rendleman Home Friday and Saturday night (Oct 17&18) I have stayed at the Turner shelter many times, but it really isn't much fun by yourself.

We will have a series of get togethers that people can chose to come to, please let me know which ones you might attend when we get closer for a head count.

So far the event looks something like this:

Friday Oct 17, BBQ at Turner Shelter 7:00 pm(donations please)

Saturday Oct 18, riding from Bluffton to Mokane for lunch at the Mokane Bar & Grill @ 1:00 pm. Ride back to Bluffton for possible BBQ in Bluffton @ 7:00 pm.

Sunday Oct 19, ride to Hermann for lunch at Concert Hall & Barrel 1:00pm. Ride back to Bluffton and head for home.

Sounds fun, but at this time looks like it may be a no from us :-( . Have fun everyone!

Cruce's Cabooses is a must stay for any Katy Trail fan. It is a short 2.9 miles from the trail head. Believe me it is worth the trip. While it is technically an un-hosted stay you will probably see Damon working on something, helping you build a fire, telling you where the honey hole is in the lake, or giving directions to the best eatin places. I am surprised his picture is not placed by the definition of "host". He is with out a doubt one of the best in the business. The place is clean, well stocked, and very comfortable. If you stay @ this establishment I promise you an A+ experience. Thank you again Damon.

The trail repairs are proving to be difficult to plan a ride. Does anyone know of any bike friendly hotels in Columbia close to the Columbia Connection? I know there are a lot of hotels but not sure if any are close to the trail.

I haven't stayed here, but the Tiger Hotel is only a few blocks from Flat Branch Park, where the MKT trail ends in Columbia.

The Hampton Inn at the southeast side of campus on Stadium drive is bike friendly. The Stadium Club restaurant is right next door. I've stayed there and kept my bike in the room. There is probably a more direct route, but I got off the trail at Flat Branch Park and cut through campus to get there.

You can click on Columbia in the map and find comments related to the town at the bottom of the Columbia page about places to stay, etc. for more information.

The Tiger and the Broadway are both downtown and easily reached from the trailhead at Flatbranch park. They will be pricey. You can reach Stoney Creek Inn by branching off the Columbia MKT onto the HInkson Recreation trail (a right turn at about the 2.5 mile mark, take it a short way to where you will see a paved trail going R up a hill. That's the Greenbrier Trail--it has been closed for a culvert renovation, and I'm not sure if it is open or not. But if it is, follow it up to Greenbrier, go left past the church and quickly left on Green Meadows. Take the access road left just before the major intersection, and it is probably less than a quarter mile to Stoney Creek Inn. If the Greenbrier trail is closed, you can just stay on the Hinkson Trail past the tennis center and go right up the access road to the hotel-steep and no shoulder, but it's not very far.

The Hampton Inn is best reached by taking the same turn onto the Hinkson trail, follow it past the tennis center and under Providence Road. You will come out on a steep street called Champions Drive. You can either follow it, or veer off to your left and follow a bike trail that leads to the football stadium. From the Stadium and basketball arena, you will just kind of wind your way through parking lots and access roads bearing basically right. The Hampton Inn is the first building after the sports complex, accessed from Stadium Blvd.

I stayed at the School House B&B in Rocheport, Missouri. It was a wonderful accommodation and excellent food. I highly recommend it. Close to the Katy Trail in Rocheport, Mo.

Great place to stay when riding the Katy Trail! Perfect for those riders who have ridden all day and need a place to relax and rejuvenate in the evening. Just as perfect for those taking short rides and seeking a "home base" to work out of while exploring nearby attractions. Each room is uniquely decorated. The innkeepers have thought of every convenience you could want from the welcoming cookies, to easy access bike storage. The delicious breakfasts will keep you fortified for miles down the trail. It's a place you'll want to return to again and again.

Sounds like a direct quote from the brochure.

If so, it appears our brochure is in wider circulation than we thought! :) We are honored with the praise regardless of the wording and invite one and all to give us a try.