Katy Trail Forum

Is the trail open and in decent shape between Clinton and Boonville?

Just did the sections of Sedalia to Clifton City and Pilot Grove to Boonville yesterday. Ther are a few rough spots but mostly covered with twigs and small branches from all the recent storms.

Gary,

Is Clifton City to Pilot Grove open. Earlier post from Dawn said there was a wash out in that section. Riding from Boonville to Sedalia on Friday.

Ron, I have not seen any posts from Dawn that said there was any washouts in that section of the trail - if she did, then I would follow her advice. The only reason I did not do that section was that the group I was leading wanted to ride the flat parts of the trail (east of Boonville) but since those were flooded at several places and they did not want to do any "hills" I skipped the Clifton to Pilot Grove section.

Just checked the state parks site, it list several downed trees and a washout but that the trail is open in that area. You will just have to slow down and maybe walk your bike around the washout and downed trees. It's possible they will have have the trail fixed in that area by the time you get there.

The number listed is disconnected. Anyone know if this place is still open?
Thanks!

yes it is open and the food is great there number is 573-676-3119

River's Edge Campground and Riverfront Bar & Grill are two different places.

I know it's off topic but does have anyone have a tip on lodging near the Tunnel Hill State Trail in Illinois? Would prefer to stay near trail but wouldn't mind biking a ways if the ride was decent. Not much info out there.
Thanks.

Vienna Illinois has motels only a few blocks from the trail with restaurant in those blocks. Also a really cool bar just east of the town square. Haven't been there in several years but I know the motel and restaurant are open. Harrisburg at north end has quite a few too. We stayed friday night there, rode to south end and back up to Vienna on Saturday then sunday back to Harrisburg. VERY scenic.

Where did you stay in Vienna? I can only find one, Limited Inn.

It's been several years ago when we rode the Tunnel Hill and as I recall, we stayed in a motel at the highway intersection just east of Vienna the first night. It was nothing fancy, but served its purpose. Probably was the Limited Inn but I don't recall that being the name at the time. It was under construction and kind of a mess. Parked the car at the trailhead and left it overnight without any problem.

From the trailhead in Vienna we rode south on the trail through Karnak and to the Cache River Wetlands Center and then back north to Harrisburg. There were several more options there and stayed at the Comfort Inn which sits right near the trail. Pondarosa restaurant was within walking distance and really hit the spot after riding.

As Doug said, it is very scenic. We've planned on going back in the fall and haven't made it yet but have it on the to do list.

Just did this trail for the first time a couple of weeks ago. Wow, the scenery, especially close to and south of the tunnel, cannot be beat. Vienna is a neat town to visit, but the lodging options are mostly in Harrisburg. If you like the Katy, you will love this trail.

Does anyone have an update on the trail closures between Rocheport and Herman? Also, need to transport 5 people and bikes back to Rocheport from Herman anyone know of a good reliable service?

Does anyone have any experience riding the trail on a recumbent? What are the uphills like?

Thanks.

There really aren't any uphills on the trail. I think the elevation changes a bit between Clinton and Booneville somewhere, but gradually. Once you go east of boonville, it stays the same elevation and even gradually drops just a hair. There are a couple of small "humps" in front of a few creek crossings. If you get stuck on a detour, then you will reach some severe uphill climbs. The trail is an old railroad path, so it is really flat. One of the BnB owners we stayed with on Friday night said she has been seeing more and more recumbents and trikes. One disclaimer....we only rode as far east as McKittrick.

I ride a short wheel base recumbent and have logged hundreds of miles on the Katy with no issues. I don't have any issues with climbing hills with my recumbent that are all that different from climbing hills with a diamond frame bike. The recumbent on the Katy is marvelous because you are in such a good riding position to view all the beauty that make the Katy such a great place to bike!

I have ridden a short wheel base 'bent before. I found it hard to ride when the trail is soft since the small front wheel had a tendency to sink more since you sit directly over it. Also I it seemed to me that the steady climbs into Pilot grove takes longer on a 'bent than on a regular bike.

Thanks for your comments.

Every year after our ride I put some of the photos in a blog post and like to share it here since I like to look at other's experiences as well. Hope you enjoy it.

http://www.houghfamilyblog.com/katy-trail-2013/

Awesome, thanks for sharing.

I never tire of looking at KT pics and reading about the rides. Great job and thanks!

Great pics + your captions were too funny! I like your sense of humor. Thanks for sharing.

How easy is it to get from McKittrick to Hermann? Is there a bicycle trail from the Katy trail in McKittrick to Hermann MO?

The shoulder along the highway is wide making an easy ride to Hermann. The bridge has a bike lane so there are no worries there. The village idiot in McKittrick may try to tell you that it's like riding in the Sahara ,Mojavi or some stupid line like that but it's an easy ride and worth the trip to Hermann.

VERY EASY!

Does anybody know if the State of Missouri or somebody has put a power sweeper on that wide berm so people can ride. Two years ago there was so much stone, pebbles and trash that my riding partner and I had to ride on the road the two miles in and out of Hermann back to the trail.

We just rode on the bridge yesterday from the trail. It was nice and clean. As a person who hates hills too, I can say it was an easy ride too. Just a slight hill.

It is a short hop for most; about 3 miles from campground with facilities. Last year with temperatures zooming around 120 degrees on the asphalt for quite a stretch; at the end of the day for weekend warriors I thought it was like the Mojave Desert. I have had the pleasure of meeting over 400 travelers from the U.S. and around the world in the last year. I have never known or met anyone with the name Anonymous. I guess it' French.

Rich Lauer
TheMerck.com

How do you make reservations. When I call the number listed it indicates that the person has not set up their voice mail? Weather permitting we are doing to ride the trail this Friday from Rochport and would like to stay in Hartsburg.

I just kept calling until Bill answered the phone.

I have been trying to reach the Caboose also by the number listed here but says that the phone is not set up. How do you confirm your reservations?

Is this place open anymore? I can't find that anyone has been here since last year.

Just heard from them on Facebook. They are indeed open!

The Claysville Store is open on Saturdays and Sundays, best food and folks on the entire trail. Their phone number is under Mark Hooibrink, not the store. They are really nice folks.

I am planning on riding from Clinton to Columbia this weekend June 1-2. Can anybody comment on the condition of the trail. I will be on slightly wider road tires?

I rode the trail last week on 700 x 32 Gatorskin Hardshells. The width was perfect for the few soggy and unpacked surface conditions that I encountered, the PSI superior to similar tires on the market,and the hardshell reliability couldn't be surpassed.

I ride the same tires mentioned with good results...and no flats...depending on the bike I'm on width of the tires ranges from 28-32.

Some flooding as noted in other posts..but it looks to me like that is east of your planned ride.

Enjoy.

Thanks for the quick response. I have 700X25 Gatorskins on right now. I'll swap them out with some 700X28 tires.

Did you make it from Boonville to Columbia, Raq this weekend?

We wanted to alert you to several areas of the trail that are flooded or will be flooded sometime this weekend. For more information or for updates on Katy Trail flooding, visit the trail's advisory webpage at http://mostateparks.com/advisories?parks=53010.

The National Weather Service is projecting the Missouri River to reach 29.5' at the Boonville gauge on Saturday, June 1. Water is over the trail west of the Rocheport tunnel (mileposts 178.9 to 181.5), between Hartsburg and Route M (mileposts 153.6 to 157.9), and will likely be over the trail between Bonne Femme Creek and Providence River Access (mileposts 161.8 to 165.5). The Katy Trail is closed in these sections. Additionally, the section of trail between mileposts 162.5 to 163.5 (Cooper's Landing to Easley near Route N) has been opened to vehicular traffic due to flooding on Smith Hatchery Road.

The Missouri River is also projected to crest at 33.5' at the St. Charles gauge on Monday, June 3. Areas of the Katy that will be closed this weekend on the east end of the trail include milepost 34, at Fontier Park and on both sides of Weldon Spring Trailhead. Flash flooding can also occur on any section of trail. Trail users should use caution and never go through flood water.

The jefferson city spur/katy connect is closed due to flooding at or near the 63 underpass . Looked like they were building up a levy across the spur to protect fields. I did see some cyclists detour on 54 hwy to the first exit ramp at north Jeff city

See my post on a comprehensive list of closed sections on the trail. Thanks.

We have a trip planned for the 7th and 8th for Rochport and east. Will these sections probably still be flooded and/or closed?

Davis, it depends on how much more rain we get between now and your trip, and how quickly the flood waters recede. There have been more areas added to the flooding list since I first made my post. For a comprehensive list, visit http://mostateparks.com/advisory/60601/flood-and-storm-damage-closures-katy-trail-state-park.

Once the flood waters recede, staff will be out on the trail cleaning up storm debris and making repairs, so the sections may still be closed even if no longer flooded. Your best bet is to check the above webpage or call the Katy Trail State Park Office before your trip -- 573-449-7402.

We stayed in Hermann last year for a couple nights and rode the Katy Trail for the first time and loved it. So we're coming back this year, riding a couple days, visiting the kid in St. Louis for a couple days, then riding the Illinois Tunnel Trail for a day.

As far as the Katy Trail, better to go east-west or west-east? I am looking at a place to stay in Rocheport and then one in Marthasville. Since we will only spend 2 days on the trail, I wanted it to be scenic. Last year we rode McKittrick to Peers and back the first day, then Rhineland to Steedman and back the next day. Suggestions would be appreciated.

The other hurdle we face is food, as we eat a plant-strong diet (i.e. vegan) and so kitchen facilities are important. Eating out is challenging, so we usually just fend for ourselves from the grocery store. If anyone knows of restaurants along the trail that have options besides an iceberg lettuce salad with a carrot and cherry tomato, we will be forever in your debt! :-)

McKittrick Mercantile will be the food oasis you are looking for. They will be happy to see you.

In 2009 my daughter and I biked from Rochebport to St.Charles with my husband as support in the car. In Rocheport we stayed at the Katy Trail Bed and Bikefest. Another trip we stayed at the School House B & B. Both are great. The Katy Trail Bed and Bikefest is selfserve breakfast, it's stocked with all you need. The School House B & B has a fantastic breakfast. The owners went out of their way to help us with a tire problem. They are great. I would expect that if you biked to where you can park your bike and hike up the bluff to Les Bouchois Winery, which is not far from Rocheport on the Katy, you should get a quality meal. Check their menu on-line. In Marthasville we stayed at the Little House. We loved it, you have the whole house. Again it is self serve breakfast. You have access to the kitchen. Perhaps you could ask the owner if you'd have access to pots to prepare your evening meal. If you could find a place on the route with a grocery store where you could buy some fresh vegetables, you could fix your own evening meal. I think it's Washington where the bridge over the river is not bike friendly (that's an understatement). So don't plan on biking to Washington. Now, if you stayed at the Rendleman B & B at Bluffton, Doug Rendleman will prepare a great evening meal for you. My daughter was a vegetarian at the time and he did a great job of preparing food she could eat. His B & B is not a high end hoity toity place, but spending an evening with Doug is priceless. And again, you get an evening meal and breakfast. Have a great trip.

The Tunnel Hill Trail is quite diverse, from the cypress-tupelo swamp on the southern end to the forest north of Vienna and Tunnel Hill. Breeden trestle is the longest of many and has some good views over the tree tops.

When we went there a few years back, we cut south of Hermann to St. Genevieve and rode the MODOT ferry across the Mississippi and on to Vienna.

Meat eaters here, so can't offer any Vegan advice.

Boonville is a decent alternative to staying in Rocheport. The Hotel Frederick is an early 1900's hotel that has been nicely renovated and is affordable with often a discount for Katy riders. Glen's Cafe is a nice place to eat and is in the hotel. It's a short (12 mile or so) drive from there to Rocheport.

You might check out Abigails for vegan food in Rocheport. It's a bit upscale in dining choice. The General Store is good for sandwich type food. Both are downtown Rocheport....similar to the old downtown in Omaha, as you will see. The ride along the bluffs east of Rocheport is one of the most scenic along the trail....tunnel/ammunitions bunker/petroglyphs/stately bluffs/river/etc.

Les Bourgeois winery is on top of the bluff northeast of Rocheport. Their bistro is a good dining choice which may offer vegan fare. It and the A-frame have great view of the Missouri River valley from the bluff top.

Hi Michele,
Thank you Hank, yes the McKittrick Farmers Mercantile is now carrying organic and natural snacks, with vegan options as well as prepared food in the kitchen. If you come by during the week call, we're probably still around and will open the door for you, =have a nice trip.

This is Maggie at the Concord Hill Bed and Breakfast in Marthasville, at the Peers stop on the Katy Trail. We are very accommodating with any special diets including Vegan and Gluten free. We also serve dinner if booked in advance. Check us out!

Thank you everyone for your very detailed descriptions of the trail, sights, lodging and food! We will make note of everything, and are looking forward to our trip. Now, if the weather would just cooperate!