Katy Trail Forum

I plan on riding the whole length of the Katy, what should I do to get prepared...

This is a super open ended question, Fred. How much do you currently ride? How many miles are you comfortable doing in a day? How many days do you intend to take to do it? Do you intend to camp? Stay in hotels/B&B's? Etc.

My super short answer to you is - use the resources on this very useful site to shape your planning. Read the ride reports to see what others did to prepare, what they brought along, how many miles they averaged per day, etc. Consider which direction you want to ride (E-W or W-E), where you'll stay, etc. Be aware of the effect of the time of year (weather, trail conditions, will the trailheads be open or, as they are now, closed) etc etc.

They have youtube videos of people riding the KT. That's the easy start to see it up close first. Then Ray (websmaster) has trip journals of many people who have documented their rides. Jump right in Fred, the water is fine.

Give yourself plenty of time to make the ride. Don't judge by distance alone, because there is plenty to stop and do and photos to take along the way. Depending on your overnight arrangements, camping or hotel / B&B... make sure to hydrate, most of the route has good stops, but the distance can sometimes stretch out for real hydration..plenty of winery or cafe spirits.
Toughen up the butt endurance and have fun!

Are the trip journals on the site? I would be interested in reading ones from people that have done a trip with camping.

You can get to the journals by clicking on Trip Planner, scroll down to the Other Useful Information section and click on Ride Reports and Journals.

Ride a lot and buy tires with good flat protection.

The more you ride beforehand the more you'll be able to enjoy the ride on the KATY. Don't ride beforehand and you'll suffer on the KATY.

Spend too much time changing flats on the KATY and you won't have fun either.

Just my 2 cents.

If you are used to riding on asphalt, you should start riding in a gear that is 1 or 2 above what you normally do. Then when you start on the Katy, you will be used to the drag of the limestome. More work before your trip means a much more pleasant time during your trip.

Tnx's for all the info, will ride about 20 miles a day, will be carrying my ham gear with me, will be setting up at some of the towns

Fred, Is your ham gear very heavy? If so, leisurely 20 mi. days are a good idea.

No my radio gear is as lite as they come

Fred what is your call sign ? I am WB0PTD

You'll have to plan carefully to find towns spaced at approx 20 miles along the trail. At least, to find towns that have anywhere to stay overnight. Good luck!

I'm the daughter of Nick (now deceased) W0OHC from Sedalia MO.

A friend and I are in our early 50's and one of the things on our "bucket" list is to branch out and do something crazy- like ride the Katy trail! We are not experienced riders but do ride a few times a week, mainly on concrete and sometimes trails. We are "training" to possibly ride the entire route within a week sometime in September or October. I would invite any suggestions on clothing, training, expenses,type of bike and tires, type of back pack, etc. We are planning on starting in Clinton and finishing up in Machens. At the present time I have a Cannondale F600 bike with knobby tires- appreciate your suggestions! God Bless

I'm late 50s and try to ride Clinton-St. Charles every year. Have made several trips across.

You'll get lots of great advise here. Take it all as opinion (including my comments) and make the choices that make you comfortable and happy...and have a blast.

Here is my 2 cents..

I like to travel light and carry as little as possible...a change of clothes for evening, a toothbrush, a credit card, a couple tools, a few tubes and a patch kit. I use hotels and B&Bs.

I ride in lycra bike clothes because I find them comfortable. I wash them out when I arrive and they are dry and ready to go the next morning.

My wife takes me to Clinton and drops me off. I ride to Boonville and usually stay at the Casino (now that they let bikes in). Day 2 I usually ride to Dollhouse B&B in Rhineland. Day 3 into St. Charles and stay at the Country Inn right on the trail downtown. Easy walk downtown for a good meal that evening. Day 4 I ride back to Hermann in the morning and catch Amtrak back to KS in the evening. Wife picks me up there and home we go.

On the KATY, I ride a single speed bike with 28mm tires with AWESOME FLAT PROTECTION. IF I COULD ONLY OFFER ONE PIECE OF ADVISE...MAKE SURE YOU HAVE GOOD FLAT PROTECTION TIRES. I hate changing flats and there are plenty of things that can flatten your tires on the KATY if you're not prepared. The single speed bike works great for me. (I also rode the KATY on a cross bike with 32mm knobby tires. I found them sluggish and wider than I needed/wanted.)

Again - that's just my 2 cents. You'll hear other advise that's different. It's not wrong....it's just different. Ride what you have as long as it's comfortable!

Enjoy!!

Nike made a bajillion dollars on this slogan for a reason: Just Do It! If you ride a few times a week already you will be fine.

A couple points: Get a bike rack. Don't carry your stuff in a backpack. Your local bike shop will get you started on a rack.

Two: Get some longer rides in before you start. Get accustomed to going at least 30-40 miles without incident. Obviously the more fit you are the better, but truly you don't need a high level of fitness. You just need to acclimate the body to long rides.

Much more advice where this came from. Main thing is to just do it.

I have been out around sections close to St. Louis most weekends with my family. We have a variety of bikes and tires, and all work fine, including road bikes (with fairly skinny tires - 28mm).

We have never had a flat tire, but I still worry about it every trip. There can be an issue with thorns in some sections (near Machens?) based on other comment threads.

Two other words of advice:

1. The wind can be your friend or enemy. Pay attention to the forecast, and peherpa plan shorter days if you have a strong headwind.

2. Call ahead to make sure critical food stops are still in business or open when you need them.

Have fun!

I echo the comments about flat protection. If you are going in Sep-Oct, you will likely see the dreaded goathead thorns. Go to your local bike shop and tell them you are going to be riding in thorns and they will fix you up. They have thorn-resistant tubes and tires. The other benefit I have found is that they seem to hold the air longer.
As for being ready, if you can ride 50 miles comfortably on flat roads, you can probably do 35-40 on the Katy (extra resistance due to limestone friction).
Plan plenty of time to stop and take pictures and to enjoy/support the local towns. Why force a 3-day killer trip when a 6-day pleasurable trip will make you want to come back again?
Pack light but make sure to drink lots of gatorade or equivalent, even if it does not seem hot. And since I am 52, I would suggest you also take your favorite "recovery" tablet -- Aleve or similar.

All good advice, but the first comment Hank made is the most important. NO BACKPACK. Your butt on the saddle is the weak link. Do you want more weight pushing down on your butt or on the bike frame? Also weight high is harder to handle. Saddle sore will kill the trip faster than anything. I like a trailer but saddle bags work fine and are less money and you don't need a trailer unless you are camping. Then the abilty to pack odd shaped gear down LOW is well worth it.

The camping option is good but if you want to travel lighter staying at B&Bs or hotels works for me if you want to pay for it. Plus the back, bottom and legs, being in your 50's get more rest in a bed between the long days in the saddle. Also Sept/Oct you are getting into weather swings with rain, so camping in the rain is not a good time for me. Anon has it right.

A friend and I are getting ready for our 12th(?) Katy Trail trip, and love it! Pack VERY light, just something to wear in the evening and your toothbrush. Nearly every B&B and small hotel allows you to do laundry, or you can wash your bike shorts and shirt and socks out in the sink. I prefer a small square bag on a rack to panniers (saddle bags) because it doesn't weigh you down as much and forces you to pack only the necessities. Do take a light rain jacket, because MO weather is unpredictable.

Just DO IT, and enjoy!!! We are in our late 50's, and typically don't bike at all between our annual trips on the Katy Trail. And we do just fine. Oh, ride west to east (toward St Charles) for more downhill ease.

We love doing around 40-45 miles per day. It doesn't kill you, and allows time in the evening to enjoy a good meal, wine (you're biking thru MO's wine region, after all), and conversation. I've (fingers crossed, knocking on wood) never had a flat on the Katy Trail, but it's happened often to people I ride with. The thorns are terrible!

We stayed at Joey's Birdhouse this last Tuesday and Friday. We love that place!!! Can't say enough. Joey is a fantastic cook and will cook dinner for a small fee. The breakfast left in the room is fantastic. Joey and Rich are very nice and will make you feel at home. Great place to stay!

Thank you Denise, it was our pleasure to have you back again, glad you enjoyed it. I like making supper for the guests once in a while especially when we have a chance to visit.

Anyone know the trail conditions near Augusta (From Dutzow to Defiance) and any thing we should be aware of on our tript his weekend to KATY?

I would like to do a day or two on the trail, camping at the start of the trip, then having a lake cabin for a night or two at the tail end. We could load the bikes and drive to the cabin if necessary, so it doesn't have to be right on the Katy. I welcome any suggestions for places to look for a cabin. Thanks.

The trail doesn't pass any real lakes, but if you Google "Lake of the Ozarks" you will find hundreds of cabins for rent.

As far as houses go, I HIGHLY recommed The Little House in Marthasville. Its a 2 room house 150 yards off the trail, near restaurants, bars, etc. Click on Marthasville on the above trail map for more info.

If you did that, you could spend 2 days West of there camping, then ride to Marhtasville.

We picked up all the trash surrounding the Rocheport trail head by the old depot for the second time. You would think the citizens of Rocheport would have more respect for the Depot and the Trail.

Ever think it might be the trail rider's and not the towns people's resposibility to pick up their own trash. I have picked up trash along my rides in places no where near a trail head. So if you are using the trail, please be respectful and dispose of your trash properly.

I feel for you Anonymous. I cleaned my room and did the dishes last night, and no one thanked me either.

Doing a short ride on Saturday and was wondering what is still open in Hartsburg? I've heard the Big Muddy and the Bistro are closed? Is this true?

Don't know about that, but Dottie's is open.

There is a new place next door to where the Big Muddy was, I beleive it is called The Grand.

I ate at the Grand last October. Food is great. Staff was very friendly. Bit, pricey, but I thought worth the money.

I always have good food at Dotty's.

Yes, the Big Muddy and the Hart Creek Bistro are closed. But the new Hartsburg Grand Restaurant is an absolute gem!

The Grand is a gem and there will be bluegrass/accoustic music on Sunday, May 26th from 3-6pm Hickory Moon will perform.

Thinking about taking a trip across the Katy Trail and back this summer. I live in Indiana so I need long term parking options. I was thinking of parking at the St. Louis Airport and taking a cab to the trail head. Any thoughts? Also, do I need to make reservations for accommodations, or can I just hop on and get a room when I am ready to stop for the day? Any other tips would be greatly appreciated.

If your trip is during the summer months, I would do a little more planning on where you plan to stay. Some of the towns have limited accommodations and are likely to be booked up, especially on weekends. You shouldn't have any problems leaving your vehicle at the St. Charles trail head for the week.

Definitly park in St. Charles across from the trail. No charge!

I agree that the St. Charles parking is a good idea.

I would definitely have reservations. I know it makes the trip a little less "spontaneous" but it beats the heck out of not having a bed (if you're not carrying camping supplies).

I always have reservations when I am going end-to-end.

Enjoy!

Definitely make reservations. I did West to East and back last September. I did 50/50 camping, B&B/hotel. Places I stayed and recommend: Lococo House I or II in St. Charles; Rendlemann Home B&B in Bluffton; Myer's Hilltop Farm B&B (Hermann); Bothwell Hotel in Sedalia; USA Inn in Clinton.

Parking at St. Charles is abundant. No worries. Really.

If you don't have reservations at B&B's or cabins, bring a tent, you'll need it.

You need to let the St Charles Police know you will be parking long term. They patrol the parking lots. This has been stated in another discussion on this forum.

Does anyone have a suggestion for a breakfast place near Klondike park? We can drive or ride.

Dottys will be open this weekend regular hours and also Monday if it doesn;t rain, with limited menu and limited staff, but would like to be there for you because as far as I know no one else is open. Hope to see you at Dottys!

need help where does one camp past Augusta-Klondike Park? there is no place around St.Charles.I dont have the money for a room..Tent camping..

The only place I know of is 370 lakeside park. It's 6 miles from St Charles via back road and trail.

Is there any place to legitimately camp in a tent near St. Charles? Sundermeier's is RV camping only.

I don't know. There is no place that I have found yet. I just started planing my trip starting on May 09 in Clinton. I cant find anyplace to camp near St. Charles.

In the past, to finish the trail, I have done a 27 mile (one way) out and back from Klondike Park, a nice campground at Augusta. It is a nice ride to the St. Charles riverfront area, but now, on to Machens to the end would be a pretty long out and back ride.

Klondike is at MM64 with Machens at MM29, that is a 70 mile round trip. I don't know of another place that you could officially camp along the trail, but if you are desperate, I would call the City of St. Charles Parks and Rec department to see if they had any suggestions.

Since you're coming from Indpls, are you looking for a place to camp then ride the next day? Or do you want to look around St Charles? The place I've stayed is the KOA Kampground in Granite City, IL. (618-931-5160) The price is $25 for a single tent and you're camping on grass. The campground is in an industrial area but is nice place. Take IL Hwy 3 south which is the last exit before you cross the Mississippi River. Call them for directions. I've stayed there five times before riding the Katy or seeing my son.

Brett Dufur's Katy Trail guidebook has tent camping at Sundermeier. Give them a call
(800) 929-0832 or (636) 940-0111 www.gocampingamerica.com/sundermeier

5/17/2013 Just spoke to Sundermeier and was told... NO TENT CAMPING AND NO I DONT KNOW WHERE YOU CAN CAMP NEAR HERE.

Not exactly helpfull. I thought the Katy Trail was bike friendly, why in the world is Sundermeir even listed as an option for camping. I've not yet seen someone pulling a RV with a bike....

There is a new 370 lakeside park in St. Peters MO that has tent camping. It's not on the Katy but you could get there by back road and trail it looks like. It's about 6 miles from St. Charles

I've never seen bikes on the back of RV's but maybe some people with big campers ride bikes too.

I thought the corn was tall in Iowa but it was barely up last weekend.

I want to bike the Katy Trail from Creve Coeur park to Augusta, spend the night in Augusta, and then bike back to Creve Coeur park. However, the park does not allow overnight parking. Any suggestions for a safe place to park nearby?

crave coeur airport?