Katy Trail Forum

I see it has been awhile since last asked - any updates to the bridge that would allow a safe ride across?

What?

I don't know of any unsafe bridges on the KATY. The longest is across the Missouri, but it seems safe to me. There are some shorter wooden ones that are noisey to ride on, but they also seem safe for bicycles.

Well my entry into the "guess what bridge I'm talking about" is the Washington MO bridge and no there has been no update.

Congrats Gary - your are the winner! My apologies to all - I was asking about the bridge over the Missouri into Washington. Most of the advice I've seen says not to try to ride it.

Even though I have done it, and ONLY by riding two abreast, and traffic behind just has to wait, sorry, and in fact have done it twice and really had no problems--despite all this it is NOT a safe ride and I couldn't really recommend it. The new bridge (2017-18) will have a bike lane but until then it's a no man's land.

For a shuttle ride across the bridge in question, call us at Revolution Cycles. We can safely transport up to 4 riders, bicycles, and equipment from the Dutzow trailhead into Wasington to the destination of your choice.
877-433-2909. If after hours, leave a message, we'll call you back.

I am planning a trip from Clinton to St. Charles and back in early June. I plan to camp most nights and am trying to decide whether or not to bring a small tent or use my Bug beater hammock and a tarp. My question is whether most of the camping sites would have a spot to hang a hammock?

I've struggled with that too. My decision to stay with a tent boils down to the fact that camping in non-camping areas on the Katy is frowned upon, and most of the places to camp (of which, there are plenty) are usually a grassy spot somewhere. I think either would work, but IMO a tent spot on Katy is easier to find than a hammock spot.

A tent is the only way to go.

Thanks for the input!!

LTR, "open range" camping is not a good idea on the KT. Very sensitive subject with land owners along the trail. Best find a campsite of which there are many and safer.

I've done enough research to know that just camping anywhere is not acceptable. Just trying to determine if many of the established campgrounds would have a place to hang a hammock & tarp, rather than pitch a tent. I can sleep much better in the hammock.

Best to plan your trip so that you end up at a camping area. Take a few car trips to the areas, phone the campsites, make a realistic time table, and allow time for unforeseen i.e. site seeing, extra breaks etc.. "Those who fail to plan have planed to fail"

I am on the Katy now and a tent is the way to go. The map that is svailable at the trail head will give you camping towns. There will be a few b&b or hotel stays so plan on big miles or big bucks those days.

We have a planned ride from Clinton to St. Charles beginning May 9 for 5 days. At seems there is talk of flooding along the rivers. Are there sections of the trail that flood regularly and sections that are never effected by flooding?

You can go to this page of the DNR site: http://mostateparks.com/page/58843/potential-flood-locations
It gives potential flooding areas based on the level gauges at Booneville and St. Charles.

See this thread about ten down: Katy Trail closures from flooding. Dawn has some good info in her post. You migh also search the forum for flooding/closures/Dawn (the DNR Katy coordinator who keeps us all so well informed).

This morning I noticed some areas that had some minor washouts throughout the Greens Bottom section. Though the ride may be a bit rough for a short time, it is still navigable.

We have been planning this ride for a long time and have reservations. I know it is still a couple weeks before our trip, but we are getting fired up to go. I assume the RR was built with all this in mind and was engineered to avoid regular flooding, but was just wondering if anyone had any info on the reality of the flooding threat.

If you look at the site I posted above you will see that it forecasts out about a week in the future what the predicted river levels will be.

I hope this is not a duplicate post: I just googled "flood levels on missouri river at jefferson city missouri" and the first site was the advanced hydrologic prediction service: St. Louis: Missouri River. You can see what the level at Jefferson City is, what they are predicting, and scroll down and you'll see what happens at other places along the river based on different levels in Jefferson City. Flooding can be a yearly thing here. Even if it's dry here, if it rains nw of here in an area that drains into the river, we'll have high levels. Check the sites in Dawn's post (another poster mentioned it above) and watch for Dawn's updates on this forum. If you encounter flooding, it's possible there will be a detour for bicyclists that is marked. You'll have a great time. And about the railroad, one reason they abandoned this route was because of constant repairs due to flooding. But don't worry, you are going to have the experience of a lifetime. Be sure and stop at Standing Rock, between Mokane and Bluffton, and read the information on the display boards about the flood levels marked on the rock. The sites Midsouth and Trek mentioned will help you know what to expect. But just know there may be some issues, but that it doesn't have to mess up your trip. Have a great time.

Thank you everyone. The comments are most helpful.

Does anyone know if The Gathering Place is still open near New Franklin?

No, The Gathering Place is no longer in business. My wife Penny and I opened The Coffee Cup Family Diner in the same building on December 10th, 2012. The Coffee Cup is a full-service restaurant that takes pride in serving breakfast, lunch and dinner on a daily basis. We have daily specials, serve a variety of sandwiches, homemade onion rings, soup and salad bar, catfish and fried chicken every day except Monday when we are closed. Hours of business are as follows, Sunday:7a-9p, Monday-closed, Tuesday through Saturday: 7a-9p.

Thanks for the info, Darryl. I have added you to the New Franklin page, and removed the Gathering Place. If you post your phone number, I'll add it too. Best wishes for success!

Thank-you so much! Our number is 660-848-9855.

I wish you would have been open last September when I rode the entire trail Clinton-Machens-Clinton. After camping at KATY roundhouse, I looked for breakfast in New Franklin, and, finding none, I rode on to Rocheport and made the huge mistake of eating at the Trailside Cafe (yuk!). I wish you all the best. You fill a real need for those who camp at KATY roundhouse.

Merrill, sorry about the bad experience you had. Thank-you so much for the well-wishes and we hope we can do this for awhile too! Maybe if you are in the area in September of this year you can stop by and have some delicious food! Before we opened this restaurant, we drove truck over-the-road and we went through Albuquerque all the time and stayed there as well. It is very beautiful!

To the webmaster: I made a mistake on the restaurant hours for Sundays. It should read as follows, Sunday: 7a-3pm. Thanks, Darryl.

Got it, thanks Darryl!

Can one still get pastry etc at the Casey's convenience store there when all else is closed?

Casey's is the most reliable stop, especially for cyclists all along the KT, MO and other states. My vote too Anon.

I'm curious as to how many people ride horses on the trail. Are there services available for those of us with horses? Any info will be helpful.

From the July 30, 2012 Katy Trail Economic Impact Report from MO Bike Fed:

87% of respondents said the Katy Trail was the main reason for their visit to the area.

33% of visitors were local (traveled less than 30 miles to reach the trailhead). 67% of visitors were nonlocal.

About 93% were from Missouri, 6% from out of state.

84% participated in bicycling.

20% participated in walking.

Less than 1% participated in horseback riding on the Katy Trail.

No respect for the 1%'s. They do have means.

Is there news on when the trailheads' restrooms and water will open this year? If it's already on the site & I have overlooked it, apologies...

I think they were turned back on April 1st. They were open last weekend.

Ah, thank you very much. I'd overlooked that. Planning our first ride this year on the trail on Saturday the 27th!

Was on trail from Tebbets to Weldon Springs. All restrooms were open this past weekend.

Perfect, thank you guys. We're looking forward to our daytrip ride this Saturday. Our first time on the trail since mid-October.