Katy Trail Forum

My father and I are planning on doing this trail in late may/early june. We are deciding between bringing our bikes via plane or renting them once we get there. What do you think is the cheapest way? Also, does anyone know if the trail will be finished to Kansas City by then?

Renting in Rocheport looks like $30/day per bike, if you don't really mind about the specific bike you prefer. Sending by plane (both ways) unless you pack well or have a hard case risks the airlines damaging your bikes. I've shipped my bike without any problems worldwide in a soft case with styrofoam and tape. For me I would want my own bike if spending a week on the trail. As far as the KC leg, they are only working on a Green Ridge spur and it will not be done and not go all the way into KC.

To me, it would depend on how much of the trip is about the cycling on the Katy. If you are just going to ride incidentally to your trip, rent. If your trip is so that you can ride, you won't be happy using someone else's bike, so bring yours: small differences on a strange bike (I.e. the seat) could make the trip a real pain (pun intended).

The trail is not, and will not be complete to KC this year. I bet it won't get done until 2016

I'd be happy with the KC connection being done by 2016, but I'm not optimistic about it.

If you are in the area of the KT on Memorial Day weekend, you could join the couple thousand riders doing Pedaler's Jamboree!!! I am!

There are good places to rent along the trail. Most of them offer some sort of shuttle or know where you can make those arrangements. If you wanted a bike with certain accessories, I'd spend the money to bring your own.

Keep us posted though, so we know when to look for ya!

Cheapest way is to buy 2 sub $100 bikes at walmart, then donate them at the end of your ride.

I'm no expert but we're planning a trip on the Katy Trail in a couple of weeks, and we're shipping our bikes via Amtrak. We're flying to Kansas City, picking up our bikes at the Amtrac station and riding Amtrak to Sedalia to start our ride.

Martha, that sounds like a pretty good plan. I've never shipped a bike by plane or train, so I have no valid input on those methods.

The train ride to Sedalia should be nice. Hope your trip goes off without a hitch and that you have a great ride on KT!

Early in the game I gave Rich some crap about advertising Joey's on just about every thread that came even close to concerning McKittrick. While I stand by those posts ( because we all know I don't make mistakes) after having supper there Friday, and meeting Rich and Joey, I have to say Rich and Joey are the type of folks that make the KATY what it is. I had 2 huge bowls of excellent gumbo for $12 and more than 2 hours of free entertainment upstairs in the dance hall. I'm pretty sure the wife and I will be back.

Thank you Jim,
Glad you enjoyed the gumbo, I don't recall meeting you so say hello next time you stop in at the McKittrick Farmers Mercantile. My place, Joey's Birdhouse is actually the B&B next door. Thanks again, Joey

We love Joey's birdhouse and will be there a couple of days next week. Can't wait to stay again!

The Missouri River is predicted to crest at 28.3' at the Boonville Gage sometime early Saturday morning, April 20. When this happens, the Katy Trail will be under water between mileposts 178.9 to 181.5 west of the Rocheport tunnel, between mileposts 153.6 and 157.9 between Hartsburg and Rt. M, and possibly between mileposts 161.8 to 165.5 between Bonne Femme Creek and the Providence River Access.

Additionally, the parking lot at the Providence River Access at milepost 165.5 will be under water, as will Easley River Road near milepost 162. While the road is under water, the trail will be opened to local vehicular traffic in this area so users need to exercise caution and expect to encounter vehicles on the trail.

The Missouri River is also predicted to crest at 31.9' at the St. Charles Gage sometime early Monday morning, April 22. When this happens, the Katy Trail will be under water between mileposts 34 and 34.7 east of St. Charles, on either side of the Weldon Spring trailhead at milepost 56, and possible near Frontier Park in St. Charles.

The trail will be closed at the flooded locations and signs posted to warn users of the temporary closures. Additionally, flash flooding can occur across the trail from area creeks and streams. Trail users will need to avoid these areas and should never travel through flood water.

For updates and other trail advisories, check out our website at http://www.mostateparks.com/park/katy-trail-state-park.

Thanks so much for the information, Dawn, this will change my plans for the weekend. What a difference a year makes -- or even a couple of months in this case!

Four of us plan to ride the trail from St Charles to Sedalia from April 22 to 27th. Can you update flooding conditions as our date gets closer. Thanks.

Wow, Thank You, although I doubt I'll get to ride at this time, it's nice to know that informed folks are looking out for us. I do hope that there's no lasting damage to the trail in the areas near Boonville. I have three terrific days on the trail up there during Pedaler's Jamboree.

FYI, link to flood info on Katy to bookmark if you are traveling:

http://mostateparks.com/page/58843/potential-flood-locations

Thanks so much for posting this kind of info. The management and upkeep of this trail has impressed me soo munch since I got here. Is there a place/person/organization we can volunteer with to help with post flood clean up?

Thanks Dawn! We plan to ride from McKittrick to St. Charles on May 25-26. Is there a number we can call to get an update like this in case it rains?

We have great news! Because we did not receive the anticipated amounts of precipitation during yesterday’s storms, the National Weather Service has significantly backed off its flood predictions for the Missouri River.

The river is now predicted to crest at 23.8’ at the Boonville Gauge around 7 a.m. Saturday morning, April 20, which is about 4’ above flood stage but thankfully not high enough to flood the Katy Trail at the originally listed locations near Rocheport, Hartsburg and Providence. Additionally, it is not anticipated that the Easley River Road will be flooded.

The river is predicted to crest at 28.2’ at the St. Charles Gauge around 7 p.m. on Sunday, April 21, about 3’ above flood stage. At this flood stage, the Katy Trail may still be under water between mileposts 34 and 34.7 east of St. Charles, but will not be flooded near Weldon Spring Trailhead or Frontier Park.

Trail users will still need to exercise caution, as they may encounter areas of rough surface or debris across the trail where storm water overtopped culverts and ditches. These areas will be signed and staff is working diligently to make repairs as quickly as possible.

In answer to some of the posts about receiving updates prior to trips, we'll continue to post updates here, on our Katy Trail Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/#!/KatyTrailStatePark), and on our Katy Trail website. The neat thing about our Katy Trail website is that we provide a webpage that lists potential flood locations on the trail (http://mostateparks.com/page/58843/potential-flood-locations) and also provides a link to the National Weather Service's hydrologic prediction pages for the Missouri River at the Boonville and St. Charles gauges.

You're also more than welcome to call the Katy Trail State Park office at 573-449-7402 for updates on storm damage, construction projects, special events, etc. This is also the number to call if you're interested in volunteerin

FANTASTIC CUSTOMER SERVICE!! Thanks Dawn.

Absolutely fantastic, helpful, & timely info, thanks so much. A couple friends & I are planning a daytrip ride on the 27th. This gives confidence to expectations about trail conditions. Thanks again!

On Saturday (4/20) , Easley River Road was under water near MM 162. Traffic was rerouted onto the trail. Interesting when 2 cars meet!

Thanks for all the information. Four of us are planning a ride May 2 to May 5. First from St. Charles to Marthasville, then west awhile and back to Augusta, returning to St. Charles on the 5th. Unpleasantness from the rainy forecast aside, will we encounter any residual problems on this route?

Duane, if we receive any rain, you may encounter some minor washouts or areas with rough surface, but these will be posted. Enjoy your trip!

Is the Trail practical for a road bike with 700 X 25C tires?

My friend and I did an out and back (468 miles) on the Katy last summer. She - a road bike with 700x25 and me a cyclocross with 700x28 (I pulled a trailer). We never had any flats and no issues other than avoiding the crevices that appeared due to the drought conditions. It never rained on our nine day trip so the trail was dry.

I should add, I did purchase new Continental Gatorskin Hardshells for the trip and I am still running them with an additional 500 miles on then and no flats. I am either lucky or what I researched on line about them was true.

I agree with your tire selection and have had similar good luck with them on the KATY. I ride 28s...my riding buddy rides 25s (as that is the widest tire he can get on his road bike). We are both pleased as, in addition to numerous day trips of 50-80 miles on the KATY, we have ridden Clinton-St. Charles twice on these tires with no flats. We're either lucky - or those tires are really good for this use. Probably a bit of both...

I would appreciate any feedback from anyone who has been on the trail this weekend between St. Charles and Columbia...any washouts, flooding, etc. that a group of cyclists should know about for this weekend? I am with a group that is planning on riding this weekend and would be grateful for any comments about trail conditions.

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.