Katy Trail Forum

The hostel is a decent place to stop over on the trail. There are plenty of beds and all of the facilities work. I am not sure we will stay here again.

Like another commenter from early this summer, our stay was fine until a couple arrived at the shelter at around midnight. They were not hikers or cyclists, they arrived in a dark-colored compact car. They initially turned on the lights, then apologized and scurried around the house. They left within 5 minutes.

I would advise that anyone staying here bring the key inside when the last person goes to sleep and place it outside in the morning. It is common knowledge that the key is outside.

Good advice. Lock your doors to keep intruders out.

What will the hours be when reopened this week?

Should have read the comments!

Google maps thinks there is a way to drive a car to Machens trail head. There really isn't. You can get close if you ignored the "No access" signs.

Portage Des Sioux Nature Area is a pleasant area for a picnic lunch to celebrate the end of the trail.

Lovely place. Got one of the "single night only - walk in" sites. They only have 5 of these. But on a non-holiday Friday night, only 3 where taken. The rest of the campground was full. The "full campground" sign at the drive-in entrance might have discouraged some people. I'll use the on-line reservation system to guarantee a spot next time.

Showers were hot and very welcome. Camp kitchen was a major bonus - we ate off plates instead of out of the pot! All of it was very clean.

Other campers said there was load music until 3am. We didn't hear it at all. As others have noted, firewood is not available on site. Non-electric sites are now $10. Cell coverage is pretty good. Lots of trees, so hammockers can probably find something that works for them.

Meant to add a summary on 9/28/2022 but I forgot.

What others have said: this is just a gravel parking lot in the flood plain. No water, no shade, no fire pit, no picnic table. I forgot to check cell service but I doubt there is any. Note that Google maps show roads in the area that aren't usable. They are roped off and extremely overgrown.

We opted not to stay when I realized our dinner was still very frozen and there was only 20 minutes of daylight remaining. Plus the US 40 bridge is under construction and I would have to back track through Boonvile anyway.

The Katy Trail bridge is open and looks very nice. The approach from the west is marked with red spray paint on the gravel.

Mokane Lions Club park is a large gravel parking lot. There are 5 covered pavilions with concrete floors. Some have picnic tables. A couple having over hanging eaves which may or may not keep a hammock dry.

The restrooms were open with running water but very dirty. Women's was ok if you ignored all the wads of TP on the floor but the men's was unusable. Both still smelled better than the vault toilet at the trail head.

Traffic on 94 and Fulton road was light enough to be unnoticed from about 9pm-5am. Train whistles were intermittent all night. But when Travel Pup need to go at 5am, we also heard chickens and cows. Had cell coverage near Fulton road but not toward the back of the lot.

Stayed here because of 2 flat tires (some kind of prickly thing on the trail). Hope this summary is helpful.

WOW!! What a gem. Fabulous facility. Friendly staff. We knew we would be very close to their closing time, so I called to verify their procedure for overnight parking. We made it with a few minutes to spare but they told us not to worry if we didn't. Just to come in when they opened in the morning.

Travel Pup enjoyed the Paws Bark Park. Unfortunately we slept too late and I missed the swimming pool hours.

A buddy and I just finished a 3 day Clinton to Machens trip. For anyone interested, here’s our itinerary and some comments.

Day 1 Clinton to Rocheport. Left at about 830 am. Lunch in Sedalia at Fitters Pub, about 4 blocks from the trail. Good lunch, outdoor patio so bikes were close while we ate. Stayed in Rocheport at the School House Dorm (South room) 2 blocks off the trail. The Dorm was great - clean, looked recently renovated. Locking bike storage shed. We ate dinner at the winery after taking an Uber there. We planned on eating at the General Store but were told we needed reservations when we got there. Who would have guessed.

Day 2 Rocheport to McKittrick. Left at about 8. Lunch at Muddy Bottoms in Tebbetts. They’re getting up and running. Good food but no running water yet so plan to buy bottles to fill hydration packs. Nice folks. Definitely worth the extra few miles down the trail to skip riding into Jeff City. Stayed at Joeys Birdhouse in McKittrick. Nice folks and good breakfast in the morning. They offer the barn for bike storage but I’d note it is an open barn so bring a bike lock or plan to bring your bike in your room. We took an Uber into Herman and ate at the Tin Mill Brewery. Good bar food.

Day 3 McKittrick to Machens. Left at about 8. Lunch at Defiance Roadhouse. Good bar food again. Big patio with plenty of space to park bikes nearby.

Overall it was a great ride and I’d recommend any/all of the places we ate and stayed.

My husband and I just finished the trail and want to recommend the following places that were great stops for us. Westbridge Inn in Clinton, Hotel Bothwell in Sedalia, SchoolHouse BNB in Rocheport , Katy Trail Cottage in Jefferson City and Lindenhof in Augusta. Luggage transfer service with Joey Grace and van shuttle with Todd all worked seamlessly. Cleanest and best stocked trailhead bathroom was in Marthasville. Trail was in great shape and people were friendly everywhere. Wonderful experience.

Thanks Beth, we appreciate riders like you, And you didn't even complain about the dust on the trail. Come back.

Does anyone know if Muddy Bottoms in Tebbets/Mokane is open? Looking to stop in for lunch on Saturday afternoon but can’t verify that it’s open.

their phone is 573-676-3119

Muddy Bottoms is open. It’s just off the trail. Food and bottled drinks but no running water yet. Overall a great alternative to stopping in Jeff City.

Hello,a buddy of mine and I will be taking the Amtrak from KC to Washington and riding back to KC. We have reserved bike spots on the train. Rules state no larger than 2" tires. Ours are both a little wider than that but the rims are not. IF we deflated the tires some, would there be any issue nanging from their hooks or however they store them? Any advice would be beneficial, thanks in advance.

It's been a few years since we used Amtrak, and our tires were thinner than 2", so I guess I really don't know if that would keep you from getting on the train or not.
However regarding Amtrak -my husband and I wanted to take Amtrak back to Sedalia from Washington the end of October. They only show availability for 1 bike on the morning train. So I looked at several other dates, trying to find a day that we could get both bikes on the train, willing to work our bike trip around that. As it happens, I looked up every day all the way throuth the end of the year, and there was never a morning train from Washington to Sedalia that posted more than 1 bike slot available. This did not seem right to me - unless for some reason they really don't want cyclists using the train service. I have emailed Amtrak, but have not heard back. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I'm pretty disappointed that we have to hire a shuttle service. I really prefer taking the train.

My wife called Amtrak once, and sat on hold for a very long time, and then had a very good conversation with an agent. Might be worth trying.

Seems like trains either have hooks on the wall, or a space where you just lean your bike against a wall. I doubt anyone is carrying a ruler to measure tires, so whether you succeed could depend on which type of car you end up with, and if your tire will actually fit the hooks.

Hello, I just rode Amtrak yesterday from Herman to Lees Summit. There was no checking of tires. You just put your bike on the train where they tell you. The hardest part is loading and unloading your bikes up the steep steps on the train. But the conductor helps you out.

We'll be starting a ride on the Katy Trail next weekend and would like to know if it will be safe to leave our car at the Clifton City trail head. Have there been any instances of break-ins at the trail heads?

We have not left a vehicle at the Clifton City trailhead. May be ok to do so…is pretty remote without much of a parking lot.

We have left our vehicle at the Sedalia depot with no problem. The locals watch the lot and the folks at the depot will take your car/personal info in case you need notified.

Anyone have a suggestion for a good bed and breakfast close to the Katy Trail for October 7 or 8th?

I'm looking for something closer to K.C. than St. Louis.

Probably best to research B&B's and contact them directly for availability for your specific dates. It's very doubtful that anyone here has that information and know who's booked and when. It may be best to make a direct contact instead of getting second hand info on a forum.

Kim's Cabins in Windsor comes to mind.

We use the finder map tool on AirBnB as well.

Thank you forum! I haven't necessarily responded to many threads, but I have read many of them. Thank you for all your advice and help. I stepped off the trail at Machens today after pedaling the entire trail in around 26 hours. I used a lot of what you have suggested and posted. I learned a lot and enjoyed the entire trail. I have to give a shout out to my bride who met me at many stops with water, snacks, and encouragement. The trail was very well maintained and I was impressed with all the work MO Parks have done along the trail. If I can pass along any advice it would be...
I learned that walnuts and sticks are not your friends.
Wave at EVERYONE you pass along the way.
Iphone users can put your phone on "LOW POWER MODE" and it will last all day.
Take pictures, but don't slide off into the river.
Look around. I watched a bald eagle fly 10' above my head
outside of Cooper's Landing and may have missed it if I
wasn't enjoying the view.
Peer's Store has the warmest staff and the coldest Gatorades.
Enjoy your journey whether it's 10 miles or 237.
Go at your pace. You will pass others and will be passed, it's
cool go your pace.
Finally, Utilize the forum.
Thanks and enjoy your time on the trail!

Glad you enjoyed your ride Donn and hope that you have many more enjoyable days on the Katy.

FYI
https://www.komu.com/news/midmissourinews/katy-trail-to-see-intermittent-closures-thursday-due-to-rocheport-bridge-construction/article_a49fbfcc-390c-11ed-b69b-f3d1795a6478.html

Is there a phone number that I can use to order a trail map. The app won’t let me order.

Hi Maya, sorry that you are running into problems with the merchandise page. If you email me at contact @ bikeKatyTrail.com, I'll help you out.

Thanks and happy trails!

It’s raining, and I’m supposed to ride the Katy trail from Columbia to Hermann today. Should I stay off the trail and take roads instead?

NO. For one thing it's going to clear off and the trail drains quickly. For another no matter how bad the trail is it's shorter and better than riding with traffic on wet roads.

Not to mention it's a lot harder to get lost on the trail.

Does anyone have any information on a trail closure between MM 116 and 118, between Portland and Steedman?

I rode it today and there were no closures. The are a few well marked detours that are very short

With the pending rail strike and Amtrak cancelling some of the long-distance routes, what are our options with getting some form of transportation(2 people + 2 bikes) from St. Charles to Lee's Summit?

Our current plan is to ride Amtrak(hopeflly) from Kirkwood to Lee's Summit on Sept 20. If Amtrak shuts this leg down we'll need a Plan B..any suggestions appreciated. Timing matters(really need to be in Lee's Summit on Sept 20) as we have lodging reservations over the length of the trail.

Perhaps the Bike Stop in St Charles can help with their shuttle service. http://www.bikestopcafes.com/

Maybe a one way car/ minivan rental?

Call Doug at Bluffton Barn. I MIGHT be able to shuttle you depending on time.

Whew..it's looking like the strike has been avoided. ..back to our regularly scheduled program. I was starting to get a little freaked. Our trips seem to be hit with timing issues..several years ago we went to the Carolinas camping in December and an "arctic inversion" followed us there with the coldest temps in 20 years, a tour in MN a few years ago in Sept..temps 20 degrees colder than they've seen in many years(never got out of the 40s), last year doing the GAPC&O...2 inches of rain on day 3 just as we were entering the C&O..the list goes on... But we always seem to have a great time. Though it's nice when things go right occasionally.

Thanks to all for your help/ideas.

(edit..I also see that Amtrak has restarted the two trips/day schedule between Kirkwood and K-City..good news)

Timing issues with weather and natural events seem to be common for us also. A few years ago in California we drove past several raging fires and had a several hour reroute trying to get to the coast. Crater Lake was beautiful through the haze of smoke. Last summer on a road trip to Seattle we experienced again the haze from wildfire smoke. We cancelled a trip to New Mexico early this summer while they experienced wildfires. Seems to be part of the adventure.

Happy Trails Kevin.

Spent last week on the trail--first timers--great trail! Between MMs 158-159 there is an area along the trail that has acres & acres of sunflowers--absolutely beautiful. Don't know how long they will be there but right now they are lovely.

Hi, I am located in Springfield, MO. I am trying to surprise my husband and combine two of his favorite things; adventure vans and cycling, together.
Does anybody know if there are good spots along/near the trail we could camp? Since we have the van each of our rides has to be an out and back, but we can hop around on the trail, which is nice. We could probably ride 30-40 miles looking around 3/4 days. I just have no idea where we can park the van over night.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

You may want to start by looking at the Towns and Services list on this website. It should list campgrounds by town.

Many are enjoying Windsor for just that as we're the crossroads of the Katy and Rock Island Spur. You can stay and ride out 3 directions. Check out Farrington Park and Katy-Rock Junction to stay. Beautiful countryside to cycle thru with lots of shade, Amish community and stores around us, lots of wildlife including bald eagles,cute shops and restaurants.

The Katy Roundhouse in New Franklin is a good place to camp....close to Boonville and Rocheport.

Thank you so much for the replies. This is extremely helpful.

Riding the KATY this fall. Looking for lodging options in and around Hermann for October 22. Joey's is booked, as well as Hermann Crown Suites, Hermann Hill Vineyard B&B and the Wharf Street Inn. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks - Tom

Rhineland and Bluffton are near Hermann and may have options.

October is a very popular time with fall color and MU sports activities.

Keep trying and book early if you can.

Does anyone know if there are closures on the Katy Trail between McBain and Roachport?

The Katy is closed every day from sunset to sunup

Happy to be heading to MO tomorrow. Can someone provide information about the trail conditions btwn St. Charles and Hermann? Specifically, I heard that the heavy rains/flooding from several weeks ago washed out a 4 mile stretch of the trail btwn St. Charles and Augusta. Is this passable or do I need to figure out a work around? Thank you!

Rode the section where trail conditions were an issue. The trail has been repaired, a little rough in some spots around Greens Bottom. But no major concerns. I rode from Greens Bottom to Augusta yesterday.

I won't know till Sept 20th if I can sign up. Is there a deadline to sign up and roughly how many riders are signed up? I would be tent camping.

A group of 8 or so will be biking the Katy Trail for the first time. Where would you say would be a good first experience for an easy, scenic ride? We'll likely ride two days about 10 -15 miles per day and stop to enjoy a quaint town with a fun place to eat and lodging.

Best I can think of is to stay in Rocheport. One day ride out and back to Cooper's Landing, and one day ride out and back to Boonville. Make sure to check when Cooper's Landing is open. I think that's beyond your mileage goal, though.

Maybe stay in Augusta and do Marthasville and Defiance?

Or stay in Tebbetts and do Mokane and Jefferson City?

The towns on the Katy Trail are a little bit too far a[art to do what you have asked with 10-15 miles of riding, I think.

I guess if you have someone driving a vehicle, you could do Boonville-Rocheport-Cooper's Landing, or even Boonville-Rocheport-Columbia.

Stay in Hermann and do out and backs. Great scenery both ways and tons of places in Hermann.

I can't seem to find anything other than chain hotels in the capital. Are there no B&B's or Inns?

Bunches.
https://www.airbnb.com/s/Jefferson-City--MO/homes?adults=2&place_id=ChIJ8Qo7Tqtd24cRrdmovEvJ57I

Thanks so much Bill in Houston. This was very helpful. We have our lodging set! A heads up to those using airbandb many do require 2 night minimum.

Have fun! Good note on 2-night stays...

Plan on riding Katy trail Mid Oct.
How far in advance to book and advice on shuttles and bike rentals>
would like to shuttle to Sedalia and rent a bike in west county St Louis.
How far in advance to book lodging?
Or do you recommend winging it and finding lodging when you hit a town?
Any good lodging recommendations for Pilot Grove? Sedalia? Rocheport? Jefferson city? Hermann? Washington?
is it hard or easy to find water?
What daily distance do you recommend? At home on road bike 30-40 is easy but will be renting a bike.

Thank you for any and all advice!!

You might want to investigate the Big BAM on the Katy ride. It's in mid-October and checks off a lot of your needs.

https://www.bigbamride.com/bam-on-the-katy

I would strongly recommend making your lodging reservations before you hit the trail. Water can be hit and miss but if you can carry two liters you should be fine. If 30-40 miles on a road bike is easy then 50 (or more) on the Katy should not be a problem.
I agree you should check into the Big BAM ride, could be just what you're looking for.

Just my opinions:

Book all of your lodging in advance. You never know when all of the rooms in a town might book up. And then the next lodging might be a looooong way away.

Pilot Grove - Pretty sure there's only one place.
Sedalia - Bothwell
Rocheport - Lots of choices. We liked the Katy Bed and Bikefest.
Jefferson city - Baymont (make sure to go to Central Dairy for ice cream.

Water can be iffy. Carry plenty.

You'll have to do a minimum amount of mileage to get from one lodging to another, so that helps nail down some aspects of your itinerary.

40 miles on the road bike is about like 30 miles on the trail. The gravel surface is nice, but you have to constantly pedal, or you will come to a stop.

Awesome luxurious king room 89 dollars if your riding the Katy breakfast inculcated laundry on site really don’t think you can stay at a better place for that price if you need a hotel. I will be back

We certainly agree. When we ride the KATY the Bothwell is a must. You can easily see their dedication to keeping the historical perspective, yet updated quality. They are people and bike friendly, breakfast is good and plentiful. Bathrooms may be small, but who cares? It is really a step back in time.

Awesome luxurious king room 89 dollars if your riding the Katy breakfast inculcated laundry on site really don’t think you can stay at a better place for that price if you need a hotel. I will be back

Riding trail next week from Jefferson City west . Trail conditions and detours ? Thanks

Riding St. Charles - Rocheport 9/7 - 9/10 Anybody out there have a trail conditions update? Thanks

So looking on site there appears no lodging at this time. Correct? Thanks for any info

We ended up getting an AirBnB in Hartsburg. There were a few available in early July, so try that. I certainly miss the Globe Hotel, but I realize that life gets in the way for these operators, and they have a tough time with the seasonal nature of the Katy.