Katy Trail Forum

I rode the trail and it's really dirty.
A world class Trail like this needs to be paved. There are plenty of donors out there that I would imagine we'll be more than happy to donate to this cause. I will leave this would increase writer ship greatly. People who have rode it before would want to ride it again. It gets washed out frequently it needs frequent repairs. A really good pavement or asphalt would make this truly a world-class Trail. They are even environmental techniques do use during its construction. There are ways to make the roadbed flexible so it never wears out as well. A Canadian highway use the same technique and they have never had to repair the highway ever. It would make it a lot safer for people and easier for maintenance crews and emergency crews. All the rain and the mud tears people's shoes and clothes up because if it's silicon lime stone nature's. Asphalt or pavement will make it a lot safer Journey during rain.

I encourage you to find the donor willing to put out the millions and millions of dollars necessary to pave hundreds of miles of very functional gravel.

The rest of us will continue to enjoy using the trail as a way to have a back-to-nature experience away from paved roads.

I agree it should be paved.. By the State..
Florida has hundreds upon hundreds upon hundreds of miles of paved trails.
A state that has no state tax.. Here in Missouri we have a state
tax plus they just legalized medical marijuana which the state
makes millions off of.. So where is all this money going..
I haven't seen any evidence of it in my town as far as improvements in roads or any thing else..
Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, Florida, dotta dotta dotta
all have paved trails.. But not Missouri..
They might have a few inside city limits of Stlouis
and KansasCity but thats it. But who wants to drive 200 or 300
miles just to ride a 10 mile trail.
Well thats my 2cents now all you haters can reply below...lol

Reoccurring theme here. Last year on 8/28/2021 James Davis from St. Louis posted about the desire for the trail to be paved.

James Davis from St Louis on 8/28/2021 3:04:55 AM:
....There are MANY ways to EASILY fund this. We can do this!!!

Not quite a year later, james from st louis (next of kin to James Davis from St Louis perhaps) believes that "There are plenty of donors out there that I would imagine we'll be more than happy to donate to this cause. I will leave this would increase writer ship greatly."

Perhaps James and james, perhaps. I'm curious to know how many dollars have been raised to date. Any at all? Or is this akin to the why can't I ride my horse anywhere on the trail that I want to forum topics?

What is James smoking? Missouri refuses to develop the Rock Island Trail and has countless miles of highway that needs repair. Find another cause.

Paving the trail would not stop the washouts; in fact, it would bring a new set of maintenance issues. The rail bed was laid along the Missouri River flood plain because it was easy and cheap. And that is one of the reasons the MKT failed as a railroad -- because of the frequent washouts. It's much easier to repair the washouts on a gravel surface than an asphalt or concrete surface. Limited funds mean that tough choices have to be made. I would much rather spend any funds on 1) repairing the trails we already have; then 2) getting the Rock Island online and connected to the Katy; then 3) improving the amenities (like running water) along both routes. Paving the Katy to make it a more comfortable ride would be WAY down the list.

I concur that paving the Katy should actually not be a priority. Although very nice at first, a paved trail would be very expensive to construct and in addition would require constant maintenance, continuously more as the surface ages. There is no such thing as a maintenance free surface in my opinion. The subgrade and aggregate base would be susceptible to washouts from flooding as has been pointed out previously. The repair of a paved surface would be more expensive than repairs to the present trail. By nature, a bituminous flexible type surface would experience expansion/contraction cracking and would be subjected to uplifting by adjacent root structures at a minimum. My experience with asphalt paved recreation trails is that they do not last as long as paved roads with primarily light traffic. The cost to pave the Katy would be enormous. Drainage structures of various kinds would be required to keep the subgrade from failing due to moisture. An aggregate shoulder would be required to support the pavement on each side of the trail as well. A yearly maintenance budget would have too be included in the lifecycle cost. With proper maintenance, the paved surface could be expected to last 15-20 years.

I hope that the Rock Island will be constructed in my cycling lifetime!

Of all the rail-trails I have ridden around the country, paved trails are my least favorite. I will never go back to a paved trail. I'm not interested in riding on a sidewalk though a beautiful natural setting! One of the worst is the Silver Comet in Georgia. The surface is concrete and smooth but the experience is not pleasant. It just feels wrong.
Paved trails also get choked with strollers, children on roller skates and scooters, go-fast road bikes, etc. You may as well be riding downtown. Leave the KATY alone. If you want pavement, ride in Georgia or Florida.

Well since everyone is concerned about washouts from the river flooding, why couldnt they build paved trails elsewhere in the State.. Like from St.Joseph to Hannibal along Hwy.36? There's plenty of other places to build trails too.. Like every time a 2-lane road is repaired it could have a bike lane added..

In MO we are PROUD to offer Tourists FREE Touring. Using the KATY Trail is FREE! FREE! No Charge. The beauty of the KATY is that it is a Leisure Trail. The Chat (what is is made of) is part of it's Rural Beauty. If you are looking for Pavement. Come to MO and ride in our Cities that have Bike Paths. You will find that in St. Louis MO even our ZOO IS FREE! The Art Museum is FREE, as well as MANY other Wonderful things to see.

And so many other states have a fee system for state parks, bike trails, etc. I've paid their fees many times right before inviting them to come enjoy their time in Missouri for free.

Never quite understood those complaining about the quality of what they paid nothing for.

While a paved trail is nice in a lot of circumstances, for the experience of a long distance bike ride in the midst of all the natural environment along this wonderful trail, I would be quite opposed to having it paved. The three times we have ridden it over the years, even on or just after rain days, we have been very impressed with the quality of the crushed granite trail surface. To the people of the great state of Missouri, please spend those tax dollars fixing the streets and highways in your state that need repair, and continue with the awesome job of maintaining the Katy as you are.

Dude! It's Missouri, they are not going to pave the Katy or Rock Island Trail. It's a fantastic trail, DNR does a great job of maintaining it and repairing it after storm damage, Missourians are very proud of it and should be. It does not need to be paved. Get your butt on a bike, get on the trail, and appreciate it for all of its positives. Pave the Katy Trail, give me strength!!!

Imagine that, a dirt trail is dirty. Hopefully by now he has forgotten how awful the trail was and will let the rest of us enjoy one of the finest assests missouri has. After all we normally are 50th in everything.

Hey Mike, how are you and the other fine people of Hartsburg? This is Cathy from Pittsburgh, formerly known as Cathy from Jefferson City. I sure do miss you folks and think about our work on the Missouri River Bluffs Association often. Take Care. Cathy

This topic does keep reoccurring. I would not be nearly as inclined to drive all the way from Dallas to do a long (we usually go Sedalia to St Charles) ride on the KATY if the trail was paved. It would be a totally different feel. So I guess my point is the opinions are split. There really isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to look at it. The surface folks like to ride on is simply a matter of choice. So with that said, Katy should not be paved, as there are many folks who love it as is. However, and I am not trying to be facetious, can anyone recommend nearby states that have long paved trails for those who really want the clean smooth surface to ride on?

I sure want the Rock Island done before ever thinking about paving the KATY. I agree with others that said paving the KATY would create issues. Potholes in asphalt are worse than the washouts in gravel. At 67 I would like to see the Rock Island done while I am still able to use it. I hauled the bike 45 miles to Hartsburg yesterday to ride to Rocheport and back. It would be nice to jump on a trail that is just a mile away. Here in Eldon they took all the donations and built a replica of the depot and haven't done a bit of the trail. Disappointing.

Deby, while not super-close to Texas, consider the Raccoon River trail (89 miles paved) near Des Moines, IA. Also if you are in the St. Louis area, the Madison County (Illinois) trail system gives you about 130 miles of paved trails. If you're OK driving further, look at all the Fred Meijer trails in Michigan. The White Pine trail alone is 93 miles and in pretty good condition (mostly paved). Traillink is your friend, as well as Google Maps with the Bicycling layer turned on. The more paved trails will show up as solid lines (vs dashed lines for less improved).

More paved trails..The Root River Trail, Paul Bunyan Trail, & Heartland Trail in Minnesota. We've ridden them all and and they are very good trails going through nice country.

BikerBoy suggested the Raccoon River trail. While up in that part of Iowa, I also suggest the High Trestle Trail near Des Moines. I rode it last Thursday. It's only 25 miles but that would make a good 50 mile ride out and back. The trestle is amazing.

To BikerBoy, Thank you so much for those recommendations of great paved trails, and I hope all those folks who want paved trails will take a look. There are a lot of options for paved trails. Just for the record, I am NOT a fan of paving the Katy, and as I stated, probably would not be too interested in riding it, if it were paved.

Hi Deby, I attempted the KT last year and would like to try again next year. May I email you about some logistic questions? If so, please contact me at quescrub@sbcglobal.net

The Paul Bunyan in Minnesota is a good paved ride.

The Des Moines Iowa area has several paved trails. The High Trestle Trail is a good ride too. Panora north on the Racoon River Valley Trail had some very rough spots that made it quite miserable. All in all its a good ride to Jefferson for a nights stay and next day return.

Unpaved though rules! The Mickelson Trail in South Dakota and the Route of the Hiawatha in Idaho are both fantastic rides and worth the trip.

Oh dear, a dirty trail, whatever next?! Let's have neat and tidy asphalt then.
Please no; we've ridden the Katy, the GAP, the Erie Canal, many trails in the UK and France and the different surfaces are part of the challenge and the experience. As anonymous writes, "it just feels wrong paved". And I agree with Marna, there are many towns and cities with tarmaced cycle trails - ride those. And there are surfaced roads on most trails when they go through towns and villages, that's fine, but as many others point out, spend the money (what money?) improving the infrastructure generally and keeping the UNPAVED in good condition.

I'm riding the Mickelson Trail Sept 8th. I've heard great things and saw beautiful pictures of the trail. I looked into the Fred Meijer trails in MI. I plan to ride FM Heartland or White Pine next time I visit my mom in the U.P. Thank you for telling us about them!

You will love the Michelson. My husband and I have a LOT of miles on that trail and have ridden it in complete, both directions.
it is NOT FLAT! Take a lot of water, more than you think you will need. ;-)

Thank you, Marna! I'm riding north to south and the climbs look intimidating. I'll have my camelbak and water bottle with plans to refill often. May I email you with questions?

Sure. You can email me. Just make sure to use all caps in your subject line. I get a LOT of junk mail and often hurry it to the trash. HAHAHAH
One thing for sure, take extra water, snacks and a JACKET. Even on really warm days. Good chance you will need it.

Our wonderful webmaster Ray has a site set up for the Mickelson and several other long trails -- https://bikemickelson.com/

Like South Dakota, it's a little sparse on activity, but still a great resource. :)

Bikerboy, I saw Ray's name on the Mickelson website and wondered if he was our Ray. Mystery solved.

Marna, please email me at quescrub@sbcglobal.net. I don't know your email address. I saw the usual highs and lows in SD for Sept. Base layer and windbreaker on packing list. I'm a whimp when is comes to cooler temps. I look forward hearing from you!

We'll be taking the Amtrak from Kirkwood, MO to Lee's Summit this fall and riding the Rock Island Spur and Katy back to Kirkwood.

There are a couple options (on road or on primarily bike trails) to get from the Amtrak Station in Lee's Summit to the Comfort Inn in LS and we're not concerned about this segment.

My question is about riding from the Comfort Inn in Lee's Summit to Pleasant Hill. I've seen a couple suggested routes that start a ways west of the Comfort Inn. We've mapped out a more direct route. Does anyone know of any issues riding the highlighted route below? Some of it may be gravel..not concerned with that as long as it's reasonably ridable.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ujxX8S1CwYFsVOQ9R4as6a82W0JIUlis/view?usp=sharing

I love biking the rail trails in Wisconsin and you will love riding both the Rock Island and Katy trails in Missouri. Your mapped out route is fine, but you do have to be prepared for the big, winding hill along Browning Road just before you reach Smart Road. Browning Road has a long "S-curve" that drops down to a creek bridge and then you have to climb back up out of that low point by going back uphill after using your brakes to control your winding descent. If you are carrying backpacking gear then that hill is a monster. The rest of the hills along your route are rolling and there is almost no gravel to worry about except right before Smart Road intersects the MOPAC trail near Pleasant Hill lake. I have custom mapped routes from the Katy Trail to both the Kirkwood Amtrak station and the Downtown St. Louis Amtrak station so let me know if you are interested in either of those.

Thanks Mark! I was hoping you'd respond as I think I ran across one of your posts offering directions to the Comfort Inn (first link). We may take the one on our RWGPS route..not sure yet..as we wanted to stop at the Quik Trip just north of Hwy 50. There's about 600 feet of possibly non-bike territory under Hwy 50 that we may have to walk.

The second link is our entire route. You'll note the last 18ish miles from St. Charles to Kirkwood. I honestly don't remember where I pulled the route from, and I made a few changes based on satellite views. If you wouldn't mind taking a look I'd appreciate it.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40459301

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38132319

(I'm glad you've made it up to Wisconsin. We do have a number of very nice trails and we've ridden many of them. In general, WI is a pretty bike-friendly state.)

I would avoid the QT along Hwy. 291 just north of 50 Hwy. The 291 bridge over 50 Hwy. has no sidewalks and no shoulder so your only option is to take over a full driving lane as you ride over 50 Hwy (it is impossible to just walk across 50 Hwy) and head south towards the Comfort Inn on the south outer road. Although it isn't quite as nice as a QT, there is a Shell gas station and convenience store just 5 blocks west of the Lee's Summit Amtrak station at 3rd Street and Grand Avenue. Old Downtown Lee's Summit runs right along 3rd Street so that is pretty scenic to ride down anyway.

Here is my preferred route from the Katy Trail to the Kirkwood Amtrak station by riding through Chesterfield, Clayton, and Kirkwood:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=16HHgzK1r47L2sJpmm6wAZDFVVLwSed8&usp=sharing

Here are some of the highlights: the river crossing and levee trail are nice and paved, crossing the interstate and cutting through the shopping mall parking lot is not difficult, the zig zag route through the Chesterfield Valley is not bad and often there is a nice sidewalk available if you want to take a break and get out of traffic, especially going uphill, the one way 40 Hwy outer road has a nice wide shoulder, it is fun crossing Hwy. 141 and taking the "secret" Salt Mill Road connection to Old Woods Mill and connecting to Clayton Road, take the sidewalk on the north side of Clayton Road east for just over 1 mile and then that sidewalk turns into a nice paved trail for the next 3 miles, Ballas Road south of Clayton Road has a nice bike lane all the way south down to Manchester Road (Route 100), and finally you just cross Manchester Road at a signal and zig zag through the nice residential streets of Kirkwood to the train station.

Thanks Mark, I'll take a look.

It must have been a bad night, which all little towns have occasionally, especially with us having no on site law. Most of the time we are quiet and peaceful. We don't want a bad rep like this.
Cathy Bordner, did you leave us because of this review? We miss you and Dave.

Hi Mike (and Nancy), We moved to Pittsburgh in Nov. 2017 to help our daughter and her husband with childcare. They now have 2 kids. Our son and his family now live in Texas, and have 2 kids. You may remember their oldest daughter, Amara. I used to bring her to MRBA meetings when she was 3 years old. She's now 11. I bike on the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) trail now, and other trails in Western PA. But I really miss the Katy Trail and places like Hartsburg and all the great little towns we went to. And I miss you and Nancy. My new email is cathy.bordner@gmail.com. I would love to re-connect with you guys.

I'm not sure about the review you are referencing. But I know from experience what a wonderful town Hartsburg is, and the friendly welcoming people there. It is a very special place.

I intend to ride the Katy Trail from Clinton to St. Charles beginning Oct 6th. I am looking for input regarding detours or closures of the trail. Any information will be helpful and appreciated.

Can anyone guide me to a potential shuttle from Clinton out to just west of Clinton City? TIA!!

It's been a while since anyone has mentioned the Claysville Store. It is stll great and so are it's owners Mark and Laura Hooibrink. Nobody beats the experience of this eatery. Not even annanomous, above, can dis them. They are located, on the katy Trail, about 3 miles east of Hartsb

The Mo State Katy Trail Park advisory site is stating the trail is closed from mm 44 to 48 due to extensive storm damage. Can anyone update this, and are there any detours?

The Greens Bottom closure. It looks like riding Greens Bottom road is the alternative. There's a substantial paved shoulder. Anyone know what the traffic is like. We expect to hit that stretch a little after midday on Aug. 11 going west, and again on Aug 21 going east. I can't find any discussion of this closure anywhere on the web, except for the state park advisory map statement saying the closure is due to extensive storm damage.

Rode by that section yesterday. The trail is posted as closed. I did see some people riding that section though. There are some areas of some pretty good washouts. They are working on repairs. You can ride the shoulder of Jungs Station Road. In some places the shoulder is narrow but rideable. It isn't a very busy road during the week. You may run into more cars on the weekend.

To Avatar: thanks very much. We were on the trail last year in July and threaded our way through various washouts. And learned to avoid fresh limestone before it sets up. I appreciate your response.

2022-08-11 Just rode the Green Bottom section. It's not closed on the ground. Some loose chat, but it's eminently rideable.

2022-08-11 Just rode the Green Bottom section. It's not closed on the ground. Some loose chat, but it's eminently rideable.

2022-08-11 Just rode the Green Bottom section. It's not closed on the ground. Some loose chat, but it's eminently rideable.

My group of 10 will also want to pass through mile markers 44 to 48 on September 8th and again on September 11th. You say it is 100 % rideable? We are hoping not to have to add mileage with a detour. Plus, I am with a few who are not fans of road riding. Thank you in advance for your feedback.

Rode today with no real issues. Some loose stone pat Greensbottom trail head.

Planning an overnight trip to Mokane from Weldon Springs. Plan to camp in the park in Mokane. Any suggestions for water/restrooms along way and in Mokane? Any issues with trail from Weldon Springs to Mokane? Thanks for any insights - first bike camping trip.

Weldon Springs to Mokane is about 69 miles. Since this is your first "bikepacking" trip, keep in mind of the extra weight you will be carrying with you. That's a LONG ride if you are not used to it. As far as supplies, you can pick up everything you need at McKittrick at the Loutre Market before riding the last 24 miles to Mokane. I have never camped at Mokane, so I am not sure of the facilities there. However, there is a bar at Mokane (Muddy Bottoms) that has good food and is very bike-friendly. Call ahead to make sure they are open.

Traveling on the Rock Island Trail/Katy Trail in early September. Doing my homework as to where we can find water and where we will go for long stretches. I am just trying to verify that there are water fountains open at the Medford Trailhead and Leeton Trailhead. Thanks!

Yes water at both trailheads. In Chilhowee just 2 blocks from the trailhead is Hometown Convenience Store. Closed on Sunday

Not sure if bike trails are considered infrastructure but with all this $$ floating around now, would that failed bridge around Rocheport be a nice candid for repair? I did the ridable portion of the Rock Island trail last summer and I noticed several fairly new trail concrete bridges, so there are several good contractors ready to get the job done. Also I've been reading about the Hoffmann Family Companies coming to the Augusta area purchasing all these wineries and businesses. I know they've bought 2 bike shops, "Kickstand" on the KT.
Why don't we get these two groups together and then after completion hopefully in 2022 have a commemorative opening of the "Hoffman Memorial Bridge" Or the MO DNR "Build Back Better" Bridge. We have the resources but do we have the desire?

Construction of the replacement Salt Creek Bridge project that you are referring to has started. I have been told by a local B&B owner in Rocheport that the scheduled date of completion is in April of this year. The owner did also say not to count on it!

Anybody including Ray have any recent intel about the Salt Creek bridge construction? I would think it would take at least 6 months if govt process is being done. I'd manage the work if a contract is let now.

No special intel, but a friend and I periodically ride down there from Rocheport to check the progress. All the debris has been moved, a driveway has been built to get vehicles back and forth, and there are steel uprights in the ground. We have not been back since the snow.

Great news folks when I noticed the Pedaler's Jamboree was scheduled for this year I inquired and was told by a PedJam reliable source that the Salt Creek bridge is scheduled to be completed by early May. The wheels of progress keep turning for us KT hard cores. Now lets hope the MO river stays at a reasonable level.

..

The MODOT website still shows a bypass route around the Salt Creek Bridge effective 6/22. It crosses Rt 40 and then gets back on the trail going west. The drawing shows construction fence on both ends. Any current news as on Mon 8/8?

The Salt Creek bridge on the trail is complete and it is open. There’s a short detour on a gravel road at the west end of the new bridge, related to nearby construction of a highway bridge.

That detour will be in place until December.
https://www.modot.org/SaltCreekBridge

I've seen a suggested route from LS to PH, but it's a ways west of the Comfort Inn where we'll be staying. (We're taking Amtrak into LS from Kirkwood, south of St. Louis) I've mapped out a fairly direct route from the Comfort Inn to Pleasant Hill, see link below. Does anyone know of any issues with this route? The roads look lightly traveled per google street view. There looks to be a gravel section..that's fine as long as it's reasonably good riding surface (not 3 inch railroad ballast). Good? Bad? Better options? thx..

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ujxX8S1CwYFsVOQ9R4as6a82W0JIUlis/view?usp=sharing

Looking for somewhere to park a car in Clinton for 8 days. Plan to ride first week in Sept. from Clinton to Machens and back to Clinton. Is there anywere that is safe to park a car at for 8 days. Thanks

Contact Clinton Parks & Rec. I parked there for a week with no issues.

The Lindenhof B&B is a fantastic place to stay. Excellent accommodations and great service. Breakfast was wonderful and I appreciated the secure place to put the bikes overnight. It was everything we wanted our stay to be. I would stay again and definitely recommend.

Just wanted to give a huge shout out to Katy Retreat in Boonville, MO where we stayed for the night recently when doing a ride across the state. Of all the Airbnb's we've stayed in throughout the US, this one was definitely a top 3! It was about 1/4th of a mile from the trail, just ride past the Depot, hang a left and down the street.

Not only did we have plenty of space for all 6 of us with 3 bedrooms, but also a huge kitchen with just about everything you'd ever need - I'm not kidding, you could have cooked Thanksgiving dinner here with ease!

They also have a huge, secured garage to store bikes in so literally you can "ride right in". Plus, tools to work on bikes and a bike jack/holder that came in real handy when having to do some emergency work on a friends bike. This alone saved us huge amounts of time as we weren't sure where we were going to find some place to repair the bike. Then whala! Right there!

All in all, just a great place for Katy riders!

My wife and I are Looking to share ride from St Charles to Clinton 9/7 or 8.
Email aguatrekker@gmail.com

I recently stayed at the Katy Junction Bed and Breakfast in Pilot Grove. It is steps from the Katy Trail and was a great place to stop for the night. Jerry, the owner, was very welcoming, providing a cold drink upon arrival. He also gave me a great tour of this historic property. The home is expertly decorated in period detail while still being very comfortable. Jerry whipped up some delicious food and I felt like I had my own personal chef. On top of that the cost was very reasonable for the services provided.

This is the second time that we have chosen to stay with Jerry in Pilot Grove. He is an excellent host, and he made sure that we had everything we needed for our Katy Trail adventure. The hot breakfast that Jerry cooked (very early in the morning, at our request) -- a fresh omelet with ham and cheese, toast and great coffee -- sustained us well for the next 25 miles of our ride. Jerry also shared what he knew about current trail conditions, so helpful! Highly recommend!

Just camp here, the location is perfect, facility is beautiful, everything here is what you might need.

Planning on riding from St Charles to Rocheport tomorrow. I have a sense of what the trail is like to Marthasville but want to know if there is anything I need to be aware of from that point west. However, if anyone is out on the KATY today between St Charles and Marthasville I would appreciate any updates.

Didn't run into any issues between Defiance and Marthasville. The was a tree down just past Klondike Park but it was cleared when I came back.

Rode on Saturday July 30th from the outlet mall in Chesterfield to Rocheport (mm51-mm178). The trail was in good condition. Some soft spots and ruts in mm 120-129 otherwise no problems.

Portions of the Katy Trail near Rocheport will be closed Monday as work is being done near the trail, officials with the Missouri Department of Transportation said Friday.

The contractor overseeing construction of the Lance Corporal Leon Deraps I-70 Missouri River Bridge in Rocheport will be pouring the final drilled shafts on the east side of the river, near the Katy Trail. This work will require the Katy Trail to be closed from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday.

This work will not require any lane closures on Interstate 70.

More information and updates on the Rocheport bridge project can be found at www.modot.org/RocheportBridge.

Source:
https://www.newstribune.com/news/2022/jul/30/bridge-construction-to-close-part-of-katy-trail/

How is the trail holding up with the recent flooding

We are also planning a trip on the Katy starting Aug 5, and would also appreciate any updates you readers could provide on the condition of the trail.

The flash flooding has been centered around the St. Louis area and especially St. Charles (where the trail ends just to the northwest of St. Louis). The trail is a little soft with some sandy spots right now, but after this weekend they are calling for 10 days of 90 degree weather across the state so the Katy Trail will dry out and firm up really quick the first week of August.

are there any hotels that are close to the trail in Jeff. city?

At your advanced ages, 70's, you probably won't make it to Jeff City in one day. How about trying the B & B in Hartsburg. They even have bathrooms and running water. It's the Globe Hotel and is owned by nice folks.

Yes there are....the Capitol Plaza Hotel is just a few blocks from the south side of the bridge. It is bike friendly and close to the Capitol grounds and places to eat.

35 miles is a reasonable distance to travel in one day with many more lodging and food options in Jefferson City.

Globe Hotel Bed & Breakfast - Temporarily CLOSED until further notice

Not everyone in their 70's is burdened by the use of a walker are they?

Michael, are you attempting humor or are you just dumb?

Yes and no. There is nothing right next to the trail like in some of the other cities you pass through, but there are some hotels that are a very short distance away (a little over 2 miles, I believe), with a bike-friendly route to get there.

I just did an up-and-back of the entire trail and stayed at the Capitol Plaza and the DoubleTree by Hilton, which are just down the street from each other. To get there, you just have to take a brief offshoot from the main trail, and then ride a couple blocks through a park-like area with really wide streets and almost no traffic, and that gets you to a bike trail that takes you over the bridge (in a bike lane that is completely separated from the vehicle traffic) and into Jefferson City.

Once you cross the bridge, you are only a few blocks from the hotels, and you can take side streets or ride carefully on the main streets. I absolutely hate riding near cars, and I never felt like there were any safety issues doing this.

At least I signed my name.

There's a very nice place just 2 blocks off the bridge in Jeff City called Katy Cottage. It's a small 2 bedroom duplex. Very clean, super friendly owners. Loved it. Nice pub just down the block and breakfast at the airport the next morning makes for a great place to stay!!

I rode from St Charles to Windsor in early July. Stayed at the Baymont in downtown Jefferson City. They were good with taking bike to room. Their included breakfast had no protein. It was about 3 miles from trailhead to downtown on a good connector trail.

Please ignore Michael Rodemeyer. At 70 years young, you can easily ride from Rocheport to Jefferson City. I’m 66 and completed 240 miles in 5 days.