Katy Trail Forum

When planning a long distance trip on the Katy, how many miles should one figure to ride per day?

Depends upon how much time do you have an d how far you can ride in a day. I have done the trail in 3, 4 and 5 day trips. What is your comfort level? Trying to space your daily destinations in accordance to accommodations along the way you are wanting to use. Example of three day was Clinton to Boonville with accommodations in Boonville. 2nd day Boonville to McKittrick and stayed in Hermann, then finished short ride the last day. Check the Dept Natural Resources Annual Katy Trail Ride to get an idea of a 5 day ride.

We did Sedalia to St. Charles last year with a group of very average riders. We found 40 to 50 miles per day with a nice break for lunch was about right. Wouldn't wanted to have done more but it's all based on your skill level and conditioning, of course. Was a great experience!

It's a bit slower going on the Katy trail than riding on paved asphalt. I'd say 40 miles a day is probably a good average, but it depends a lot upon conditions such as wind and/or heat, and how often you plan to stop to read historical markers and take photos.

Hello! A group of us are riding the trail from end to end on Friday for charity. Can anyone help with the following?
- Are there any adverse conditions? (Flooding, trees down, etc...)
- Does the detour for the closed section cause any major delays or does it put you on major/dangerous roadways?

Any insight on these questions is greatly appreciated!

Are you planning to ride the entire trail (end-to-end) on Friday, or start on Friday, end on Sat or Sun? In order to complete the entire trail in 1 day, you need almost perfect conditions and a lot of sunlight.

I'm sure it's a good cause and all, but I don't think you can fairly claim to be the first to ride the entire length of the KATY trail if you use the detour.

Hey"just sayin" Where did they claim to be the first?
To the O.P. I don't know about the entire trail but from weldon springs to Machens your all right. Post what charity you are involved with maybe some of us could help.

North Jefferson to Treloar was in fine shape last weekend. Lots of waterfalls to see along the trail

I only completed 175 of the 240 miles last Friday, April 29th, thanks to an unrelenting headwind (from the east, of all days!!!) and dehydration. Am considering taking a nighttime run in a few weeks to avoid the sun and wind. @ I.M. Puupenhaddah, thanks for asking about the charity. Following is a link with a ride summary and to make a donation for those who wish: http://www.bridgetsbrigade.net/ben-dumont-ride-for-the-cure.html

From Ben's own link:
"He will again take on the challenge to complete the now 240-mile crushed limestone trail on April 29th in one day. He aims to become the first to complete the feat and help end cancer by raising money for Bridget's Brigade."

Sounds like a great charity. The first poster that sounds like a group of people was signed by michael, another post by Ben Dumont honestly tells what he does and his link does say he is trying to be the first(The trail has only been 240 miles officially since 4/2/11 so I can't dispute)and he is going to try again. I think I am going to contribute both my encouragement and some cash. And I'm not "just sayin" but I am puupenhaddah!

So if you attempt to ride the trail end to end (either in one day or several) and it has flooding or bridge work and you leave the trail and in most cases ride further, you could not claim to have ridden it end to end? So then the 300 people who rode the trail last June who had to briefly leave it due to flooding near Rocheport can't claim to have ridden it end to end?

I think it's safe to say you rode it end to end...and I think "Just sayin'" is "Just naysayin'".

Hello, can any one JUST answer the question(s) and forget the smart remarks!! Some of us need to have accurate info before treking to the trail for WHATEVER reason. This is suppose to b a constructive section.

there is a link on this website for trail conditions and advisories that may be helpful. the Dnr also has a list of trail " trail adopters" (My terminology ) who volunteer to care for sections of the trail. maybe they can be contacted some way thru the DNR.

Hope this was helpful. I think poopenharder was trying to diffuse the anal "just sayin or wondering too" guy (same guy I'll bet). Hope you were the first and hope your trip is swell.

I was not the same person. Was just wondering about the record setters an how people consider end to end with special conditions. Nan, there are very reliable ways to gauge the condition of the trail (even remotely from Milwaukee) as was noted by the very good resources provided on this website. Maybe some need a primer in this website? Also NOAA and other weather services identify river and creek flood levels effecting the trail. I have ridden the trail end to end three times and many shorter sections separately in the rain, big head winds and 90/90 hot days an conditions change on an hourly basis. We all have to make best planned judgements and go with it. That's what makes life so much fun.

Once again thank you for adding your snotty comments to a less than useful note. Enjoy your ride and may we not c u

One of the hidden gems on the trail is Eagle Bluff. I biked by it last year and didn't know if it was worth the time, but it is! I had admired the towering bluffs east of Rocheport, and just past McBaine the sign announced the Eagle Bluff overlook. The climb was a bit steep, but then you are at the top on a nice boardwalk that juts over the top of one of the high sheer cliffs. You Eagle's eye view of the river and wetlands is incredible, and I wish I could post one of the pictures I took.

My daughter and I want a 10-15 mile ride on Mother's Day. Any suggestions for a pretty, short ride? If we like it, and I am sure we will, we will be back for longer rides. We will leave KC in the morning.

From Lawrence, I would drive to Rocheport, ride east to Huntsdale, treat yourself to an ice cream at Katfish Katy's, then return to Rocheport. Should be a little over 13 miles.

I 2nd that Rocheport riding South suggestion. Nice small town atmosphere and the ride along the river is beautiful.

I was planning to take the Riverfront and Confluence Trails out of St Louis towards the Machens trailhead this Monday morning. I see that the Mississippi is at flood stage or above currently. Does this mean that the these trails may be impassable? Any local information would be GREATLY appreciated.

Are you going to cross on the bridge or take the ferry? Bridge should be ok. The ferry schedule is iffy when the river rises.

You may want to call Great Rivers Greenway. Part of the Riverfront Trail is on the river side of the floodwall. If the the flood gates are closed you won't have access to it.

To be a successful father there's one absolute rule: when you have a kid, don't look at it for the first two years.
Ernest Hemingway

I'm helping with meal planning for my family members who are biking the Katy Trail next month. One of them has celiac disease and must have gluten-free food. I know there's a B&B at Hermann that offers gluten-free meals with lodging. Is gluten-free food available at any restaurants or groceries along the trail?

Hi! I am the owner of The Doll House Bed & Breakfast, and while I can't speak for all of the bed and breakfasts along the trail, I would imagine that a lot of them do the same as we do. It is not uncommon at all for me to have customers with this food restriction. There are many options, such as using rice flour for pancakes. One time, the other customers that didn't have this issue liked the gluten-free pancake option so much that they ate all of them! The only time there has been any issue is when the customer fails to tell me at booking or check-in that this is an issue. We serve enough other options, that it always works out. Good luck to you!

We had a wonderful breakfast at the Doll House (she served so much food, I didn't feel left out by skipping the French toast--plenty of fruit and eggs). My sister (celiac) recommended Capt Wahlt Inn and I also had a wonderful breakfast there (also celiac). Just make sure that wherever you stay doesn't have a continental breakfast--aka gluten, gluten, gluten. A hot breakfast with eggs is mandatory. (We ride hard, and I'm frequently starving as I try to keep up with my husband).

Celiac is hard on the trail. Many of the little diners in the small towns have limited menus. I recommend ordering cheeseburgers no bun and french fries (yes, cross contamination is a possible problem). I also recommend carrying a small handlebar bag with enough snacks to get you through the day, restocking if possible. Add restaurant phone numbers to your mileage chart and call ahead to discuss gluten-free issues and to confirm they will be open. We've arrived at our lunch stop, to find them closed for the day. Also, one of the "best" stops is a biker bar--yes bicycles and motorcycles mingled freely but I wasn't going to argue with the cook about contamination.

We ride without support, but if you have a support vehicle, I would bring a cooler full of food including lunch meat, hard-boiled eggs and gf pasta salads.

My husband and I stayed (temporarily) at the Rendleman B and B for 3 hours and immediately left due to the filth, unclean cluttered kitchen, dirty bathrooms (dead spiders, pubic hair in the shower,no bars of soap, threadbare towels, etc.) We have never been to such a dirty, uncomfortable place. The double bed upstairs was years old, and there was an old window air conditioner that made a terrific noise, no closet or drawers to use....nothing but a chair in the room. The sheets and bedpreads were years old and smelly. Granted this is an old farmhouse, but filth and lack of comfort have no place in a B and B. We did not stay for the dinner...we were concerned with the cleanliness and the lack of any clean counterspace. Dirty dishes and old food were everywhere and this was 4:30 in the afteroon. We did not feel safe or at all comfortable. I would not recommend this "B and B" to anyone even if the prices were free. We did not experience Mr. Rendleman's cooking so cannot comment on that. We left before that and gladly so.

Anonymous usually means "The competition next door" ha ha. Doug caters to bike riders and he runs a nice place and serves great meals. I was there just three days ago and the place was clean, just like all the times before (we stay there several times each year). Always a good time with many friendly folk.

Al

Really? Having been to this B&B many times and enjoyed Doug's cooking, I've never witnessed any of the above comments. Unbeknowned to me, I had some good friends stay there and they really enjoyed themselves - and they always tell the truth!

is it possible to ride across the highway 67 bridge to connect the two trails?on google maps it looks like there is a bike lane but i want to be sure. Thanks

Which river? The Clark bridge over the Missippi has two bike lanes. The Lewis bridge over the Missour has wide shoulders.

the mississippi...thanks for the help...

I'm considering walking from Clinton to St. Charles, in 10 days, carrying all food and gear to camp. [It's training, that's why ;-)]

In the Rockies I can do about 25 miles a day. On the Katy I'll probably do more.

My question is about where I can throw down a small tent to cook and sleep for the night. Campgrounds will be fine if I'm close, but I expect to be "in between" most nights at dark-thirty.

Any insights about what I can and can't do [or get away with]?

Camping on the trail is not allowed. The trail is actually a long state park that "officially" closes at dusk. Not sure how closely it is monitored.

You only need to be out of the corridor/KT-Park for most fire and no-fire camping. This corridor is fairly narrow.

Quite a few private campgrounds, grassy areas, and municipal parks exist outside the trail's corridor. The municipal parks usually have roofed pavilions and modest fees, if not free.

Check out the trip planner at the top of the page, that should help.
Because of the flat surface of the trail... I've read that hikers are using jogging strolers for their stuff, instead of carring it.

I too, often wonder when I go to Colorado what I can get by with like starting fires in Rocky Mountain National Park, feeding bears, etc. You know, just normal stuff that doesn't really hurt anything. I figure if someone asks I'll try to pass it off onto a Coloaro native.

I've done portions of the Applachian Trail... Feeding bears is a BAD IDEA!! I keep food from the camp site & sleep in clothes that I did not cook in. You can end up as the bears dinner! I lived in Pennsylvania for a long time.... Just too many bad stories! Try to keep to the camping areas in the Trip Planner.. Many areas are free! I saw someone was using a Jogging stroler in another post. Might be better than a backpack

Coming to our state looking for ways to bend the rules by asking what one can get away with is a bad idea too. Maybe it was poor choice of words. Maybe the question should have been more in line with wanting to know what the rules are instead of blurting out that the intent was to break them what ever they are. We don't need anyone giving the average biker/hiker a bad name on the Katy and then going back home to curse the out of staters with Missouri tags on their car.

The statement that "You only need to be out of the corridor/KT-Park for most fire and no-fire camping." is not true and I hope you and no one else follows that advice. If you are off the corridor you are trespassing. Many of us were trying 23 years ago to gain support for the trail from our neighbors along the trail and behavior that you propose was used as an argument against us often. I would hope you would reconsider and not follow a "What can I get away with" attitude on your trip. There is no physical need to. If you are capable of the mileage you state then you are capable of arranging your nights to be at a camping area that does not place you contrary to the rules. You might have to cut down to 20 miles one day and up to 30 the next but it is possible. Remember also that the comments here are from other users of the trail that support you being there. The adjacent landowner whose field or woods you trespass in will only take note of the one bad behavior that he witnesses, not the thousands of other hikers and cyclists that pass by and do no damage or trespass and perhaps even pick up trash along their way. He absolutely will not see them but he for sure will take note of you. Come and enjoy our park and your trip, just remember that you are representing all trail users as you travel. And to those that know me, yes I do have and charge for camping at my place but I don't believe that changes the truth in my posting.

My error for not being clear. Sorry. I meant to say "outside of the corridor in privately owned campgrounds or on public property," such as municpal parks etc (with permission). Not on private farmland or in private yards or anywhere that would be trespassing without permission.

I agree with the previous comments that finding appropriate and legal camping facilities along the trail (outside of the park border) is quite possible and should be fairly easy to calculate given the resources on this website. As noted, there may need to be some adjustment in your daily mileage to make it work....one day may be 5 miles "long" and another day 5 miles "short" of your hoped for average...but it should be workable.

It sounds likes a great idea and a great adventure.

All best wishes! Enjoy!!

I looks like I can adjust my first 3 nights and then hit 25's for the rest to stay in what the Planner says are Campgrounds. So it ought to work.

I am sensitive to "hiker abuse" and the last thing I would consider is contributing to a negative prospective. Knowing that there really are no alternatives to the campgrounds is the clincher.

Thanks for the info.

Note: if the fire pits or pre-installed iron grills, like the ones at the New Franklin campgrounds or in certain public parks are not already in place, then the camping in such places is NO-fire.

Thus, it’s worth the nominal fee to camp in the real campgrounds and at some of the B&B’s that allow it, such as, Rendleman’s in Bluffton and maybe a few other ones close to the trail.

Hi Doug,Bluffton- My wife and I are planning a camping only ride from St. Charles to Clinton and return. What is the name of your park? We are panning our trip in late August. Send to my email if preferred. p8gen47@yahoo.ca Thanks