Katy Trail Forum

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

I rode part of the new section of the trail today from St. Charles north to mile marker 34. Some really nice areas along this stretch. Can't wait to get back out there and go farther when I have more time

Based on your comments is the trail now open from St. Charles to Machens? Thanks!

I too was wondering if the Machens section was open. Here's the MO State Park link to a blog indicating the section officially opened on Saturday, April 2, 2011. http://mostateparks.com/blog/state-parks-stories/58724/katy-trail-opens-machens

So when is the Machens section going to "uploaded" and posted on bikekatytrail.com?

I need to get a "track log" of the new section, in order to add it to the maps here. Sometime within the next few/several weeks, I hope to have a chance to get out there with my GPS and track it. I'm very anxious to ride the new section, but this spring has been so hectic that there has not been time so far.

If someone else has already ridden St Charles to Machens and has a GPS track log, I will gladly add it to the maps here if you send me your track log (use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom right corner of this page).

I'll have Machens added to the mileage chart within the next week or two.

I understand that there are no services in Machens. Anyone who wants to ride a few extra miles beyond Machens (on the roads) can find services in Portage des Souix, but again sorry I do not have details on that yet.

Ray, when you get around to updating the mileage grid for Machens, it needs to have the view expanded so you can see Calhoun and Clinton on the right side of the grid.
Thanks

Is there any kind of camping between st. charles and Machens. I cant find anything. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

ok..i usually would never ask for a guide but im overwhelmed with trying to find a route from st charles to st louis and have decided to just take a shuttle unless i can find someone with local knowledge who will offer to show me a route.i will make it in to st charles sometime before noon sunday may 15th..i dont really expect anyone to offer but if someone want to i could use the help...thanks

If you really want to ride to St Louis Amtrak you should plan on crossing the Missouri River at the Page Extension. There is a nice bike trail that crosses the river there. Once on the St Louis County side you will want to find your way to Olive and come in over Olive. You will be on some busy streets and there are some neighborhoods you may be uncomfortable with once you get into the city. I would check Veloroutes and pick my route. I think it will be about 25 miles. You might also consider using the Amtrak station in Kirkwood, MO. That will keep you out of the city. You will still be on some pretty busy roads but its about the same distance.

I just read that the trail now extends to Machens as of 4/11/2011. From Machens you can make your way to West Alton which looks like 3-4 miles with country road options and then hook into a trail again which basically leads to St. Louis. I have not biked this route, but am currently researching options as you are. If you try this route, I would recommend that you map out any transition areas. Humbly suggested ~kc

A closer check reveals that the distance from Machens to West Alton is about 9 miles.

I didn't realize the trail was open to Machens. It would be easy enough to get to West Alton but I'm not aware of any trail that will get you across the Missouri River. You might be able to jump on 67 and cross the river on 67, work your way through Spanish Lake and then pick up the Riverfront Trail at the Chain of Rocks Bridge. Or as an alternative you could cross the Discovery Bridge into Alton(it has a bike lane), ride Route 3 to the McKinley Bridge, cross back over to Missouri and take the Riverfront Trail downtown. Just for kicks I might reverse route this on my bike in the next couple of weeks if we get a dry day. Its been nothing but rain lately.

When I lived in St. Louis I'd ride Hwy 94 to Hwy 67. Hwy 67 has big shoulders, but lots of traffic. It will get you across the Missouri again just fine, and you should be able to wiggle over to Riverview Av and pick up the trail from there.

My husband and I rode bikes from the St Louis Amtrack to St Charles and really that was such a fun part of our trip. We rode through all neighborhoods and parks in St Loius..it was quite an adventure! Just have your route planned and you will enjoy yourself!

It's very important to know whether you are going to the Kirkwood Amtrak station, or the St Louis Amtrak station. You may already be aware of this distinction, but they are 2 completely different entities, located in 2 completely different types of neighborhoods.

Hello! I am wanting to plan an extended weekend trip near the beginning of june and I have no idea where to start. I'm wanting to leave Arkansas and arrive in MO via amtrack. Besides that, I'm clueless! Lol please help!

If you're coming on Amtrack you may want to start in Jefferson City. It's just about in the middle of the trail and the Amtrack station is a fairly easy ride to the trailhead. From the Jeff City trailhead the ride West to Rocheport is around 35 miles and has some of the best scenery on the trail. Boonville is another 13 miles or so. Another option would be to get off Amtrak in Hermann and ride East. There are several Wineries on or close to the trail within 50 miles or so of Hermann.

Riding from Clinton to Machens, am in Hermann tonight. Rain and some lightning a problem, trail is "mushy" in spots so our tandem can be agar hard to handle, lots of tree debris on trail in some areas. But doing OK and should be sunny tomorrow (but windy!). LOST OUR BLACK SONY POCKET CAMERA b/w mileposts 120 west of Portland and 112 near Bluffton. We'd love to have it back, especially the memory card. Reward if found and returned. Call 505-250-8345. Happy riding, everyone!

Thanks for the update Condor, I'm leaving from Clinton Saturday morning, will be on the lookout for a black camera.

any suggestions for a first time ride of 1 or 2 days on the western end (Jeff City west) of the trail? one way or round trip?

A favorite weekend ride for my wife and I is Hartsburg to Boonville and back. We drive up to Hartsburg on Friday evening, stay at either the Globe Hotel or the Harstburg Inn and have dinner at the Big Muddy Tavern. On Saturday morning we ride west towards Boonville, have lunch somewhere in Rocheport. In Boonville we usually stay at the Frederick Hotel or the High Street Victorian B&B. There are many options for dinner in Boonville. Sunday we return to our car in Hartsburg. This trip is about 38 miles each way.

The Memorial Day weekend Pedalers Jamboree trip from Columbia to Boonville and back looks like it will be a lot of fun also.

Are there parks near the trail where you can park a fifth wheel camper?

Are you looking for a campsite along the trail? And what part are you wanting to ride on? New Franklin has the Katy Roundhouse Campground that has RV camping. Small, nice campground right on the trail.

There is RV and tent camping in Sedalia about 1/2 block off the Trail.

Just wondering how close this was to being open and when the dedication ceremony would be....

My question for Ray is, will this site have Rock Island Trail information or will you make an entirely new site for us? If both state park trails are incorporated into this site will the name/domain change?

Trek, I will definitely include the Rock Island info in this website. Since the trails will be connected and many people will use both trails within the same trip, it will be easier for everyone if all the information is here in one spot. This will still be BikeKatyTrail.com - I think many people will think of Rock Island as a spur of the Katy rather than an entirely separate trail.

I have not heard anything about when Rock Island will open, but am really looking forward to it. They'd better build some big parking lots because I think a LOT of KC-area people will use it.

I'm planning on riding the trail in a few weeks and recall getting lost in Sedalia last time I went. The painted arrows on the pavement in town indicating which way to go were very faded and difficult to find. Anybody been through Sedalia recently? Is it (hopefully) easy to make your way through town?

Same thing happened to me, cost me about 10 minutes, just had to backtrack, no biggie. The route could defintely be better marked.

I stopped outside what appeared to be a laundymat and ask a local for directions. I could'nt believe it when they told me they had never heard of the Katy trail.

Best advice I can give-(traveling east)soon as you pass the old train station, watch that pavement cafefully for arrows. Don't depend on the signs. As you know its not hard to miss a turn.

Good Luck, Paulie

You might click on Sedalia above and look at the map. Simple solutions to simple problems.