Katy Trail Forum

I hope to ride the full trail this spring, but I'm concerned about the

cost since apparently there's no camping allowed and riders are required

to rent guest houses/bed & breakfasts. Are there ways around this? What

should I expect to spend if not?

Okay... I see now that there are primitive campsites along the trail.

Yes..and community parks and baseball dugouts, too.

If you click on the Plan-A-Ride link above and select Camping it will show all available camping and milage from either end of the trail.

I have done 200-400 mile trips on the Katy several times and I usually go cheep, camping or staying at the hostel in Tebbets ($5). I am not against spending $100 on a soft bed, but I usually reserve that for when my wife and kids are along.



There seems to be more places to camp on the western half of the trail. But if you do a little reserch and planning, you should be able to do the ride without shelling out much money.

You must try the pretzel bread. Everything our group had was every good but the pretzel bread is killer.

I am planning a thru-ride of the Katy in mid fall 2011 we will arrive in St Charles and shuttle to Clinton to begin our ride. How many hours to get to Clinton, is there long term parking at St. Charles trailhead, how safe. I'm sure this info has been covered but I can't seem to find it. Thanks

If you are going to pay someone to shuttle you to Clinton.....ask them

how long it takes them to get there and what their schedule is. That may

be a more accurate answer than the shot gun approach here. Or perhaps go

to Google maps and get directions....it will tell you driving distance

and estimated time.

Anyone been to the Bike Swap Meet in Collinsvile, IL before? Looks like something to do this weekend with the soggy trails and all.

I have been to the swap meet a couple times. It is a great place to pick up some good deals on parts and bikes and chat about everything bike related. Stop by my booth for free coffee and snack samples.

Tony Caruso

The Bike Stop Cafe

This was a nice place when the Lucien Dressel family ran it 15 years ago, very charming, friendly, and they treated everyone with respect and fairness. But when the new owners took over they turned it into a clip joint where their only interest was to squeeze the last dime out of everyone. Shame on them. If pay toilets weren't illegal, they'd have them too.

I stopped going there when they started charging for wine tasting. Would be different if this was Napa and Napa quality wines, but it is not. Try Montelle winery instead. Stone Hill is Hermann is my favorite winery in Missouri.

Looking for any reports on current trail conditions.

A small group of us

Are riding from hermann to st Louis on 1/30

I know it is going to warm a bit towards fri but not

sure this will be enough to clear the trails.

Appreciate any help. Thanks.

I'm a regular rider, and I work near the Weldon Spring trailhead. That stretch has heavy tree cover, so combined with the eight inches of snow on the ground right now, I don't think you'll be able to navigate through there.



If you'd like, I can do a physical check at Weldon Spring later this week.

If your going to be out there that would be great! It looks like thurs - sun are going to

be close to forty. Hoping it will clear the trail. Thanks again!

Be prepared for some very soft trail surfaces due to the melting snow soaking under the trail surface, freezing at night and melting again the next day. It's like riding through quick sand.

That quick sandy grit can be pretty abrasive on chains, gears, wheel rims, etc.

Hamburg Trail worst mark trail ever.From the KATY TRail, after about 3.5 mi trail goes straight (what looks like the trail)turns into over grown grass & fallen trees. back track to what looks like survace road. Trail joins black top road, no sings, go to the right,through tunnels till black top turns into gravel road, signs say restrigeted area no access. turn back again, through tunnel take survice road up to Hwy 94. Down

to route D. Looking to the right the Humberg Trail went through the restricted area. At 94 & Route D turn right. Trail leads down by lake # 10 (Busch Conservation Area)To 2 red cattle gates (no signs)go around gate follow gravel road to bigger gravel road, no signs,To be met by gun shots. Turn right, go by lake 36, no sings, ride on gravel road to be run off into weeds by passing trucks. I give up after 1 mi. Go back to gravel road that took me back to lake 10, no signs for Hamburg Trail, Take trail back to Route D & Hwy94 no signs. look across 94 looks like gravel parking lot for grave yard.Go through gravel parking lot to the right and you'll see Hamburg Trail sign.

This will lead through the restricted area, no sign's to say it's the bike trail. Only a 8 mi. trail, I spent more time getting lost, than I spent ridding the trail.

Hamburg Trail worst mark trail ever.From the KATY TRail, after about 3.5 mi trail goes straight (what looks like the trail)turns into over grown grass & fallen trees. back track to what looks like survace road. Trail joins black top road, no sings, go to the right,through tunnels till black top turns into gravel road, signs say restrigeted area no access. turn back again, through tunnel take survice road up to Hwy 94. Down

to route D. Looking to the right the Humberg Trail went through the restricted area. At 94 & Route D turn right. Trail leads down by lake # 10 (Busch Conservation Area)To 2 red cattle gates (no signs)go around gate follow gravel road to bigger gravel road, no signs,To be met by gun shots. Turn right, go by lake 36, no sings, ride on gravel road to be run off into weeds by passing trucks. I give up after 1 mi. Go back to gravel road that took me back to lake 10, no signs for Hamburg Trail, Take trail back to Route D & Hwy94 no signs. look across 94 looks like gravel parking lot for grave yard.Go through gravel parking lot to the right and you'll see Hamburg Trail sign.

This will lead through the restricted area, no sign's to say it's the bike trail. Only a 8 mi. trail, I spent more time getting lost, than I spent ridding the trail.

Here's a google map to the trailhead from 40.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=864965

Here's a google map to the trailhead from 40.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=864965

I agree with Andrew. The trail is not well marked. Being somewhat familiar with the layout of the area, and having looked at the map on the web, I was able to guess well enough to follow it from the Katy to the wildlife center. Getting back to the trail was another adventure. Better pay close attention or you'll end up riding from lake to lake looking for the route back. There are no signs pointing you back to the trail.

I agree with Andrew. The trail is not well marked. Being somewhat familiar with the layout of the area, and having looked at the map on the web, I was able to guess well enough to follow it from the Katy to the wildlife center. Getting back to the trail was another adventure. Better pay close attention or you'll end up riding from lake to lake looking for the route back. There are no signs pointing you back to the trail.

I agree that the Hamburg Trail is not well marked. I will add that it was fun exploring the small side trails that I would have skipped past if the Hamburg itself had been better marked. Since the trail is only 8 miles long, reaching dead ends and having to back track a few times is not a big deal. If you plan on riding around Busch Wildlife once you reach the end of the Hamburg, you better bring a map of Busch. Its easy to get lost there with out the area map. I prefer to turn around once I get to Busch Wildlife and go back and ride more of the Katy Trail.

I agree that the Hamburg Trail is not well marked. I will add that it was fun exploring the small side trails that I would have skipped past if the Hamburg itself had been better marked. Since the trail is only 8 miles long, reaching dead ends and having to back track a few times is not a big deal. If you plan on riding around Busch Wildlife once you reach the end of the Hamburg, you better bring a map of Busch. Its easy to get lost there with out the area map. I prefer to turn around once I get to Busch Wildlife and go back and ride more of the Katy Trail.

This original post deterred me from riding the Hamburg last year. This year I got brave and gave it a shot. WE HAD NO PROBLEM NAVIGATING DOWN TO THE KATY! There are a few off-shoots that quite obviously are not the main trail. THE MAIN TRAIL IS NOT OVERGROWN AND THERE ARE NO DOWN TREES. I do wish they would put more signs at the trailhead to get you going the correct way. Then again--I enjoy having the trail to myself--so no never mind!

This original post deterred me from riding the Hamburg last year. This year I got brave and gave it a shot. WE HAD NO PROBLEM NAVIGATING DOWN TO THE KATY! There are a few off-shoots that quite obviously are not the main trail. THE MAIN TRAIL IS NOT OVERGROWN AND THERE ARE NO DOWN TREES. I do wish they would put more signs at the trailhead to get you going the correct way. Then again--I enjoy having the trail to myself--so no never mind!

Yes I love like the hamburg because it gives you a break from the flatness of the KT. There is

a really steep hill right in the middle of the hamburg. Starting the hamburg from the katie

trail is imperative because it's up hill from there. that way you can take it easy coming back if

your out of energy.

Yes I love like the hamburg because it gives you a break from the flatness of the KT. There is

a really steep hill right in the middle of the hamburg. Starting the hamburg from the katie

trail is imperative because it's up hill from there. that way you can take it easy coming back if

your out of energy.

If you can't navigate the Hamburg from the Katy, then you probably can't find your ass with both hands. It's quite a simple process: from the Weldon Spring trail head proceed west on the Katy. In less than a mile you will see a sign that identifies the Hamburg trail. From there you will go straight on the Hamburg and follow the trail, which goes through a small tunnel under hwy 94, and continues in a straight and unconfusing manner for about 6 miles, all the way to Busch Wildlife. I've been running it for years and it has never been overgrown, but occasionally there has been a downed tree following a storm or strong winds...just like I've seen on the Katy a million times.



The stupidity of certain people simply amaze me! What part of "turn right and go straight along the trail" is so confusing!

If you can't navigate the Hamburg from the Katy, then you probably can't find your ass with both hands. It's quite a simple process: from the Weldon Spring trail head proceed west on the Katy. In less than a mile you will see a sign that identifies the Hamburg trail. From there you will go straight on the Hamburg and follow the trail, which goes through a small tunnel under hwy 94, and continues in a straight and unconfusing manner for about 6 miles, all the way to Busch Wildlife. I've been running it for years and it has never been overgrown, but occasionally there has been a downed tree following a storm or strong winds...just like I've seen on the Katy a million times.



The stupidity of certain people simply amaze me! What part of "turn right and go straight along the trail" is so confusing!

tha intelaginz a sum folk reely git me!

tha intelaginz a sum folk reely git me!

"What part of "turn right and go straight along the trail" is so confusing!"



Sometimes the trail curves.........then if you keep going straight you go right in the ditch. You gotta stay sharp.

"What part of "turn right and go straight along the trail" is so confusing!"



Sometimes the trail curves.........then if you keep going straight you go right in the ditch. You gotta stay sharp.

Great trail but agree with others that it is poorly marked and has nothing to do with one's "stupidity". I personally never had an issue when I first rode the trail but I knew the area to an extent. There several spots that aren't marked where going straight rather than right would make sense. Also at Hwy 94 there's a big disconnect between where the trail starts/ends again. I think the confusion is justified.

Great trail but agree with others that it is poorly marked and has nothing to do with one's "stupidity". I personally never had an issue when I first rode the trail but I knew the area to an extent. There several spots that aren't marked where going straight rather than right would make sense. Also at Hwy 94 there's a big disconnect between where the trail starts/ends again. I think the confusion is justified.

"Dazed and confused for weeks at a time, but never lost!" Have you ever noticed that the negative, hateful, antagonistic posts are almost always anonymous? It's like the person posting is already ashamed of what they are doing.

"Dazed and confused for weeks at a time, but never lost!" Have you ever noticed that the negative, hateful, antagonistic posts are almost always anonymous? It's like the person posting is already ashamed of what they are doing.

I've found the easiest way to use the Hamburg trail is to park in the cemetery parking lot at the Hwy 94 and D intersection. If you park at the west end of the parking lot, you can go straight through the gate onto a gravel path. This path will wind its way to a paved section of road. This road will take you back under Hwy 94. After passing under 94 veer to the left and follow the trail all the way to the KATY between Weldon Spring and Defiance.



If you ride from the cemetery out to Klondike park and back, it's about 26.5 miles round trip. This includes climbing the path from the KATY into Klondike, riding around the park, climbing the very steep path up to the overlook and then exiting out the front of Klondike. The climb to the overlook is not real long, but it's plenty steep.





Just before reaching Hwy 94 leaving the front of Klondike, there is a gravel path to the right that will take you back to the KATY at a point near the Klondike boat ramp.



I hope this helps.

I've found the easiest way to use the Hamburg trail is to park in the cemetery parking lot at the Hwy 94 and D intersection. If you park at the west end of the parking lot, you can go straight through the gate onto a gravel path. This path will wind its way to a paved section of road. This road will take you back under Hwy 94. After passing under 94 veer to the left and follow the trail all the way to the KATY between Weldon Spring and Defiance.



If you ride from the cemetery out to Klondike park and back, it's about 26.5 miles round trip. This includes climbing the path from the KATY into Klondike, riding around the park, climbing the very steep path up to the overlook and then exiting out the front of Klondike. The climb to the overlook is not real long, but it's plenty steep.





Just before reaching Hwy 94 leaving the front of Klondike, there is a gravel path to the right that will take you back to the KATY at a point near the Klondike boat ramp.



I hope this helps.

I'd be ashamed to know that "I've been running it (the trail) for years" and then felt so inclined to call someone stupid because they simply weren't as familiar with it as I was.



Such a deal for some folks I guess.....to have the attitude that if you don't know everything that I do and don't have all of the life experience that I do, then.....well you're just inept and stupid.

I'd be ashamed to know that "I've been running it (the trail) for years" and then felt so inclined to call someone stupid because they simply weren't as familiar with it as I was.



Such a deal for some folks I guess.....to have the attitude that if you don't know everything that I do and don't have all of the life experience that I do, then.....well you're just inept and stupid.

Being as a Teen Thru out this region i know everything he said the part he did bad was stay on road (road leads to army reserve propety) on way to katy make a left after u go through tunnel under 94 that is where a major sign should be

Being as a Teen Thru out this region i know everything he said the part he did bad was stay on road (road leads to army reserve propety) on way to katy make a left after u go through tunnel under 94 that is where a major sign should be

Hamburg also connects to the lost valley trail...another good mountain bike trail

Hamburg also connects to the lost valley trail...another good mountain bike trail

I see that this website had some comments hijacked and that the comments were recovered. Where would those recovered comments be located? I was looking for a thread in early June. Thanks, webmaster

Yes, actually the company that hosts the website had database problems, and some data was lost. I managed to recover much of it, but not all. Anything that is still not showing up, unfortunately, could not be recovered. Sorry about that.



Within the next couple of weeks, I will be moving the website to a new hosting company, where I feel much more secure about the reliability. Would have done it sooner, but it takes quite a bit of work to prepare for a migration, plus it's best to do during the off-season.

Ray, Just a quick thank you for all the work you put in on this site. It's a great resource for all of the folks that enjoy the Katy. If the folks at DNR had any sense at all they would put you on the payroll. :)

We four women rented the bicycle built for four from the KT Caboose in Marthasville and had

the time of our lives. Laughed all the way! Met many other bikers along the way. Would

recommend it to anyone that would enjoy a slow ride along a beautiful trail. The owner of the

Caboose was a delight! She helped to make our day very special. We enjoyed their ice cream

too.