Katy Trail Forum

We are looking to ride from Hermann to Jeff City next week and was wondering if anyone could tell me a little bit about getting to Jeff City. We will be spending the night and don't have a clue about this city. Suggestions?

Jeff City is a great town, lots of good restaurants (I personally recommend Arris' Pizza Palace right across from the Capital Bldg) and plenty of hotel rooms.



The problem you are going to have is getting from the North Jefferson trailhead into Jeff City proper. The pedestrian/bike lane isn't usable on the Missouri River bridge. You will have to ride the shoulder on the actual highway portion of the bridge. If that doesn't bother you, you should have a great time in "Jeff", as the locals call it.

There are also several shuttles providing service to cyclists wishing to get from the trail into Jefferson City. You might check with the Hotel or B&B you would like to stay at in Jefferson City or there are others listed here and at the trail head. Cab service is also possible.

Briar Rose Inn provides shuttle to riders for a start. They are hardly the only one, but they are very friendly and helpful.

The southbound bridge lanes into Jeff City are wide. With care, riders can cross over fairly easily when traffic is low, exiting on Main at south end of bridge.



Last year at this time, the Deville and/or the Truman posted Katy specials with shuttle on the trailhead bulletin board.



Lots of free/inexpensive things to visit in and around the Capitol building. Nice cafe on Madison Street (bisques), about 2-blocks E-SE of Capitol. Popular ice-cream outlet 4-blocks further south on the same street. Enjoy.

We rode from Hermann to Jeff City on Sept. 24th. The traffic was fast & heavy on the

bridge. One side has essentially no shoulder and the other is blocked at the Jeff City side

by construction equipment & supplies. I would recommend planning your overnight in

another city or arranging transportation across the bridge.



We stayed at the Hotel DeVille. It was nice but they offered no shuttle service. They told us

that there were taxis with bike racks available. If you want to overnight in Jeff City you

might try other hotels to see if a shuttle is available.



We are fairly accustomed to riding in traffic and felt confident before approaching the

bridge that we would feel comfortable riding across. That was not the case.

My husband and I are going to ride from Sedalia to Hermann and then Amtrak back. Any suggestions about where and where-not to park our car while we ride from a Fri-Tues. This will be our first multi-night tour&camp&B&B on our touring bikes and we can't wait to enjoy this trail.

Park in the Depot parking lot. Give your name, car info, phone number, etc. to the folks in the store so someone will know who's vehicle it is. I've left mine there for several days on several occasions and it's always been okay and it's right on the trail too!

Our group (10 riders) just did this exact route. The Amtrak station

is closed, but you board the train across the tracks. The overnight

parking in 2 blks up the street by the police station. We didn't have

any problems w/our cars. We stayed at the Harbor Haus in Hermann the

first night. Innkeeper was very nice and came to the station to meet

us w/out pre-arrangements. Breakfast was adequate. First day rode to

Jefferson. Do not try to cross the bridge into Jefferson! It was

impossible last Friday as there was a big crane blocking the bike

lane!! Ended up getting a very nice local businessman to shuttle us

across. Have a plan other than a bike if you are going into Jefferson

city!! Second day we rode to Boonville. Stopped at Dotty Cafe in

Hartsburg for breakfast - it was AWESOME!!! Loved Boonville - Hotel

Fredrick is a must!! Great location, service and is beautifully

restored. Breakfast was great - included smoked salmon and bagels!!

Not much in the way of stores between Boonville and Sedalia so stock

up on water and snacks. Beautiful scenery though. The whole ride was

wonderful!! Most of our group was on fixed gears and it was a great

ride!! Have a great time!!

My reference was the Katy depot not the Amtrak station.....the Katy depot sits right beside the trail.

My brother-in-law lost his camera on the Katy today, between McBaine and Easley. If found, please reply to this post!

A Lost and Found section would be a nice addition to this web site!

We are starting our ride tomorrow . Has anyone heard of any sections

of the trail being closed due to flooding?

My husband and brother-in-law just finished the whole thing (Clinton to St. Charles) today, and they had no flooding. Good riding!

Just finished our first KATY Trail ride today, Sedalia to the Creve Coeur Park Connector Trail. Here are SIMPLE directions to the train station.



Take the Page Bridge Connector Trail/Creve Coeur Connector (red) to the Mallard Lake Loop (green) at the round about. Follow the green signs around the lake, past the Lakeside Cafe, all the way to the end of the bike trail at Creve Coeur Mill Road. Turn left onto Creve Coeur, to Olive. Turn left on Olive, cross 270, then turn right on New Ballas Road. In a couple more miles (after I64/40) turn left on Clayton, then right on Geyer, then left on Adams. And bingo, you've made it to downtown Kirkwood and Amtrak station on Argonne.



Creve Coeur had moderate traffic, two-lane road, drivers were courteous. There is a bike lane on much of Olive, and drivers were courteous. Ballas was lovely, and Geyer was absolutely delightful. All in all, a pleasant way to tour some of the St. Louis suburbs.



About 15-16 miles, total (forgot to check my odometer at the beginning of the Connector).

The weather forecast for Jeff City is saying there's a flood warning out. I was planning

to bike this weekend. Is the Katy open along the river?

PS I live a few hours from the Katy trail now. There's nothing like moving away to

make you appreciate what was close

riding the trali next week. wife is a vegetarian. do you know of any good resturants in Boonville, Columbia, Jefferson City or St Charles

Stein Haus in Booneville has very good food and will gladly make a vegetarian dish upon request. Our group eats there on our cross-state ride each year and we have a couple of vegetarians that are quite happy with what is served.

Rode the Katy from Sedaila to St. Louis over the last 4 days. On a whim I cancelled my pick-up in St. Charles and rode home to near Lafayette Square via the Page Bridge. Could have used a bit more signage on the Creve Coeur Lake side but made it to Hog Hollow then back to the city via Ladue. A great addition to the trail.

Go North on the street into North Jefferson City (the old Cedar City); turn left to cross over the Hwy 54 overpass. Stay straight. The terminal building is right in front of you.



YES, this is the same as the old Nick's Homestead at Rt C and Ellis. This location is owned and operated by one of Nick's sons, Scott Raithel.

My wife and I highly enjoyed our stay at the Brick Inn in Washington MO.

It started with a pickup at the Dutzow trailhead and a ride/tour into

Washington in a convertible Cadillac! Owners Art & Kathy are inviting

and accommodating to your every need. The location provided access to

Washington's downtown area which is full of shops & restaurants. All in

all, highly recommended.

The ONLY bad experience in our Katy Trail bike trip (Sedalia to St Chas) this week, was our night at the Hermann Hotel. It was filthy! Also, the website rate of $52 (confirmed) turned into $85 upon arrival. One manager stated it was because of a "festival" weekend. I call their website "bait and switch". The one redeeming factor was dinner at "Lynettes" next door. She is a good cook. Hotel management was unresponsive, stating they were "newly renovated" What a joke. We had stayed there once a few years back when it was a decent, inexpensive, good value, place to stay. Under current management, it has gone downhill dramatically. Now we would not stay there if it was free, and the only room in 50 miles. We would pedal on!

I think you mean Lyndee's, and I agree, they have very good food, and our service has always been great. I think their prices are very reasonable as well. Sorry for your experience at the hotel. Hopefully your next stay in the area will be a good one and make up for it.

We will be taking Amtrack from Hermamm to Washington and want to ride into St Charles. Can we ride on the bridge? Any suggestions. Thanks

It is not against the law to bike across the bridge, but it is 2-lane with no shoulders and most people wouldn't do it. Many of the people that advise against crossing bridges never ride on the highway andway. I wouldn't have a problem with bikeing it on a week day after morning rush. If you can ride 15-20 MPH, you can get across in 2 min. The speed limit is 45 is think.

I'm planning to ride the century+ (104mi) on the 25th of Step., assuming the weather is decent. I plan to carry very little, other than food, water, and typical tools and a spare tube. I've ridden the Katy (and MKT) for over a decade, but never this stretch.



Are there any trail hazards I should be aware of along the way, i.e. wash-outs, etc.? Also, I'd like to know of things to check out along the ride in the smaller towns, but nothing that will take me too far off the trail. I'm not looking to go to any restaurants or museums, but I carry a camera with me and love to take photos.



If anyone else has done this ride, what's an expected time frame? I'm planning on 7-8hr of ride time assuming the wind isn't being hateful.

Do you have Brett Defur's book on the Katy Trail? He describes an abandoned church between N. Jefferson City and Tebbets that has a cemetery and a pretty good view of the countryside. This is close to the area where Cote Sans Dessien was. I could be wrong, but I think it's around the 134 mile marker. Hwy 94 is along the trail there. On the highway, you will see a sign, I think it says something like Barker Christian Church. It's an old wood sign, easy to miss. That sign is to the old church. If you go north of the trail, you'll see what used to be a sort of road up the hill, to your right. Walk up that hill, probably about 1/2 mile or so and you'll see the church, if it is still there. I saw it last year. I thought the cemetary was neat, there was at least one headstone for a Boone.

To add a little to Cathy's comments. I think you are referring to the town of Wainwright, the website says mile 137.6. I am afraid the church is gone. I saw it being demolished a couple months ago and it was just a pile of lumber then. Now its just an empty lot. Rather a loss to this small community I would say. The church seemed to make the place a "community" rather than just a collection of houses. It is still a nice diversion to ride up the road, a pleasant neighborhood but perhaps a "town" no more. I lament the loss of the small towns of Missouri, things just aren't the same.

Here's my two cents - Cathy is referring to the Barkersville Church - the only part left of what once was the Barkersville village that was located about half way between Wainwright and Tebbetts. I haven't been there in a while so I'm not sure if the Church is still standing or not. Cote Sans Dessien (hill without Design) is still there and can be seen from the park bench near MM 134. From the park bench you will be looking across the field to the middle of the hill where the French settlement once stood.

Aaron, I'm familiar w/ the Peers - St. Charles stretch. I've traveled it very recently.



1) Hazard I've noted is snakes. The snakes tend to kind of chill out on the trail on the parts that are less traveled. They have taken me by surprise because they straighten their bodies so they look like the twigs that you commonly come across. The rule I developed for myself is to steer clear of any oblong object even if it looks benign on my approach.



2) Second hazard is downed trees. I’ve nearly ridden right into a downed tree at dusk. If you’ll only ride w/ good light, this shouldn’t be a concern, but I thought I’d mention it.

Hey Aaron,



The best advice I could give you: be sure to fill your water bottles in Defiance. There is really nothing between Weldon Spring and St. Charles, and it's a long trip when you are out of water. Stop in and see the FANTASTIC folks at Katy Bike Rental. They are kind enough to allow access to their water, so I always patronize this shop (bought a new headband last time, and I always need something).



If you don't already have Brett's book, I HIGHLY recommend it. It's the best source for all things KT. I found out about the book here on the site and you can find it in most book stores. I am looking forward to meeting him along the trail someday.



I might see you along the way - have been debating taking AmTrak out there and doing that part of the trail on the 25th.



Wishing you good weather and a nice tailwind,

David

I'll check out that book. Thanks, everyone!

I'm riding the Trans America Trail East to West next May. Is there a preferred route to hook up with the Katy Trail (perhaps following the Mississippi North or Hwy 47 north from Farmington?) and also to reconnect with the TransAM from Clinton? Thanks very much.

I road part of the Trans Am 10 years ago across Illinois and ended in Perryville, MO. From Farmington to the KATY is doable on Rt 47 but there is no bike frindly route from the Missippi to the KATY that I know of. You might consider going north in Illinois (maybe Rt 3) and crossing the river north of St Louis on the Chain or Rocks bridge, then head to St Charles. There are links on this website that can help you pick a route to St Charles after crossing the bridge. Good luck.

Looks like you’ll be heading toward Pueblo, CO thru KS from the Katy. Most TransAM riders find this trail a welcome relief from the hot blacktop curves and hills of southern MO.



Of the TransAM journals/logs I’ve read, no specific routes lead to or from the Katy. It’s more like wide swaths of several wing-it-yourself possibilities. Your choice of Route-47 is as good as any. It will take you thru Washington, which is a very nice town. Be careful crossing the Missouri Bridge north of there tho; it’s fairly narrow. Once across, you’ll hit the Dutzow trailhead, where you’ll only miss about 20-mi of scenic riding on the east end of the trail.



After you reach Clinton, the swath goes southwest, toward the Butler, MO region, from where riders head toward several KS places like, Garnett, Pittsburg, Chanute, Eureka, or Newton to get back on the TransAM pathway to Route-96 which takes you to Pueblo.



The ones who go to Garnett might take a 25-mi stretch of the Prairie Spirit rail-trail down to Iola, from where they will start heading west again. You’ll be okay whatever you do. Just make sure you can cross to the northside of the Missouri River okay. Enjoy the springtime Katy wildlife!

Hey there everyone!



Just wanted to let everyone know that the K.T. Caboose had its Grand Opening September 11th and 12th and is now officially open for business.



We are located at 600 Depot St. Marthasville, MO 63357, right off the Katy Trail. (Formerly known as Choo Choo's if that helps anyone on the location)



If you have any questions or comments, we do have a facebook page up and running! Add us as a friend and leave some comments.

Username is K.t. Caboose



Come and check us out! More info and pictures on facebook, including the menu!!

Also, forgot to let everyone know that we have an email address as well. ktcaboose@yahoo.com - So send us an email with your comments, suggestions, and questions! We hope to hear from you soon!

Just wondering if your aloud to put a small jon boat on the lake that would be nice!

Just wondering if your aloud to put a small jon boat on the lake that would be nice!

Know yor knot.

Know yor knot.

allsum

allsum

awl rite

awl rite

Restrooms are not available & you have to exit the trail for a slight detour. Appears a large tree fell during a storm & hit the restroom facilities.

K.T. Caboose is right down the road from Treloar. Located at 600 Depot St. Marthasville, MO, right next to the Katy Trail. You cant miss it!

Restrooms are available and they provide for sale anything from water, to ice cream, to hot dogs and nachos! It's a nice place to stop and rest.

If no tents are allowed, why is this a campground? Most of us have trouble pulling a travel trailer on the bike.

If no tents are allowed, why is this a campground? Most of us have trouble pulling a travel trailer on the bike.

we stayed at the fairgrounds in sedalia and had no problem pitching a tent for the night. it did cost us $10 dollars but it was well worth it. There are free showers and it's not to far off the trail.

we stayed at the fairgrounds in sedalia and had no problem pitching a tent for the night. it did cost us $10 dollars but it was well worth it. There are free showers and it's not to far off the trail.

If tent camping is not allowed then its something they have started since October which was

the last time I was there.

If tent camping is not allowed then its something they have started since October which was

the last time I was there.

thank you Alicia and Joshua for infor on camping at fairground. WHY is it marked as "camping

"if only rv's are allowed ???

thank you Alicia and Joshua for infor on camping at fairground. WHY is it marked as "camping

"if only rv's are allowed ???

I think there is some confusion on the campgrounds. Countryside RV & Campground is on the south end of 65 highway only accessible from hwy 65 and they are strictly an RV Park they do not have set up for tents. The Missouri Sate Fairgrounds are accessible from the Katy Trail and have camping for tents, campers and RV's.

Hope this helps

Linda

Katy Depot Sedalia

I think there is some confusion on the campgrounds. Countryside RV & Campground is on the south end of 65 highway only accessible from hwy 65 and they are strictly an RV Park they do not have set up for tents. The Missouri Sate Fairgrounds are accessible from the Katy Trail and have camping for tents, campers and RV's.

Hope this helps

Linda

Katy Depot Sedalia