Katy Trail Forum

Anyone have experience on the trail with kids? Our kids are young (1 and 3) and would ride

in a trailer. My main concern is safety. I am not too familiar with the trail (we used to live in

Columbia, and have ridden some on the MKT, but that's it), and we would like to ride from St.

Charles to Columbia or Rocheport this summer or fall. Of course we would take it slow and

make lots of stops with the kids. Are there kid friendly places to stop along the way? Is the

trail very crowded? Do you foresee any safety concerns? Thanks.

Done the trail many times, but only once with a little one. We did a 2 day with our 4 y/o grandson last Sept. We pulled him in his Buley trailer, but he was almost too big for it. Next time it will be a tag-a-long.

We parked in Calhoun and the first day went to Clinton and back (~18 miles round trip) as he loves RR related things and there is a caboose at the Clinton trailhead (cannot go in it thought). Second day was Calhoun to Windsor and back, about 15 miles (another caboose at the trailhead). This way is mostly wooded and farmland. We stayed overnight in Calhoun at Cruse's Cabooses (see the trend here...LOL). Cruse had 2 restored cabooses fixed as a B&B with outside grilling avail, hammock...very nice (a bit pricey, but we were glad we did and would do it again).

Windsor has a Dairy Queen a few block off the trail. Between Calhoun and Clinton not any stopping places for snacks...not even anything at the clinton trailhead so be prepared. That said, our grandson loved it as he thoroughly enjoyed the wildlife, snakes, turtles and of course anything train related.

For the best trip, not too many daily miles, plan ahead with snacks/fluids, frequent stops to enjoy the scenery, and of course lots of pictures.

The only safety concern I can think of outside the patently obvious (wildlife, etc) is the road intersections. Be careful with those (especially in Sedalia, there are many busy streets that cross the Katy in rapid-fire fashion), and lift the trailer and walk up if the drop off between the road and the trail looks too severe.

I take my granddaughter (2-3 year old) for short rides in a kid trailer– nothing like what you are talking about though. The longest I have done is about 20 miles from my house to Hartsburg. We would stop at the Jefferson City trail head, Carnahan rest area, Claysville, and maybe one more stop before reaching Hartsburg depending on how she was doing. We always carry some toys, extra water, and pull-ups in the trailer for her. I consider all the trail heads and trail benches as kid friendly, any place where they can get out and stretch their legs a little. As for the traffic, the heaviest traveled areas would probably be around St. Charles, Rocheport, Dutzow, Hermann, and Jefferson City especially on nice sunny weekends. If you do need to stop along the way between trailheads it is best to pull the trailer over as far as possible so you are not blocking the trail for other riders. There are spots along the river where you would want to watch the three year old and keep him/her away from the edge of the steep river bank. Some of the gates at road crossings can be narrow and you may want to walk your bike through them if you are not comfortable peddling in tight places.



If you have never been on the trail, there are several posts on YouTube (just search for Missouri Katy Trail) that will give you an idea of what to expect.



Hope you have a good trip.

Great suggestion to check YouTube!

Thanks for your suggestions. I had not thought of checking out youtube, I will do that.

Boonville is hosting the next KatyMaC (Katy Trail Merchants and

Communities) Conference on February 16, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the

Hotel Frederick. If you are rolling through that day, stop on in! If you

need more information, contact the Chamber at 660-882-2721.

Is there anyplace to store/lock a bicycle? we would like to store our bikes at Sedalia, drive to saint Louis and park the vehicles then take the train back to Sedalia. We would be a fairly large group, two families with a total of 9 bikes. any thoughts or suggestion?

Possibly leaving the bikes at a B&B you will be staying at. Although with 9 bikes its tough to say if there would be sufficient room for them all. I'm sure they would do you the favor, if you're coming back by train on the same day. Other than that, you'd have to just lock them to a tree or something & hope they'll be there. Maybe a bike shop would accommodate this for a small storage fee.

I'd ask at the Hotel Bothwell.....they have bike storage available. It may cost you a nights stay, but it's a nice bike friendly place and by far beats locking the herd to a tree on a hope and a prayer.

You might also try the trailhead depot/museum. They are right on the trail and very accommodating to bicyclists. I believe that I've noticed some storage area there when I have visited. See the entries under Sedalia for their phone number.

Mini warehouse, storage. I know they are typically 30 days minimum, but you could check!

The Bothwell would be a good choice, both from a storing standpoint and lodging. I've stayed there, they're very bike friendly and I highly recommend it.

I have room for your bike's and can pick you up at the Amtrak station. Thanks Maxine's rooms for Rent.

CEK

We would be happy to store your bikes while you take the Amtrac. Just let me know when

you will be arriving. We have two areas that could probably accommodate you. We have a

full basement in this building and then we have the old freight room that is secure and

locked at the end of the building. You can call me and arrange arrivals at 660-826-2932 ext

18. This puts you right into the Depot Store. Look forward to hearing from you.

I have subscribed to this forum for about a year now and have enjoyed reading all of the comments daily. We just started biking last spring and were planning a trip on the KT this year. After a few months of biking, we were up to 10 miles on a daily basis and 20 miles on a Saturday or Sunday. We were talking about a short 2 day trip at first with a stop at a local B&B. Yesterday, a friend of ours asked us to attend the Peddler's Jamboree with them in May. I do not recall anyone talking about this last year. I saw a little information from last year's ride on a website, but I was not sure how easy it was to get a room at a B&B in Boonville during this time. We also saw that there is a Comfort Inn, but it is 1 mile away from the trail. Has anyone here participated in this? Any advice for a first-timer?

Last year was the first year for the ride. I did not participate but from what I have gathered it is designed as a bike and camp event with SAG support provided at a reasonable price. If you decide camping is not for you, you could check B&B/hotel availability near the Boonville park area once the dates are known for this years event. Camping looks like it would provide the best experience though since you would be camping where the music event happens in the evening.

This web site will give you a lot of information on the Pedaler's Jamboree http://offtrackevents.com/peddlersjamboree.php including accomodations in Boonville.

Try the Isle of Capri Casino and Hotel. We are right on the trail and were sponsors of the Jamboree last year. Most of the activities are located in the downtown area. near the Casino. Let us know if we can help with your accommodaations.

I have a bed and breakfast in Boonville called the Garden Gate Bed and Breakfast. I am 5 blocks from the trail head. My website is gardengatebedandbreakfastmo.com if you would like to take a look. Enjoy your ride! Penny Garibaldi, Boonville

You can stay at the Hotel Frederick, which is one of the sponsors for this ride. Located at the south end of the Boonslick Bridge it is a beautifully restored historic hotel. Walking distance to any of the events that are planned for the Peddler's. Check out the web-site at hotelfrederick.com.

I'd like to ride the trail this summer. Is it mostly gravel, paved, a mix? Also, it seems you're never too far from a repair shop? Is this true? Also, are the other towns & cities as close by as they seem?

I know there are lotsa restaurants, but are there any GREAT restaurants along the way. :-)



Thanks!

I've ridden the entire Katy Trail 7 times, and will probably ride the entire trail again this June. If you're seriously condsidering a great organized ride, consider the Missouri Dept of Natural Resources' Katy Trail Ride. It's a week long ride, camping, breakfast, dinner and SAG support provided. Go to www.katytrailstatepark.com for details.



The trail is made from pug, a loose gravel material. I would recommend a cycle-cross or hybrid for the ride. I ride my road bike that has 27mm tires and have only had two flats in those seven rides. Not bad odds.



The towns are about 10 miles apart, but are very small towns, some are only a few hundred people. There are very few bike shops along the way. Make sure to carry a flat kit, tube, pump, etc. You might also consider taking granola bars, fruit and plenty of water. I always take my Camel Bak with me. Some of the towns have well water and it's rather rusty.



You might also check out "The Katy Trail Guide Book." It's a great reference if you've never been on the trail. The Rocheport area is my favorite portion of the entire 225 mile trail.



Have fun!

Yes there are towns that are close, but not right on the trail. Jefferson City is across the river.....call a cab if you're not road worthy and used to semi's within a few feet of you. Hermann is across the river, but the new bridge has a bike lane making the trip worth the short ride. Washington is across the river....call a cab and don't ride the bridge as it is very narrow with no shoulder.



What makes a restaurant great is up to individual preference. Having said that....Glenn's Cafe in the Hotel Frederick in Boonville, Abigails and the Bistro at Les Bourgeois at Rocheport, Madisons in Jefferson City, Stone Hill in Hermann, and The Vine in St. Charles are worth checking out to get around eating burgers and fries.

I did ride a few days last year during the annual ride in June and it was fun but pretty warm. I also lived near Jeff City in 2005 and rode the trail from August through early December. The trail got soft in the early winter of that year. I plan to be back in early April this year for a west ride hopefully the full distance. The temps are 40's-50's hopefully then? And is the trail fairly dry and firm at this time of the year? Thanks for any comments.



Don

It's hard to tell what MO weather will be. Especially in that time of the year. It may be 60 and sunny for a while, it may be 20 with a foot of snow on the ground. There's no sure answer.



(Although if it does get warmer, it will probably be the rainy/stormy season and you'll have that to deal with, along with the mud)



There's no sure answer, you have to pick the day and hope for the best.

I've ridden parts of the Katy several times during early spring. Maybe I've been lucky on my choice of days, but the trail has always been hard and easy to ride then, even after an overight rain. The dual-tracks aren't well embedded then, but they don't need to be.



Many riders recommend the spring for the foliage and young wildlife.

I'm planning on riding the first week in April. The plan is to start at Clinton on Friday, April 3rd. So far everything I've read is to expect anything that time of year.



John

I believe that is Easter weekend so more businesses than usual may be closed.

Do people bicycle from the St. Louis Amtrak Station to the Katy Trail in St. Charles? My wife and I are thinking of tandeming the Katy Trail this year, both ways, and taking an Amtrak from Dallas, TX to St. Louis. This way we wouldn't have to leave our truck somewhere for two weeks and we'd reduce our carbon footprint... just want to make sure that this is a safe plan... we'd probably be doing this early on a Saturday morning both ways. Any thoughts?

Thanks.

Howard

No problem riding to the trail. Take the train to Kirkwood, MO. Here is the link that provides directions from the Kirkwood station to the Katy.

http://www.bikekatytrail.com/kirkwood.asp

If you plan to bring your own tandem, you may want to check with Amtrak. Or renting??



Good for you on thinking carbon footprint, we should all think that way.

I think you would have to rent or ship bike. Amtrak will carry your conventional bikes, and trailers that can be stowed as luggage only.

We stopped here for lunch, awesome burgers!! Very nice bartender refiled our water bottles for us.

We stopped here for lunch, awesome burgers!! Very nice bartender refiled our water bottles for us.

We atayed overnight here last April! What a Wonderful place to stay! The breakfast was amazing!!! The owners are very nice and the place was very quiet and clean. The private and relaxing hot tub out back was a perfect end to a long day of riding.

We atayed overnight here last April! What a Wonderful place to stay! The breakfast was amazing!!! The owners are very nice and the place was very quiet and clean. The private and relaxing hot tub out back was a perfect end to a long day of riding.

Anyone riding the trail in January? I assume cold weather, so I can deal with that. But I wonder about trail condition during the winter. Anyone been on it this month? Is it kept in pretty good shape, even after snow such as we've been having this winter?

I hiked 22 miles on it one day last week on the east end of the trail near Augusta and it was very wet. I would not take a bike on it yet, but I did see some bike tracks indicating that there were a few people on it recently.

Attempted a ride from Calhoun to Windsor on Sunday. Trail was still covered in snow. We ended up riding around the town of Clinton, not much traffic, roads were fairly dry.

I'm at the 110 mile mark and have seen three riders in the last week and the tracks of two others. One that I saw had full panniers and looked to be a thru rider. He had gotten off the trail to ride the pavement from 110 east. He was on about 38c tires and a cross style bike. The tracks I've seen are mountain bike and sinking in OVER 1/2 inch. They also appeared to wander some so I'm thinking they were being pushed sideways some by the softness. Now if this sounds like hard riding, probably so. I have however seen more Bald Eagles than riders. HUGE flocks of geese and quite a variety of other wildlife. I have only been walking but should have the bike out Wednesday.

On Sunday (1/17) I got on trail at Page Ave. I started to head west but it was very wet. So I turned around and headed east towards St Charles, but it was all but impassable due to mud. It is best to stay off the trail until it gets drier.

Check out the Blind Ref downtown Boonville. A great new sports bar with awesome food. Try the Prime Rib sandwich and the wings. Good people and smoke free.

You can get two $25 gift certificates to the Blind Ref for $15 here:



http://krcg.incentrev.com/index.cfm?action=offer&offerid=15865

Has anybody ever biked the Katy Trail carrying a small dog? Is it against any rules? Just wondering.

Sure! I've seen this lots of times. I've seen people with the pull behind "kiddie trailers" with pooches in them, I've seen folks with papoose type carriers toting Fido down the trail. -Even saw a guy with a Scottie just sitting in a basket on the front of his bike as he pedalled along. It just sat real comfy and didn't move!

Here's a photo someone sent me, of a carrier that they used on a Katy Trail trip. Just a standard dog carrier firmly attached to a standard rack - they said the dog loved riding in it.

A thing I was curious about: Why does the Katy Trail detour onto a set of streets in Sedalia before it continues on out of town? If you look at the map (http://www.bikekatytrail.com/sedalia.asp will get it), the "true" Katy seems well marked from the Depot area onward to where the marked bike path picks up....

I think that a section of what looks like the trail on the map is still an active rail line. I know that when you do the street route you pass over railroad tracks at some point.

jim is very correct, plus according to some folks at the katy trail museum, the the dnr i think is who they told me it was, cannot get permission from the present railroad to put the katy anywhere close to the original katy railroad, so they have to use the streets to bypass it. when i talked to them a few yrs back, they were still trying, but it didn't look promising.

You probably are right, festus. I looked at the map closer and saw the path from the Katy Depot to where it picks up off the streets goes by a rail line or two and maybe even a rail depot by the looks of the map (I'd have to get "on the ground" and see to know it for sure).



If it goes by a rail line, there are definite safety issues. Furthermore, I wouldn't think most anybody would want to be that near a train on a bike or walking or just about anything for the noise. Unfortunately, some don't realize that as the city government for where I live is talking about putting a MUP next to a train track that goes through town.



Anyhow, all of that is only a guess.

To help clarify the detour through Sedalia. The Katy and the Missouri Pacific shared a

junction in Sedalia. The UP and Amtrack now run on that track where the junction is. When

DNR purchased the rights of the Katy Railroad Property they did not purchase any of the land

past the Katy Depot to that junction. Thus there is a detour of 1.5 miles through Sedalia to

reach a controlled RR crossing for the bikers to cross safely. Please stop by anytime you are

through Sedalia and I will be glad to show you around and give you some more Katy RR

History, plus visit the Depot museum this year for the Rowdy Days and Rowdy Nites display

of the cattle drives.

OUTSTANDING FOOD. We had a baby shower there and Sandi was so warm and

accomodating. She did everything for us..even helped take pictures. It couldn't have been

more perfect...and I didn't have to do anything, but listen to the wonderful comments of my

friends!!

OUTSTANDING FOOD. We had a baby shower there and Sandi was so warm and

accomodating. She did everything for us..even helped take pictures. It couldn't have been

more perfect...and I didn't have to do anything, but listen to the wonderful comments of my

friends!!

Taking the TransAM trip from Portland,OR east and want to do the KATY trail. Need help on how to get from Girard to Clinton.

Happy Trails Todd

Todd, I don't see your question posted on crazyguyonabike.com. You might try asking there or at the ACA. There are several journal entries on crazyguy by transam riders who have used the Katy. Try a search there for "Katy trail" and check the route used in those journals.

You may want to check on Mo Bike Fed. Missouri Bicycle Federation

If you are riding a standard bicycle with stowable trailer, you could pick up Amtrack in Kansas and take it to Kansas City, then switch trains to Warrensburg or Sedalia MO. I know that you can't take trikes or trailers on the train.

It's cold on the trail. Snow covers it today. I don't even think the 4-wheelers are out making ruts. Innkeepers have gone south for the winter. But some of us have to stay and survive here. For those hearty few, I feel a need to post a restaurant review as follows: I would like to offer a Restaurant Review of the Trailside Bar and Grill in Rhineland MO. I needed to break the fast this morning and stopped by. I asked for a gourmet treat, fried salami with egg on wheat toast. Irene told me they were out of salami, so she recommeded their bologna. Chef Angie prepaired a deliciou...s fried bologna on wheat toast with mayo and lettuce to go. It was just the right meal on the run for this snowy morning. Thanks ladies!