Katy Trail Forum

For you that live along the trail.....Doug.....whats the fall color like this week? We cancelled a trip to the Racoon River Trail in Iowa for the weekend because of snow and cold on Sunday in the forcast and are thinking of the Katy instead. I'm guessing it may be a bit early yet but at least the weather looks good for the weekend.

It's starting to really look nice. Awful wet right now but the colors are getting strong already. If it isn't too wet this weekend should be fantastic.

It seems like right now the fall color is mostly Rocheport east and somewhat spotty. Jefferson City east was pretty over the weekend....with the Portland to Rhineland area and Augusta to Weldon Springs very pretty.

This is from the Missouri Department of Conservation web site today:



Central Region, including Columbia, Jefferson City and Lake of the Ozarks:

Central Missouri is finally experiencing some dramatic fall color changes. A look across the canopy reveals reds, oranges, yellows, purples and browns. Sugar maple, red oak, sassafras, persimmon and dogwood account for most of the red and orange hues, while hickory, green ash and silver maple are turning yellow. Much of the forest is still green, but color shifts seem to be noticeable almost daily. The next few days will produce some heavy rains and cool temperatures. This will knock many leaves off of the trees and stimulate the remainder to cease chlorophyll production, revealing other colorful leaf pigments. Central Missouri's fall color peak appears to be right on schedule: October 15. Next week should be the best week of the month for viewing fall color. Explore Painted Rock Conservation Area in Osage County or Hart Creek Conservation Area in Boone County for an afternoon hike through oak-hickory forest, woodland and glade habitats. Also, consider a drive along Highway 94 between Jefferson City and Hermann to see the changing color on the river bluffs.

Finally made it to the Katy Trail on the 10th of October...road from Boonville to the Burr Oak Tree and back to Rocheport. Thanks to all who post here. All the comments were so helpfull in planning our trip. The day was brisk but sunny and beautiful..the trail was beautiful with just the beginning of fall colors showing. Three freinds and I loved the trip and plan to return next spring. We missed getting to eat at Abigails by 10 minutes...but the General Store was great! They had good food at a good price and the service was great too. There was an art festival going on and we actually got to try Malaysian Banana Fritters. Thanks to Brett for the transport back to Boonville after one of our company hurt her knee and couldn't peddle the 13 miles back to Boonville. Rocheport is a great little spot.

Charla,



That is my favorite sectiono of the trail to ride as well and want to do it again possibly on the 18th before the leaves fall. I was afraid that the peak foliage would be over by this Sunday but by your comments it sounds like it may really be spectacular by this weekend. Anyone else have any update on the fall foliage and what it will be like this weekend?



Thanks!

I biked the KATY east to west from St Charles to Clinton and am currently sitting at the Main St Cafe in Clinton enjoying their free wireless.



Highlights:

My fabulous warmshowers hosts in Ferguson, MO who fed me, took me around town, and gave me directions to the trail.



Augusta Brewhouse - great beer, brats, MUSTARD, and they let me camp just below the restaurant on the grass.



Hermann -(thanks for the ride judy!) Stonehill Winery was great! Just $2.50 for the tour and all the wine samples you can drink (thanks Sheila!). Also check out the Tin Mill Brewery for tasty local beer. Time for Pie had good coffee and brats. Camping in the city park was fun and the showers were hot!



Hartsburg - Sleeping in the RED CABOOSE. Go to Dottie's Cafe and ask for Bill, he rents it by the night. You can also camp next to the gazebo. Thanks, Dottie, for spotting me breakfast (no ATM in town) - cash is in the mail.



Tebbetts - didn't stay in the hostel (lunch stop) but the place looked great and the bike room had most tools you'd need.



Boonville - the Hotel Frederick was a nice break from weeks of camping. They store bikes indoors and have lovely rooms. Ask for room 6 for a hot tub to soak the aches.



Sedalia - Great information at the depot. Many thanks to Linda for helping sort routes out of Missouri and for directions to the fairgrounds. $10 per person for a tent spot and a decent shower. No tables. Close to a grocery store and laundromat.



Clinton - Desty and the civic center staff. Thanks for the route help. Free camping and showers right off the trail!



This website! I couldn't have asked for a better resource in planning the trip. Thanks for the hard work in putting the site together and maintaining it.



Thank you to all the lovely people I met who made it a very memorable experience. I'll be talking about the KATY for years to come.

Thanks for the wonderful comments! We are proud of the Katy here in Missouri and we think Ray and this website is the best!

We enjoyed our stay at the Globe Hotel. Jeannette greeted us with lemonade and provided a deluxe continental breakfast for us (fresh muffins, hard boiled eggs, yogurt, warm cinnamon buns). There are three well-behaved resident cats in the house (they are not allowed in the guests rooms) so if you are allergic you might not want to stay here.

We don't recommend traveling the Katy Trail on Monday or Tuesday though, as the services were very limited and most of the restaurants closed.

We enjoyed our stay at the Globe Hotel. Jeannette greeted us with lemonade and provided a deluxe continental breakfast for us (fresh muffins, hard boiled eggs, yogurt, warm cinnamon buns). There are three well-behaved resident cats in the house (they are not allowed in the guests rooms) so if you are allergic you might not want to stay here.

We don't recommend traveling the Katy Trail on Monday or Tuesday though, as the services were very limited and most of the restaurants closed.

Could you explain more about services and restaurants that were closed? We are planning a Monday, Tuesday Wednesday ride (Rocheport, Hartsburg, Augusta) in August.

Could you explain more about services and restaurants that were closed? We are planning a Monday, Tuesday Wednesday ride (Rocheport, Hartsburg, Augusta) in August.

Not good, Michele. Most businesses in Rocheport and Hartsburg are closed on Monday and Tuesday. Click on the towns on the map at the top of this page for information. Also, were you planning to ride Hartsburg to Augusta in one day? It's 87 miles. I'm not saying you can't do it, but I would not want to without plenty of food.

Not good, Michele. Most businesses in Rocheport and Hartsburg are closed on Monday and Tuesday. Click on the towns on the map at the top of this page for information. Also, were you planning to ride Hartsburg to Augusta in one day? It's 87 miles. I'm not saying you can't do it, but I would not want to without plenty of food.

One option - although it might not fit your riding plans - is to ride into Columbia, where you'll be able to find anything you need any day of the week. The MKT trail, which leads into the heart of Columbia, connects with the Katy Trail at mile 169.9, just west of McBaine. The downside is that it's 9 miles into Columbia, so this will add 18 miles round-trip to your total mileage.

One option - although it might not fit your riding plans - is to ride into Columbia, where you'll be able to find anything you need any day of the week. The MKT trail, which leads into the heart of Columbia, connects with the Katy Trail at mile 169.9, just west of McBaine. The downside is that it's 9 miles into Columbia, so this will add 18 miles round-trip to your total mileage.

We are doing Rocheport, Hartsburg, Bluffton, Augusta, Monday - Wednesday. I have called a few places between Rocheport and Hartsburg, (Trailside Cafe-Rocheport, Katfish Katy's-Huntsdale, Lucy's-McBain, Coopers Landing, yesterday Monday and today (Tuesday) and talked to live people who said they were open on Mondays, so I'm not too worried, but I will take some emergency food along! Do you think things have changed from a few weeks ago?

We are doing Rocheport, Hartsburg, Bluffton, Augusta, Monday - Wednesday. I have called a few places between Rocheport and Hartsburg, (Trailside Cafe-Rocheport, Katfish Katy's-Huntsdale, Lucy's-McBain, Coopers Landing, yesterday Monday and today (Tuesday) and talked to live people who said they were open on Mondays, so I'm not too worried, but I will take some emergency food along! Do you think things have changed from a few weeks ago?

We stayed at the Globe and found it a good value. Jeanette is a great hostess. Breakfast was good for biking, and Jeanette got up early so we could get a good early start and beat the heat. The Globe is not fancy, but the rooms and bathrooms are spotless. The winery or Dotties were not open because we arrived on a Monday, but we ate an early dinner/late lunch at the Hitching Post at 4pm. We arrived in town at 10:00 am, took a walk, a nap, and ate energy bars until the bar opened. Hartsburg is definitely a sleepy little town!

We stayed at the Globe and found it a good value. Jeanette is a great hostess. Breakfast was good for biking, and Jeanette got up early so we could get a good early start and beat the heat. The Globe is not fancy, but the rooms and bathrooms are spotless. The winery or Dotties were not open because we arrived on a Monday, but we ate an early dinner/late lunch at the Hitching Post at 4pm. We arrived in town at 10:00 am, took a walk, a nap, and ate energy bars until the bar opened. Hartsburg is definitely a sleepy little town!

Our group of 9 stayed at the Globe Hotel September 23 and were very pleased. Jeanette was delightful and very gracious . . . greeting us with homemade lemonade. The rooms were clean and comfy, breakfast was delicous as described above. All rooms are up a steep stairway, so if stairs are difficult to navigate, one would not want to stay here. We were very fortunate to learn a brand new bar had opened next door the week before, as Dottie's has closed and there would not have been any place for us to eat dinner the night of our stay. The food at the bar was delicious and the manager very attentive to us on arrival.

Our group of 9 stayed at the Globe Hotel September 23 and were very pleased. Jeanette was delightful and very gracious . . . greeting us with homemade lemonade. The rooms were clean and comfy, breakfast was delicous as described above. All rooms are up a steep stairway, so if stairs are difficult to navigate, one would not want to stay here. We were very fortunate to learn a brand new bar had opened next door the week before, as Dottie's has closed and there would not have been any place for us to eat dinner the night of our stay. The food at the bar was delicious and the manager very attentive to us on arrival.

I did a hike from Jefferson City to Herrman last weekend and had the privilege to stay with Doug at Rendleman Home. It was a great time. Doug fixed a fabulous dinner; one that I enjoyed very much having hiked 20 miles that day with a pack. Breakfast was equally good and it was a very nice time all around. Doug offered to make a bonfire but I was too tired to take advantage of it. Everything was great.

I did a hike from Jefferson City to Herrman last weekend and had the privilege to stay with Doug at Rendleman Home. It was a great time. Doug fixed a fabulous dinner; one that I enjoyed very much having hiked 20 miles that day with a pack. Breakfast was equally good and it was a very nice time all around. Doug offered to make a bonfire but I was too tired to take advantage of it. Everything was great.

We (9 in our group) stayed with Doug at the Rendleman Home B & B Sept. 24 and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Doug was a very gracious host, greeting us as we arrived dripping wet from a rainy ride. His hot showers were great, the home cooked dinner absolutely delicious and very filling, and the breakfast a perfect send off for our next day on the trail. We highly recommend stopping at the Rendleman Home B & B as you ride the trail.

We (9 in our group) stayed with Doug at the Rendleman Home B & B Sept. 24 and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Doug was a very gracious host, greeting us as we arrived dripping wet from a rainy ride. His hot showers were great, the home cooked dinner absolutely delicious and very filling, and the breakfast a perfect send off for our next day on the trail. We highly recommend stopping at the Rendleman Home B & B as you ride the trail.

Where are they going to be parking people this year, with all the fields being wet?

Where are they going to be parking people this year, with all the fields being wet?

Sorry to be so late with an answer but I just got back in the house from dealing with the problems at the Pumpkin Festival in Hartsburg. We probably had 15,000 to 18,000 people today and most had to park along the gravel roads south of town. The sheriff's deputies park cars along the left side of the road and the parking stretched all the way to the river which is 1 to 2 miles away from town. If the farmer's fields dry up we will use one of them to park but 6 plus inches of rain just doesn't go away in a day or two. I will say that everyone had a great time once they got to town. Come visit us tomorrow but wear your long johns as it will be cool.

Sorry to be so late with an answer but I just got back in the house from dealing with the problems at the Pumpkin Festival in Hartsburg. We probably had 15,000 to 18,000 people today and most had to park along the gravel roads south of town. The sheriff's deputies park cars along the left side of the road and the parking stretched all the way to the river which is 1 to 2 miles away from town. If the farmer's fields dry up we will use one of them to park but 6 plus inches of rain just doesn't go away in a day or two. I will say that everyone had a great time once they got to town. Come visit us tomorrow but wear your long johns as it will be cool.

Hi--we live in Jeff City and enjoy the dinners at Claysville. I wrote a little love letter/review about them on my blog--with pictures. If you're thinking about stopping at Claysville for supper, I encourage you to do so--before they close for the winter! If you're not sure they're open, be sure to call ahead.

Cheers!

Julie

http://opulentopossum.blogspot.com/2009/10/claysville-store-and-cafe.html

I finally got a chance to ride the Katy early in September. My lovely wife graciously agreed to support the ride. We had only 2.5 days so I had to really ride (which is what I like to do anyway) and was unable to spend a lot of time sightseeing. The first day we started at about 3PM in Clinton. Made it to Boonville shortly after dark (not recommended as it really is dark). Went to Hermann the second day and the last day was the easy day (other than up the hill to the Cafe Bella in Augusta) into St Charles. I had a great time and really enjoyed everyone I met along the way. Can't wait to do it again. Get excited just thinking about getting back on it.



The thing that surprised me the most was the amount of railroad equipment that was still there. I think that may be because the Katy is a lot more recent Rails-to-Trails project than those I have been on here in Wisconsin. I have always been fascinated by RR's. I would imagine there is much more to see when the foliage is gone. Has anyone documented the various equipment that has been left by the railroad?

For starters, here's a web page covering railroad history along the Katy Trail. This page mostly discusses depots and railroad cars along the trail, but doesn't get into the smaller things like signals and crossing signs. If anyone has documented the locations of other items, I'd be happy to add then to that web page.

Has anyone seen Bob cat in the trail? How harmful are they and where did

you see (near which town). Is there any other harmful creatures.. I bike

a lot in Katy alone and have never seen anything dangerous. but I was

reading a trail book which had bobcat info and got worried?

I have not seen any on the Katy, but did see one on the Little Blue Trace in Independence. This one took off immediately. It is very unusual to see one, as they stay away from people. They aren't going to bother anyone. Do a little research - they aren't dangerous unless you are a field mouse.

There have numerous "Bigfoot" sightings near Hartsburg over the years. I think that's about the scariest critter your gonna run into.



Paulie

Snakes...go to http://www.bikekatytrail.com/talk.aspx?thid=2974¬efmt=1&sortby=0&pg=6

Most of the time when I ride the trail I see at least one snake. I usually see them far enough ahead of time to stop and give them a chance to get across, so hopefully we won't be in the same spot at the same time. I've seen a fox, and some vultures (YUK! it creeped me out) eating trailkill.



And I've seen turtles and deer, and barking dogs, and one real mean old lady at Wainwright. She was by far the scariest creature I've encountered riding the trail. I do sometimes wonder about whether there are wilder creatures out there.

Cathy,



Check the critters out at Deon's Bar in Pilot Grove about 7 in the evening, far scarier than anything on the trail..

I've seen bobcats on the Prairie Spirit Trail in KS (early in the morning) and also near the Kansas River from a bridge (on a bike). So I know they exist along the Missouri as well.



They look similar to a big house cat, but are slightly taller and leaner with slightly longer legs and bigger paws. Thus, they will not attack large prey like humans. Their pointed ears and missing tail are futher distinctive ID's.



Since they tend to avoid open areas, I was lucky to see them at all. :)

I saw a bobcat on the Hamburg trail a couple years ago. It was right near the water treatment plant. We were headed downhill, and it was in the right tire track as we came around the curve. It was walking away from us, and I could make out the very distinctive point of its ears. Once it heard us, it was gone like a flash.

Saw one west of Calhoun a few yers back. It was on the trail but as soon as it saw/heard me it took off across the fields and was gone even before I could grab my camera. It was about 7:00 AM.

my wife and I saw a bobcat on the Indian Creek bike trails in Leawood last year. Was slowly crossing the path up ahead of us, then quickly moved toward the creek as soon as he looked up and saw us.

Is a cougar the same as a bobcat? I was riding on the Tomahawk creek trail a couple years ago and a guy stopped me and said he had just seen a cougar. Showed me the tracks. Said they had come from Colorado a few years earlier following the deer herds.

Nope, they are different. Here's a link that describes the differences.

http://www2.ucsc.edu/police/cougarvbobcat.htm

I know without a doubt I saw a bobcat west of Calhoun a few years ago.

I may?/possibly?/wonder? if I saw a cougar a year or so back. It was early morning, lots of rabbits on the trail, river was flooded and covering lots of bottom land. It was way up in the distance on the trail and as I got a bit closer I thought maybe a cougar from the shape and stance of the body, looks of the tail, and how it leapt up off the trail into the hillside. BUT, I'm not 100%, it may have been my over active immagination taking over...but I do know it spooked me and I cut my ride short. There are cougars in MO. I've been told though that out in the wilds and on the Katy, there is such an abundant source of wild food for them they have no interest in pursuing a human and in fact would avoid them.

No, a cougar is not the same as a Bobcat! They are bigger, faster and more aggressive. There have been instances out west of them attacking cyclists, it seems they go for the faster than normal movement, so I have read. We do not have them in Missouri, but some people would not agree with me on that.

Thanks everyone. Its makes me feel better to know that bobcats avoid humans. Some areas

of katy gets very deserted and you see no human trace. So wanted to be pre-cautious.

Let's see... I am generally on foot when I am on the trail and have seen a bobcat just to the west of Sedalia. I have also seen coyotes, more deer than I can count, snakes, turtles, spiders, groundhogs, turkey buzzards, owls, herons, etc.

The common thread? All were far more afraid of me than I was of them.

No bigfoot sightings as of yet. ;-)

I also saw a beautiful bobcat a few years ago on the Indian Creek Trail in Overland Park. I

had just topped a hill and was heading down again and just up ahead under an overhead

bridge/tunnel was a bobcat just sitting right in the middle of the trail. I immediately stopped

on my bike to be able to view him longer and he just sat there for about 5 or 6 seconds then

just ran off! Of course my husband who was behind me didn't get there in time to see him.

Every time I ride there I think of him again. They are MUCH more afraid of us than the

reverse. They won't harm anyone, just the odd mouse as was mentioned earlier :)