Katy Trail Forum

We're planning our first trip to ride the KT in late September, camping most of the way from Clinton to St. Charles. What kind of "human traffic" can we expect during this time? Will finding an available camping spot be a problem?

Generally, the traffic is medium to light on the weekdays after school starts, except toward the east end (St Charles/St Louis) where the traffic is moderately heavier. You shouldn't have any trouble finding camping spots at that time. You might see a classroom or two of school kids on a nature hike somewhere along the trail. Of couse, the riders and hikers alike, like to see the October autumn colors about then, too.

You can sometimes go 20-40 miles on the katy without seeing anyone.



I'm nearly always surprised by how few people use the KATY trail.



You certainly will not be overwhelmed by other users in late September. In fact you will

probably feel pretty isolated at times.

Me and my sister are planning a trip on the Katy Trail and were wondering how far the shuttle will take you, what the rates are on mileage, and any other information on the shuttle service.

Me and my sister are planning a trip on the Katy Trail and were wondering how far the shuttle will take you, what the rates are on mileage, and any other information on the shuttle service.

Give them a call! They'll be GLAD to answer all your questions for you!

Give them a call! They'll be GLAD to answer all your questions for you!

Not sure about Rodney's service, but the mechanic at the bike shop at

Rocheport gave 4 of us a shuttle to Hartsburg (since the trail was

closed due to flooding), and it was $75. That's only about 25 trail

miles, but over 50 highway miles via Columbia and I-70, since the River

Road was flooded as well!

Not sure about Rodney's service, but the mechanic at the bike shop at

Rocheport gave 4 of us a shuttle to Hartsburg (since the trail was

closed due to flooding), and it was $75. That's only about 25 trail

miles, but over 50 highway miles via Columbia and I-70, since the River

Road was flooded as well!

When I arrived at the campground where I always camp I was amazed at how many giant

RV's were there. There were 550 ( I found out later) of them there and there was obviously

some kind of rally or convention going on. I found me a good spot under a tree and was

probably at least 50 yards from the nearest RV and not anywhere near a RV hookup spot

so I thought I was golden.



When I walked back to my tent at about 10:00 there was a security guy standing there. I

was REALLY surprised when he told me that I was going to have to move. Turns out that

the RV club had rented the entire campground and even though I was not in their way or

bothering them they were making me move. He apologized and said that there was

nothing he could do because they had complained. He said that they indicated that they

were afraid that I was going to "rob them or something." The security man said that they

were "Not being nice about it."



The security guard was just doing his job and I'm sure he was happy that I was not going

to argue with him. I asked him where I could camp and he said, "hop in" and I'll show you.

I rode with him to another part of the fairground. When he dropped me back off at my

tent he even offered to help me tear down and move but I declined his help.



After biking my things over to the new campground he came back out to collect his

$10.00 and apologized about 10 more times.



Then the RV'ers all started honking their horns. They honked and honked for 30 minutes.



The security man told that there were other RV groups coming it campground this

summer. My advice is to call ahead and specifically ask which campgrounds have been

completely rented by these groups. I would also expect at least 30 minutes of horn

honking in the evening.

I feel the need to point out a couple of things.



#1. The campground was not marked in anyway to show that I was not welcome there.

#2. The security guard was very professional and was certainly not mocking or making fun of

the RV group.

#3. I'm not really even bothered by this....just thought that my fellow trail users might not

want to have to tear down their tents after dark and bike them somewhere else. : )

I'm thinking of riding about 300 miles on the trail over the course of 5 or 6 days this coming March. I was wondering if anyone could help me compile a list of supplies that would be beneficial to have. Also, is the trail suited to a cyclocross bike, or would it just be better to bring the MTB? Thanks so much!

Either bike will work. Pick the one that is most comfortable for a long ride.



Bring a listing of places to stop for food, lodging, etc by using the Plan a Ride option at the top of the web page and printing it out.



Bring extras of basics since businesses aren't always open and towns can be over 10 miles apart.



Extra water. Don't expect a 20oz bottle to carry you through the day.



Extra food. Some kind of snacks like granola bars. Maybe something like GatorAde. Enough to get by in case of a close store or restaurant.



First aid - antibiotic creams, bandages, etc.



Sunblock.



Bug repellant. for the evenings when you are camping.



Clothes and camping supplies appropriate for the weather. It could be both warm and very cold in March.



Extra tire - not just an extra tube, but also an extra tire. The one time I didn't bring an extra tire on a multi-day trip is the only time I've ever had a blow-out. Also take extra tubes, patch kit, and whatever tools you usually carry.



Hand-wipes. To clean your face and hands of food, dust, bike grease, etc.



toilet paper - a small roll in case the trail-side toilets are out.



Also, if camping, bring soap/shampoo, towel. I use a mild soap that works as a shampoo, too. I also use it to wash clothes, since I only bring about 3 days of clothing with me.

Bring the right tools that will allow you to tighten every bolt on your bike. The trail is a little bumpy and you might find your water bottle cage or rear rack falling off.



If you are not used to doing multi-day rides, you should consider bringing something to soothe your "backside" in case of chafing. Some people use it before the start of the ride to help prevent chafing.

In March the trailheads will not be open.....don't expect running water there as you will be about a month early. I'd bring some warm clothes too!

A couple of other things in addition to the excellent suggestions above: A tire pump, the kind that attaches to the side of your water bottle bracket. You may work your arm off inflating a tire, but it's better than nothing when your 7 miles from nowhere. I carry a few extra chain links and a chain tool. Also, purely optional, a GPS can be kinda nice but obviously not necessary.

Has anyone rode the KATY on a CATRIKE. I'm planning on riding the trail in late September.

For journal entries on riding the Katy on a Catrike go to crazyguyonabike.com and search "Katy Trail Catrike." There is also an entire section of journal entries by those traveling by trike.

Recumbent (2 and 3 wheels) are very common on the Katy. You would fit right in.

I would like to get a group of people together to make this ride around the first weeked in October. The raw plan would be to take the train to St Louis and ride back to the KC area. Send me an email if you're interested or even if your just looking for a ride partner.

trobbins16@gmail.com



I forgot to add my email address.

tebbetts and peers are the only two towns in the middle of the 50 miles between mckittrick

and hartsburg. FUEL UP AT THE PEERS STORE instead of in tebbetts. the peers store is open

more consistently for SURE. going E to W, had i not stopped in peers (and opted for tebbetts

instead) i would have been SOL. only things "open" were a post office and a vending machine.

Ummm, did you maybe miss something? Peers is east of McKittrick not west, there are also the towns of Rhineland, Bluffton, Portland, and Mokane before you get to Hartsburg. Three if these towns have bar/restaurants, Rhineland Portland and Mokane, Bluffton has a snack shop right on the trail, and Mokane also has a small grocery store. Plus there are several B&Bs along the way.

;-) Wondered which B&B they stayed at? It's a good idea to carry a ziploc bag of quarters

for the vending machines.

Mokane is 6 miles down the road to the East, and has both a bar/grill AND a grocery store that has a deli. Plus they have a gas station and post office. The store is open from 7am till 9pm and the bar/grill is open from 9am till at least 11pm and later if there are people. The only other town that has more than 1 option and has those kinds of hours is Rhineland which is 20-25 miles to the East, way past Mokane. I'd say the best bet is Mokane. No really good places to stay for quite a stretch, though.

I've been to Mokane several times. The bar has excellent hot food. Try the catfish or tenderloin. The store has excellent deli sandwiches and pizza, potato salad. I've mailed some of my extra gear home from their post office. Everyone is friendly. GOOD people! Nice little town and worth the stop. Great well-kept old historical buildings.

Stayed here at the Carriage House, and it was GREAT!! Our party of 6 fit easily and it was very comfortable!! Spacious and cozy at the same time, if that's possible! Storage for bikes below in garage is really handy - nice feature. Hot tub was out of commission when we stayed, but could be GREAT for tired muscles!

Minor caveat: Self check-in is unique and handy, but MAKE SURE to remember code for keypad. Forgot to print off reservation and it was almost disasterous. That's MY fault, of course, but with self-checkin, owners aren't around and sometimes are hard to get by phone.

EXTRA NOTE: Co-owner Brett Dufur is author of THE Katy Trail Guidebook!! :-)

Stayed here at the Carriage House, and it was GREAT!! Our party of 6 fit easily and it was very comfortable!! Spacious and cozy at the same time, if that's possible! Storage for bikes below in garage is really handy - nice feature. Hot tub was out of commission when we stayed, but could be GREAT for tired muscles!

Minor caveat: Self check-in is unique and handy, but MAKE SURE to remember code for keypad. Forgot to print off reservation and it was almost disasterous. That's MY fault, of course, but with self-checkin, owners aren't around and sometimes are hard to get by phone.

EXTRA NOTE: Co-owner Brett Dufur is author of THE Katy Trail Guidebook!! :-)

Where is the Carriage House located?

Where is the Carriage House located?

Carriage House = Part of Katy Trail Bed & Bikefest B&B in Rocheport, MO.

Carriage House = Part of Katy Trail Bed & Bikefest B&B in Rocheport, MO.

Yes - sorry I didn't make that clear. Go to Katy Trail Bed and Bikefest and the Carriage House is ONE of several choices/rooms they have available.

Yes - sorry I didn't make that clear. Go to Katy Trail Bed and Bikefest and the Carriage House is ONE of several choices/rooms they have available.

Two of my buddies and I are in the process of planning a ride for the end of July. We will be leaving from Clinton and ending in St. Charles. We want to camp at campsites along the way. I am working on plotting our stops. I have the first day riding to Booneville (72.8 miles), day 2 to Portland (75.9 miles), day 3 to Augusta (49.5 Miles), and finishing with 26.9 miles to St. Charles. What do you guys think about those stops? Do you have other recommendations? I am confident in the ability of one of the other riders, but not in the other. Do you think 70+ miles will be too challenging? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Deoending on the wind speed/direction and temperature 70 miles can be a load if buddy is not used to riding distances. Have you thought of maybe taking a little distance off of the first two days and doing a little more on the last two? When we do a 4-day trip we usually do 3 60-mile days and a 45-mile day at the end.

70+ miles per day are achievable for intermediate riders. Your biggest challenges for the first two days will be up-hills, heat, and sun.



Day 1: Clinton to Pilot Groves. Camp at City Park (next to trail)



Day 2: Pilot Grove to Tebbetts. Sleep at Turner Katy Trail Shelter Hostel for $5 each (100 yard from the trail)



Day 3: Tebbetts to Marthasville. Camp at Community Club Park.



Day 4: Marthasville to St.Charles.

I echo bikerstuff's comments. The Turner Shelter will give you a chance to cool off in the AC and take a shower. Fairly good food next door at the bar and grill.

Thank you so much for that insight. A bar and grill sounds pretty good. Any other info greatly appreciated.

75 mi. a day is do able but you shouold prepare. Do some distance before the ride. Have ridden the trail in 3 days in late June in the past. West to East was the toughest. Good campgrounds all along the trail. Great eatries and rest stops. In July the heat can be a problem.

The comment on "west to east" being the toughest direction throws me a bit. I had heard the

trail was flat as a pancake and the wind shoul be pushing diagonally at your back riding west

to east. How tough can it be?

We have ridden West to East several times. Going this direction, there are some definite inclines before Sedalia, a few miles before Cliffton City (i think this one is the longest/steepest) and then pretty much uphill/downhill grades all the way from Cliffton City until about 3 miles before Boonville, at which time you get a nice steady downhill into Boonville. After that, it's pretty much flat.



It does however, make a huge difference if you are riding these during the heat of the day or not. I find them to be pretty easy unless it's 1 - 4 pm on a hot day. Regardless, I have had heat problems before, however on our last trip in June 09 I made a concentrated effort to hydrate and had no problems at all. Hydration makes all the difference!

"The comment on "west to east" being the toughest direction throws me a bit. I had heard the

trail was flat as a pancake and the wind shoul be pushing diagonally at your back riding west

to east. How tough can it be?"



It is very flat, but there is a noticeable change of grade west of Boonville. We're talking maybe 2% grades that go on for few hundred yards or longer and continue toward the west. Sometimes I wouldn't even see a change in the trail, but did notice myself going a couple mph slower. Add some heat, humidity and a long day in the saddle and it does make it a little harder.

Regarding 'flat as a pancake' and which direction is most difficult...I've ridden it each way and I felt east to west was a little more challenging. However I think the time of year may play a role. Last October I went from St Charles to Clinton and had some pretty good head winds once I past Booneville.

Good luck

I've ridden the trail in 2 days on a mtn. bike and it's pretty easy although most of your ride from Clinton to Booneville will be slightly uphill as you make your way up to the river. Booneville is definitely doable in one day if you're in mediocre shape but if you don't put in a lot of miles regularly you'll probably be feeling it by the time you get to Booneville. Please feel free to email me if you have any questions.

We recently biked the Katy trail and choose the W/S house as one of our stops (4nights)We decided on the house before it was bought by the current owners, and once it changed hands (mid April) we decided to keep our reservation (we booked in January). I want to stress that the new current owners are not to be confused with the previous!

We were extremely disappointed in what we got for our money. The house itself had not had a thorough cleaning in quite awhile. Dust bunnies on the floor, under cabinets (as well as GARBAGE) were plentiful. The bathroom off the sitting room had not been cleaned, and indeed, as the owner first met us and was showing us around, he had to flush the toilet! The cabinet in the kitchen had a smelly bag of very old beer cans and there were ROTTING potaoes on a shelf! The fireplace had a horrible odor, which even permeated through the wall to the adjoining bedroom. The chair that sat close to the fireplace even smelled. There were two coffee cans on the tables outside full of cigarette butts.

We splurged for this house and work hard for our money. After a phone call to the owner when we got home, our hope is that he took all of our concerns to heart, and the next people to rent this house will be pleasantly surprised and not feel that their money spent should have gone elsewhere.

We recently biked the Katy trail and choose the W/S house as one of our stops (4nights)We decided on the house before it was bought by the current owners, and once it changed hands (mid April) we decided to keep our reservation (we booked in January). I want to stress that the new current owners are not to be confused with the previous!

We were extremely disappointed in what we got for our money. The house itself had not had a thorough cleaning in quite awhile. Dust bunnies on the floor, under cabinets (as well as GARBAGE) were plentiful. The bathroom off the sitting room had not been cleaned, and indeed, as the owner first met us and was showing us around, he had to flush the toilet! The cabinet in the kitchen had a smelly bag of very old beer cans and there were ROTTING potaoes on a shelf! The fireplace had a horrible odor, which even permeated through the wall to the adjoining bedroom. The chair that sat close to the fireplace even smelled. There were two coffee cans on the tables outside full of cigarette butts.

We splurged for this house and work hard for our money. After a phone call to the owner when we got home, our hope is that he took all of our concerns to heart, and the next people to rent this house will be pleasantly surprised and not feel that their money spent should have gone elsewhere.

My husband & I own the Weber-Schulte Guest House and have NEVER had any complaints (if fact, just the opposite) so this review came as a complete shock to us. These guests stayed for four days and never once called to complain. If they were dissatisfied in any way, why didn't they call us the first day of their four-day stay? We could have addressed any issues. Why didn't they ask for a refund? We would gladly have refunded their money in total if they were unsatisfied. We also could have found them new accommodations quite easily. We never want our guests to be unsatisfied in any way.



Oddly enough, we saw them one night on the porch of the Guest House overlooking the park & they waved and smiled and never mentioned a word about being the accommodations.



I just have to wonder why anyone would make these accusations publically like this but never say anything during the stay. I believe it's always best to discuss things upfront - it's more productive and gives everyone a chance to be satisfied.

My husband & I own the Weber-Schulte Guest House and have NEVER had any complaints (if fact, just the opposite) so this review came as a complete shock to us. These guests stayed for four days and never once called to complain. If they were dissatisfied in any way, why didn't they call us the first day of their four-day stay? We could have addressed any issues. Why didn't they ask for a refund? We would gladly have refunded their money in total if they were unsatisfied. We also could have found them new accommodations quite easily. We never want our guests to be unsatisfied in any way.



Oddly enough, we saw them one night on the porch of the Guest House overlooking the park & they waved and smiled and never mentioned a word about being the accommodations.



I just have to wonder why anyone would make these accusations publically like this but never say anything during the stay. I believe it's always best to discuss things upfront - it's more productive and gives everyone a chance to be satisfied.