Katy Trail Forum

Was in Pilot Grove last weekend and it looked like the grocery store across from the trail was either closed down or maybe remodeling? Anyone know the status of the store? Sure will be a loss for the town of Pilot Grove and riders if it is closed.

We noticed that too. Becky's sure was hoping though!

When we stopped through we were told the grocery near the trail and the deli had both shut down. The only thing open was Caseys.

Hey,



Could anyone in Hermann update me on the trail conditions out there? We are heading out on AmTrak to Hermann for a Saturday ride back to St. Charles. Since we have had so much rain the past few days, I was hoping that someone could give me some info. before we board the train.



Thanks!

My sister and I came to ride the Katy Trail and stayed at the Garden Gate B&B in Booneville recently, our room was comfortable and spacious,and the breakfast was wonderful. Penny got our breakfast ready at 7:00 AM so we could get on the trail early to beat the heat. It is a great place to stay.

Is it easier to ride the entire trail east bound or west bound? Which way if either is better/more enjoyable?

It seems like most people ride west to east. There are two main reasons for this. Quoting Norm here: Elevation and prevailing winds. For most of its length the trail runs along the Missouri river and as the river drops approximately one foot per mile so does the trail. For all practical purposes this doesn't mean much to a rider. As to the wind, when you are out there on the trail you will often be fighting what seems to be a strong headwind and the oncoming riders will ask if you are enjoying the tailwind! A meteorologist might offer a convincing argument for the best chance of a tailwind in the river bottom but it seems like it blows into your face and up your back within a few pedal strokes. So, to answer your original questions; absolutely and east, no, west, no.... Glad to have been of help.

My friend and I rode the Amtrack from St. Charles to Sedalia. We started

their and headed toward St. Charles. From Sedalia to Boonville it is "up

grade" after that it was all down hill so to speak. I looked at the elevation

charts to make this decision. We did run into some winds as they where

racing towards at storm front that was approaching from the NW. Other

than that, go EAST. Good luck.

We had planned to bike on to Machens and then on roads to the Grafton Ferry to cross to Illinois and ride the Great River trails down to St. Louis. However, the ferry is closed. Any ideas on other options? We want to keep our road riding to a minimum, but would like to spend a couple more days biking over to Illinois and riding the trails next to the Mississippi.

We are considering riding from St. Charles to the Golden Eagle Ferry over the Mississippi and then riding to the Brussels Ferry over the Illinois to Grafton. Has anyone biked these roads?

Any help would be appreciated!!!

Kim,



Great alternate scenic route! That's my usual route when I am on a motorcycle. To cycle on this route, you're better be a Tour De France caliber. From St. Charles to Golden Eagle Ferry the terrain is mostly flat, but i don't remember seeing any shoulder to cycle on. You will be facing with cars and motocycles at 60MPH. The terrain from Golden Eagle Ferry to Brussels Ferry is extremely hilly and no shoulder. I have never seen cyclists on this alternate route except lots of motorcycles.

You can take the back roads from Machens to the West Alton trail. Cross the bridge at Alton and either go north along the Vadalabene Great River Road Trail or go south and meet up with the Madison County Trails (85 miles, mostly paved).



A good map at www.mcttrails.org

Unless you are a serious cyclist, I would avoid the Golden Eagle Ferry to Calhoun County.

We ride the Ride the Rivers century through this area and it is not fun. VERY hilly. No

shoulder but frequented by cyclists so drivers are aware. It can be done, but be

forewarned. (HINT: Let the cars off the ferry first, then you should have the road to

yourself) The Great River Road is worth it, once your across. Follow to the MRT and

check out the Chain of Rocks bridge and then on into downtown KC.



(http://www.confluencegreenway.org/locations/rt.php)

also, search mapmyride.com for the ride the rivers century for a route

Hey Cunning!: Where do you pick up the worm hole that gets you from Chain of Rocks into KC? Man THAT would make for a fast round trip! Great way to avoid AMTRAK!

Thanks for the help! We opted to take a shuttle from St. Charles to Alton, where we rode the Vadalabene Trail north to Pere Marquette SP and stayed. We then rode back to Alton and got on the Confluence Trail to Granite City, stayed at the KOA there, and then crossed the Chain of Rocks Bridge and took the Riverfront Trail to the Arch. It was interesting to ride the different trails, and the ones in Illinois are not very well marked, but it made an interesting addition to our Katy Trail Ride. Our biggest disappointment was finding that the Vadalabene Trail went up into the hills and provided NO access to the Brussels Ferry, as we wanted to ride a ferry. The website for the Trail lists the Brussels Ferry as a possible stop, but you would have to backtrack a few miles and then ride the curvy 2 lane road with no shoulders for a couple of miles to get to the Ferry. This really isn't a good idea when touring with a trailer. We had to pass it up...

I have never been on the Katy trail before and planned on heading out to a part of it this weekend. I was wondering what the path material is made out of between Weldon Spring and Augusta? And if any of the trail is paved. Since I am new to biking I have only ventured on paved park pathways and roads. My tires are road style, so I was hoping if anything the trail is hard packed if not paved.



Thanks

The trail surface is crushed limestone. There's a couple of small, very minor rough patches in the area you're interested in riding, but nothing major. Of course all the rain we've been having can roughen and soften the trail a bit. Hopefully things will be dry for you by the weekend.

And its a pretty good surface or they wouldn't be called Speedy!

Do you guys think standard "smooth" road tires will be ok for crushed limestone?

Yes.....we rode Sedalia to Boonville this past weekend on 700 x 28's and had no issues. It's always prudent to hunt for the smooth path and stay out of the loose stuff when you can.

The only paved part of the trail is when it is on the streets through Sedalia. However, there are some very nice, firmly packed areas. When we rode the week of June 6, I noticed that the trail was in excellent shape around Augusta. However, yes, rain can make it softer. Also new chat can be loose. Where the trail crosses gravel roads and driveways it can be pretty challenging as you are then riding on much different surfaces. We switched to tires with more side tread on our road/trail bikes for this last trip and I had alot more confidence when riding the looser trail areas where I have had trouble before with the slicker tires.

Does anyone have a recommendation regarding a nice place to stay in St. Charles for a wedding anniversary? We want to bicycle on the Katy Trail for a day trip.

This is an inviatation to check us out ---we are Lococo House ll, Bed & Breakfast ----- we are only three blocks from the trail ------our web site lococohouse.com

It depends on if you want a Bed and Breakfast or a hotel. My wife and I have stayed at the Country Inn and Suites and it was great. The trail runs right behind the hotel. The rooms were wonderful and the staff was very helpful. We stayed there the night before we biked the trail. They let us leave my truck in their parking lot while we did a two day ride and they even locked our bags up in the office so we didn't have to leave our stuff in the truck. When we arrived back it was around 12 noon and we were a mess becasue we had been riding in the rain all morning so they let us in our room early so we could clean up. The hot tub in the pool area was great after a two day ride. Also they have a continental breakfast that is very good. There are many resturants and shops within walking distance in Old St Charles. I would highly recommend the Country Inn.

Since it's the only place we've stayed in St. Charles, I can't offer comparisons, but we were treated royally at Lococco House. I highly recommend it!

I stayed at the Katy Roundhouse last week and was very pleased. I'm new to tent camping -- I'd stayed at the Sedalia Fairgrounds the night before, but I didn't really know what to expect. My first impression was "why don't you guys put a sign on the trail side of your house?!?" I rode past it & all the way into New Franklin because I was looking for the sign as shown in the photo on this website. The house it pretty well anonymous from the trail side. That said, I did have a good stay -- the campground was litter-free and spacious with a wonderful shower/bath building -- it was clean and everything worked. I especially enjoyed the nice HOT shower! I like how the shower house has a numeric keypad lock -- seems secure. I talked with the owner, John, who was quite friendly & helpful. The cost is reasonable. Their restaurant is only open on weekends, unfortunately, so I had to go back into Booneville (~ 3 mi.) for dinner. They have a soda vending machine at the shower building, but it would've been nice to have one with snacks, too. If you're camping, I highly recommend Katy Roundhouse.

I stayed at the Katy Roundhouse last week and was very pleased. I'm new to tent camping -- I'd stayed at the Sedalia Fairgrounds the night before, but I didn't really know what to expect. My first impression was "why don't you guys put a sign on the trail side of your house?!?" I rode past it & all the way into New Franklin because I was looking for the sign as shown in the photo on this website. The house it pretty well anonymous from the trail side. That said, I did have a good stay -- the campground was litter-free and spacious with a wonderful shower/bath building -- it was clean and everything worked. I especially enjoyed the nice HOT shower! I like how the shower house has a numeric keypad lock -- seems secure. I talked with the owner, John, who was quite friendly & helpful. The cost is reasonable. Their restaurant is only open on weekends, unfortunately, so I had to go back into Booneville (~ 3 mi.) for dinner. They have a soda vending machine at the shower building, but it would've been nice to have one with snacks, too. If you're camping, I highly recommend Katy Roundhouse.

We stayed here last weekend and I agree it is very nice, however, the restaurant is now permanently closed. There is a Casey's General store up the hill in New Franklin that makes a pretty good pizza if you don't want to cook.

We stayed here last weekend and I agree it is very nice, however, the restaurant is now permanently closed. There is a Casey's General store up the hill in New Franklin that makes a pretty good pizza if you don't want to cook.

I had an excellent stay here at Katy Roundhouse about a month ago and also found out the restaurant was closed so I rode my bike into the Casey's and bought a pack of hotdogs and buns and grilled them at the camp site where they have nice wood burning boxes with grates. Also, the owners were very friendly and brought a tent down to my camp site with there golf cart so I didn't have to tote it on my bike. Very nice shower facility as well!

I had an excellent stay here at Katy Roundhouse about a month ago and also found out the restaurant was closed so I rode my bike into the Casey's and bought a pack of hotdogs and buns and grilled them at the camp site where they have nice wood burning boxes with grates. Also, the owners were very friendly and brought a tent down to my camp site with there golf cart so I didn't have to tote it on my bike. Very nice shower facility as well!

im really going to miss rick and dianne i been coming down for 4 years now and i always loved that little turtle named jimmy he was great but not as great as rick and dianne.i always felt right at home with them i will be traveling down to stay but i hope its as good as it used to be im sure it will be your pal mrs.champlain

im really going to miss rick and dianne i been coming down for 4 years now and i always loved that little turtle named jimmy he was great but not as great as rick and dianne.i always felt right at home with them i will be traveling down to stay but i hope its as good as it used to be im sure it will be your pal mrs.champlain

I don't know about the previous team there, but the new folks could not have been more accomodating during our stay at Birk's last year. We rode in late....tired and hungry. They quickly offered to phone a pizza order in for us and offered soda from their fridge. We quickly accepted!

I don't know about the previous team there, but the new folks could not have been more accomodating during our stay at Birk's last year. We rode in late....tired and hungry. They quickly offered to phone a pizza order in for us and offered soda from their fridge. We quickly accepted!

Anyone stayed at the Safari Motel in Clinton recently? If so, how was it. It looks to me to be about a mile to piece of the trail that runs west of the trailhead. Is that correct?

I would like to kayak sections of the Missouri River and ride my bike back to my put-in to pick up my vehicle (with my kayak in tow behind the bike). Can anybody offer suggestions on areas along the katy trail where I can secure my bike beforehand, and have fairly easy access to both the trail and the river? I kayaked from Rocheport to Easley last weekend, and both were right on the trail/river. I'd be interested in any distance, from just a couple of hours to a multiday camping trip.

The river flows west to east so I assume that you would be kayaking in the same direction.



Klondike park's boat launch would be perfect for your starting point because this is where the river, MO-94, and Katy trail meet. Klondike park is located between Augusta and Matson TH. Notice that Klondike park is up on the hill while Klondike park's boat launch is at the bottom away from the park entrance and next to MO-94. If you were heading east on MO-94, don't turn right into the park entrance. Pass the entrance and you will cut thru Katy trail with the boat launch area on your right. From here, you can access Klondike park directly from Katy trail by heading west on Katy trail about 200 yards and hike up a paved driveway(I am guessing the distance). Klondike park is a full camping facility with shower-room and everything a camper wants.



Your possible ending point could be at highway 40/61/I-64 (right undeneath the bridge). Katy trail is about 100 yards from the river, and there is a beaten path leading from the trail to the river. It's between Weldon Spring and Greens Bottom TH. Not sure how you would secure your gears here. Perhaps you could hide and lock them up to some trees.



Your next possible further down ending point could be beneath the Page extension bridge or 364. It's a huge and partially suspension bridge so you could easily spot it from the river. The Katy trail is about 200 yard from the river. There is no beaten path from the trail to the river bank, but this area under the bridge is filled with rock. There is also a nice but long ramp access from Katy trail to one of the most utilized parking lot next to the Page extension brige or 364.



If you pass up on this page extension bridge, your next best spot is probably the St. Charles TH. It's next to the river with huge parking lot. Have a great time!

This sounds interesting! My kayak is collecting dust. Anyways.....



Beware of the 40 bridge suggestion--the County cops just moved into a new

headquarters down the road and I have seen them cracking down on this spot.



There is a boat ramp at the Weldon Springs trailhead (follow the trailhead sign off Hwy

94 south. Instead of turning into the parking lot, continue straight on the gravel road).

Is St. Charles too far? There are several public boat ramps here. Momentum Cycles is

close to the trail. Maybe you could check in with them for suggestions, a ride or place to

secure your bike.

Thanks for the info! I've been pouring over my river and katy trail maps trying to find good river/trail access, but a map doesn't always give you a realistic picture of what to expect. Nothing beats word-of-mouth advice! I've got a list of several places that I want to scout out between Boonville and Mokane, and you guys have given me places to try on the tail end of the trail, so now I just need to find places in-between. There's a stretch of river and trail that run side-by-side between Gore and Bernheimer. These aren't trailheads, but I'm wondering if anybody knows if there is any sort of access to the river along here. Also, I'm looking for any advice on how to attach the kayak behind my bike. I found plans for a pvc cart that straps to the back of the kayak, but I'm trying to figure out how to attach the front of the kayak to my bike in a way that won't drastically impede the maneuverability of the bike. I came across a thing called the "Dumbstick" which is perfect, but I am poor and need to make do with whatever I can rig up. If anybody has seen a dumbstick, do you think a drilled-out pvc pipe would handle the weight (I have a 16-1/2 foot, 65lb kayak)? Of course, the wheeled cart at the back end of the kayak will handle a lot of the weight, but there will still be some weight up at the front. I'd love to hear any kind of advice that you all have to offer, or any other suggestions that you think might work better!

Why would the police cracking down on highway 40 be bad for bicyclists?

There is a Mo. River access point west of Treloar around MM 88 that is very close to Bernheimer. It is easily accessed from the trail as it is right at the HWY. 94 & Katy crossing just west of Treloar. I do not know who maintains it, so that may be a concern.



I have recently been to the new Missouri River Access near Mokane, Mo. It is maintained by the Department of Conservation. It lies off a gravel road just west of Mokane. It has 2 camping spots, but all they have is a fire ring, no table, and no other facilities. Maps are avaliable on the Missouri Department of Conservation website.

I just figured out that the Mo. River access point I mention near Treloar is private, and I do not know who to contact there with questions concerning access.

Easley to Jeff City would be about a 20 mile float. The JC access is about 1 1/2 from the trailhead but it's a pretty easy ride.

Fisherman pull of the Hwy just above the Hwy 40 Boone bridge and walk down to the river

and Katy. This is not a parking lot and the police are giving tickets.



There is a new trailhead at Mo Research Park--less than a mile walk down to the trail.

I just want to correct my previous post about the distance from the Katy Trail to the river bank at both locations (40/I-64 bridge and 364/page extension bridge). It's only about 50 yards and not 200 yards.

Saw a group of approximately 30 riders on the Katy Friday morning heading through

Greens Bottom towards Weldon Springs. According to their website (bike&build.org) they

raise money for affordable housing. We didn't get a chance to talk to them (except to find

out they were heading from Virginia Beach to Oregon!), but they were friendly and still

smiling!

We passed this group on the DNR ride last year. They were very friendly. Sounds like a great way to raise money.

My wife and I passed them also near Defiance. We wondered who they were. They all had a friendly greeting as they passed. Nice!!

Is this a shady trail? Are there any group rides?

My husband and I have ridden sections of the trail from Portland to Augusta. There is a combination of tree shaded areas and areas in full sun. I would repeat the advice of others, keep hydrated. I learned this the hard way. Last August, we rode from Marthasville to Augusta without any drinks. There was no water fountain at the Augusta stop. We had to walk our bikes up the hills of Augusta in search of a little country store that sold drinks. I bought a backpack the next day and never bike without water. (The bathroom at the Portland stop was very nasty 6/13.)

Anyone that is cycling near MKT trailhead should make a detour to Columbia to visit their vibrant downtown. Lots of little shops, cafes & restaurants.

On May 4 I was in Columbia and planned on riding the MKT to the KATY trail, but because of flooding the trail wash shut down and blocked off about 6 miles from Columbia. I don't know if it has opened ups since then. There was also a trail in Columbia I tried to ride and it was in terrible shape (Hinkson Creek Trail, I think).

I live in Columbia and it does have a really good trail system and a very interesting downtown area. The MKT trail ends at Flatbranch Park, which is right on the edge of downtown.



This has been a very wet spring, but to the best of my knowledge the trails have been repaired.

Definitely worth the detour! At Hindman Junction (just west of McBaine) which is

approximately 8 or so miles from Rocheport you hook up to the MKT Nature and Fitness Trail

into Columbia. It is about 9 miles to the heart of downtown Columbia to Flatbranch Park.

Many local restaurants with great food. I would highly recommend the Flatbranch Pub and

Brewery for some awesome food! It is a flat easy ride into Columbia.



http://www.flatbranch.com/home.asp

P.S.: That section is open. If it floods in the spring they are very good at getting it back to

normal as quickly as possible....usually within a day or two. It generally takes a lot of rain to

cause problems and that stretch to Columbia is sweet! :)