Katy Trail Forum

I'm wanting to bike the Rock Island spur from Windsor to Pleasant Hill. Old photos I've seen look like the trail is pretty rough and gravelly. Has anyone ridden that stretch and might be able to provide some feedback? Thank you.

Bill it’s almost exactly the same crushed limestone, but….it’s not as compacted yet. So if there’s been a lot of rain before your ride, it can be really tough getting through it. Our bikes were too deep into it to ride at all a year ago and had to quit. We all had hybrid bikes.

TY for the info. I'll probably wait until Spring when it gets a little more compacted over the Winter by mother nature. I'm looking forward to staying at Kim's Cabins in Windsor.

I just finished the trail on 11/24. Rode from Windsor to Pleasant Hill on 11/23. I didn't find it bad. There had been some rain I believe 2 days earlier. My bike was fully loaded and heavy. I do have gravel tires on my bike. 45 front and 42 rear. Sometimes adjusting tire air pressure is helpful. This was my first time on this trail. It was a little desolate without the views like the Katy, but still enjoyable!

Thank you Marcia.

It is slightly rougher than the Katy, but perhaps like others you won’t even notice it. Emphasis on slightly. I rode across the entire state in September 2021 including all of the Rock and almost all of the Katy. At the time I concluded that the 45 mile stretch of the Rock slowed me down only one MPH. Conditions were warm and dry. I suspect that it just wasn’t as broken in as the Katy. As far as “gravely” that might be exaggerating. Enjoy the ride.

Rode out of Kim's Cabins last Spring after a rainstorm. Some muddy spots & tires did dig in some, but to the most part in great shape. Drainage was good, but there seemed to be a little less gravel on the surface. It was a spur day trip, traveling light & unloaded, only 20 mi RT,can't say how a heavier load would do. They did a great job on it, now it's up to us to tamp it down!

TY David.

Definitely many are riding the Rock Island down from Pleasant Hill to Windsor! Now even from the KC stadiums with a few miles of road between Lee's Summit and P Hill. I'm not a cyclist but talk to many every year. The Rock Island surface is comparable to the Katy most say, with the exception of after much rain you'll find it a little softer.

On this Thanksgiving I am thankful I live so near one of the best rail trails in the country that I can enjoy it on a daily basis. I rode 22 miles this morning so I can pig out later. I wish there was a way to post photos of some of the beautiful sights I see on the trail.

Allan, you lucky dog! We have to drive 500 miles to see that jewel of a trail. And we truly love Sedalia too. The Bothwell Hotel is a must when we head that way. Thank you for you "thankful" post.

The St Louis PBS station produced this excellent 7-minute video about the Big BAM (Bike Across Missouri) Ride. Excellent video, about not only the iconic ride, but the Katy Trail in general:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyZ385MM1cQ&list=TLGGNjlkswBaAt0yMTExMjAyMw

We are wanting to ride from St Charles to Clinton with our dog. Two questions.
1. Where is a safe place to leave our car in st Charles?
2. Does the shuttle from Clinton to St Charles allow dogs ( and her trailer).l?
She is 45 lbs

I would either park at the trailhead and notify the local police I was leaving my vehicle there or if I was overnighting in St Chuck I would ask about leaving it there.

I would contact whoever was shuttling me and ask them what their policy was on pets and amount of cargo they could haul.

Country Inn and Suites by Radisson. St Charles. Safe parking for the week. And yes I think dogs are ok on the shuttle.

The shuttle.....which one is the shuttle?

There are numerous shuttle services along the Katy.

I accept dogs at my B&B and can shuttle you the trailer bikes and pooches as long as they get along with mine. Anonymous is right though, check with your shuttle service provider, only they can tell you what they do.

My friend and I had a great stay at the Dormitory, which is part of the School House Bed and Breakfast. We met up with family in Columbia, walked the trail in Rocheport and had some fun girl time! Our coffee maker didn't work so we made a quick call--yes it was early morning- and another coffee pot was at our door in about 5 minutes or less. Now, that is great service! We thought the space was very clean, laid out well and had everything we needed. You will not be disappointed if you stay here.

We stayed at the Lindenhof while bikepacking a section of the Katy and it was far better than we imagined. There is nothing we could suggest to improve our stay. Kathy is wonderful. She thought of everything, including flip flops and robes for the hot tub. And, the breakfast she provided was top notch. We look forward to returning!

The Turner Shelter in Tebbetts will be closing for the winter to drop in traffic on November 15th. Reservations for winter stays can still be made by calling the office 3 days in advance - (573) 634-2322.

Bump

Rachel Collins you saved us!! It was so great meeting you and your beautiful daughters, and the sandwiches really hit the spot. So glad we found you on this page, we will see you again in the spring!!

5 Star recommendation for Rachel 913-636-8645

KT Caboose is fantastic! Jon is truly one of us. Free spirit biker, solo entrepreneur, and all around great guy. KT Caboose is excellent food at a reasonable price. Our team will stop by to see Jon on every trip and you should too. This is the type of business we need on the Katy.

Hwy 94 runs parallel to the Katy on this stretch and has OK shoulders so it shouldn't stop anyone from riding.

According to the Katy Tail State Park Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=669300378668982&set=a.425080659757623

This winter, one bridge on the Katy is getting a major glow-up. During this makeover, the trail will be closed west of the Mokane Trailhead for 1.3 mile to Hwy PP.

At mile marker 126.3, this bridge lies just east of Hwy PP and about 1 mile west of the Mokane Trailhead.
In its long life, this bridge has seen countless repairs and improvements, but the time has come for a full replacement.

We anticipate that the trail will reopen in mid-March.

just seeing if tent camping is allowed or not if we decide to stay at this destination. this destination lines up perfect for mileage i have planned

I am the owner and I love bikes! I’ve ridden RAGBRAI many times and lead Airbnb experiences along the Katy trail!

I’ve started hosting bike campers and really enjoy talking with them.

Plenty of grassy area to camp but there are mosquitoes.

Fresh chicken eggs for breakfast.

I enjoy spending time with my guests so I prefer if you stay with me in the house in one of my two guest bedrooms, which I’m happy to rent out for basically free.

I actually have 3 queen beds, one double and one couch pullout. Bring the whole party!

Let’s party like it’s Ragbrai!

Text me when you plan to visit and I’ll block the Airbnb calendar. 7605193446

Ive heard a lot about ragbrai and have wanted to do it some year. thanks for all the info and possibly see you this spring !

Looking for a place to stay in St Charles. I cannot find any information about your B&B. Looking for one night only in a few weeks.

The following was just posted yesterday on DNR's facebook page. From what I understand, it may be possible to detour on hwy 94, but there is little or no shoulder, and hills/curves.

Note this closure is pretty much all winter.
--------------------------------------------
Mile Marker 125-126.3 near Mokane - Closed Nov 13 - March 15
This winter, one bridge on the Katy is getting a major glow-up. During this makeover, the trail will be closed west of the Mokane Trailhead for 1.3 mile to Hwy PP.
At mile marker 126.3, this bridge lies just east of Hwy PP and about 1 mile west of the Mokane Trailhead.
In its long life, this bridge has seen countless repairs and improvements, but the time has come for a full replacement.
We anticipate that the trail will reopen in mid-March.
------------------------------------------

Source: https://www.facebook.com/KatyTrailStatePark

Hi Ray
That’s not too bad of a detour, going east just drop down to 94 on PP and return to the Katy at Mokane. Going west drop down to 94 at Mokane and return to the Katy on PP.
It’s a short distance on 94 and no hills or curves to speak of. It also helps that Mokane is a favorite speed trap by the county mounties ;-).

Stayed at Maxine's late October 2023. Maxine's room were comfortable and Maxine was a delight. Great sense of humour and really helpful. Great hosts, comfy rooms and best preserves in Sedalia.

Check out my 7 room inn located in downtown
Hermann. Solo riders only $100 nite also a
Dual full size for $135 rates for party’s are
Competitive. I am new and have great space for
you and your bike. Thanks for reading
Rich Lauer 573-486-2000

I stopped here twice on my round trip of the Katy Trail even though I no longer partake of the brew. The pizza is that good. A wood-fired pizza with a Fitz's craft soda really hits the spot when you're tired and hungry.

A really nice place to stop for a meal or just coffee right off the trailhead at Rocheport. I left Cooper's landing one beautiful bright sunny morning in September and rode along the Missouri River to Rocheport where I stopped at Meriwether's for breakfast. I stuffed myself with their huge Louisiana Purchase breakfast and coffee. Everything was delicious.

Good place to camp while cycling the Katy Trail. Spacious campground, nice bathhouse. Very quiet.

Great campground right off the Katy Trail for $10 a night. Includes shower house, restrooms, water hydrants, barbecue grill and picnic benches. The ride the next morning on the way to Rocheport was one of my favorite sections. It was a beautiful rolling ride through farmlands in the early morning sunshine.

Very nice scenic campground. Nice hot shower after a day cycling on the Katy Trail. Honor system snacks and drinks in the refrigerator where you self-register for your campsite. Had a nice chat with the owner after setting up my tent.

I stopped here on my round trip Katy Trail ride in September. It's a nice quiet campground on top of the hill behind the owner's home. There is a shower house, water hydrants, porta potty, picnic benches, fire pits and electrical outlets all for $10. It was hot and I was dead tired. I had done 78 miles on a fully loaded bike. I talked to the owner for a bit and asked him if there was any real food nearby because all I had in my panniers was trail mix and jerky. He said no but I could purchase snacks and drinks from the refrigerator and he offered me a can of beanie weenies from his house which I gratefully accepted. I was so tired and hungry that cold can of beanie weenies tasted delicious.

This is a great place to stay along the trail with an outstanding host. Jerry works to ensure you are not only taken care of and comfortable, but that you have a great experience. From his warm welcoming to meeting any need I had for biking the trail, he is flexible and makes sure your time with him is memorable. I can say that there is no other B&B I have experienced with such a kind soul. Already looking forward to a return trip in the future.

For a hiker, the long stretch between Sedalia and Pilot Grove is tough; a marathon at 26 miles. I was pretty wrecked when I limped into Jerry’s cozy home-away-from home. The kind welcome and lovely room soothed my exhausted soul. Jerry ministers without intruding, which to me, is the perfect host. Great night’s sleep in a very comfy room, then a jolly home-cooked breakfast to send me on my way. Katy Junction B&B restored me, both physically with a wonderful room and breakfast, and also mentally with Jerry’s kindness. He made me laugh, too and that’s a great way to start the day!

Really nice bike shop/cafe/bakery. Used them for a St. Charles to Clinton shuttle on 10/17, then visited again after finishing my ride on 10/22. The Humina Humina sandwich and Vegan Queso were really really good. Picked up a few souvenirs too of course! Very convenient to the St. Charles trailhead.

Clean, comfortable, reasonably priced bike-friendly hotel right on the trail. Very good breakfast offerings, superb staff. Highly recommended if staying in St. Charles, even if you are not cycling.

Really cool eclectic place to camp and/or get some food. Free ice cream cone if camping, nice hot shower, indoor plumbing. Had a nice chat with John (owner) and a good night camping here. Dinner ALT sandwich (Avocado/Lettuce/Tomato) was really good. One of the highlights of my trip cycling the entire trail from Clinton to Machens.

Stopped by this historic store on 10/21/2023. Snacks, ice cream and drinks were available, along with souvenirs/t-shirts etc. I just missed the Saturday afternoon music show. Really cool place to visit.

Camped at Volunteer Park on 19 Oct. Nice small park, trailhead facilities (flush toilets and water) nearby. It is permissible to set your tent up in the gazebo. Unfortunately the electric outlets mentioned in other reviews were not working, perhaps a breaker switch was off. Still very a convenient location to camp while on the Katy Trail.

Great place to stay while cycling the Katy Trail. The new(ish) indoor shower/bathroom is really nice, also has an outdoor shower and an outhouse.They will let you set up your tent in the barn if you want too. Camp host Andrew was very helpful and friendly.

What a fantastic find for Katy Trail riders! From the chocolate, ice cream, bananas, and chilled beer mugs, Julie and Steve leave no need or want unmet. Great basement to store bikes, with a much appreciated floor pump to top off the tires before the ride home. Comfortable, clean, great morning light. Close to "uptown" in JC, where you can find lovely breakfasts and the High Rise Bakery. Irish pub Paddy Malone's is two doors down from the Katy Trail Cottage, and is quite lovely. We already have our dibs in for next October.

Camped here on a Saturday night. Not a bad spot to sleep, but it's right next to the American Legion Hall, which was hosting a pretty loud band. They played until 10:30 and then there was a lot of noise throughout the night. I'm sure Hartsburg has lots of quiet nights, but if you're a light sleeper I'd aim for somewhere else on a weekend.

Great spot. I recommend camping in one of the sites near the bathhouse. It is steep to get to other sites, and the bath house had outlets for charging. Shower warm, but not very powerful and you have to repeatedly press a button to keep it going. People below give all the right advice about how to enter park from west. I was coming from east….. there is also a gradually sloped entrance trail starting on the east side as well. Take that if you don’t want the steep climb after cycling 40ish miles from Kirkwood.

I biked up to the lookout point when I woke up. Very steep. My legs regretted that about two hours later on the trail. I wouldn’t do it again, but I’m glad I did it once.

What is the deal with the farmer blocking access to machens road by car? There is a big rope blocking access by vehicle. Is it private property? There is also a sign by the train tracks that says “no access to Katy trail,” but I’m not sure of any other way to access it. I crossed the train tracks and missed the entrance to the trail at first. It isn’t well-marked. Seems like not that many people actually start or stop at Machens?

Looking for shuttle from Amtrak on Kirkwood to beginning of trail at Machens. I’m riding the train from KC to Kirkwood on 10/17. Train supposed to arrive at 1:47 PM. Would like to get ride to Machens trailhead and then to ride to Klondike to camp for first night. This sound like a doable plan? Anybody know a shuttle service?

Unless you can outride Lance it does not sound doable to me. IF the train is on time and IF you get picked up immediately and IF there is no traffic the absolute best you could hope for is to start riding at 3:30. Sunset at 5:30. 40 miles with gear and other riders on the trail in 2 hours. I am not saying this to rain on your parade but......

its doable ive made that ride before back in 2020

useing googke maps with no shuttle

Oh man thanks Doug. Didn’t realize it would take me that long to get on trail and forgot the sun set so early now. I’ll look for a better spot to spend my first night.

So I ended up getting a shuttle from Bike Stop Cafe to machens from the Kirkwood train station. Not exactly cheap, but I understand why. I was the only person and it is quite a few miles to drive. It was very convenient, and they were easy to work with. I didn’t exactly ride as fast as Lance, but I had to go much faster than I wanted on my heavy steel bike with 2.25” tires loaded with way too much stuff. I made it into the park just before it got completely dark. Would have been much easier with a few more hours of sunlight. Had anything gone wrong with the train or the shuttle or a flat tire, I wouldn’t have made it.

Any progress on the Rock Island Trail between Lee Summit and Pleasant Hill?

Nope. Just ride west to east. Had to use a route some guys I met on the train told me about.

Sorry, I rode it east to west, but still there’s no progress either way.

Rode from Franklin to Windsor. Had camped three nights and needed a real bed. Kim was very easy to work with over text. Paid by CC over the phone. Cabin very clean. Shower nice and hot. Great linens and towels. Couldn’t ask for better. As Kim told me over text, Verizon doesn’t work in town, so map out how to get to the cabin before you get in. Would stay here again. 10/10

Thanks so much Jeff - great to have you stay!

Easy and quick detour from trail. Good fantastic and so was service. Leeton is a great town!

Called at 6:30 and asked if it was okay if I got there by 6:45, since they closed at 7. They were happy to make me dinner. I got a cheeseburger, cottage cheese and fries. Service was fast and good. Food was great. Would recommend.

Gorilla pod type tripod found on trail between Mokane and Rhineland on Oct 14.. Contact Linda at Heritage Lodge in Hermann to claim. 573-220-1161

My husband and I started in Sedalia and heading towards St. Charles for a week on the KT! Immediately got off the Amtrak, and across the carpark was No. #5 Bistro & Bar. One of the staff members opened up the courtyard gate, so we could park our bikes safely while we ate. The No. #5 Burgers with garlic parm fries were awesome! Plus, they have an Octoberfest Beer on tap for $3! Cool building with the history of being the 5th Levi's Jeans Factory the produced in the US!
Great start before we hit the trail tomorrow!

We're wondering how the Katy 225 BAM run the last week of October impacts public usage on the trail and lodging/camping availability? We're considering a ride from Rocheport to St. Charles starting on the 24th or 25th and we just learned about this event. Maybe another time would be better? Feedback appreciated!

If you start on the 25th it shouldn’t impact you at all. The deadline to reach the Rocheport aid station is 3:00pm on the 24th. The deadline to reach the Turner Shelter aid station in Tebbetts is 12:00pm on the 25th so they will be moving at a pretty good clip.

I was told yesterday (10/12) that this event has been cancelled. Apparently the Department of Natural Resources informed the race directors just this week that the race permit would be denied unless all the runners are pulled from the course at night. Which of course does not work for an ultra footrace.

I can't find any additional information about the cancellation online, and I'm not sure why the DNR would allow this event to be planned for months, only to pull the plug at the 11th hour.

Of course the official park rules are that the trail's closed after dark, but surely nobody expected all the participants to run 225 miles in under 11 hours.

I agree Ray. The fact that they pulled it this late will cost the organizers and participants a substantial amount of money. It is also pretty bad publicity for Missouri and the Katy.

Looking at the race sponsors website, it does not indicate that the race is cancelled.

In the event there was confusion on trail logistics, a discovery could be made at the last minute.

Without knowledge of the sponsor or the DNR planning efforts I’m hard pressed to do anything other than give benefit of doubt and assume positive intent.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2074881649376366/permalink/2291316074399588

This is confusing. Are there two Boonslick Guest Houses--one in New Franklin and one in Boonville? The visitors bureau has a link for a website for the one in Boonville, which is purportedly on the upper level of a business building downtown, but the link does not work. That's a red flag. Anyone know the truth?

Boonslick Guest House

Lodging
Boonville MO
219 Main Street
660-621-1341 / 660-537-5127
http://www.boonslickguesthouse.com/


Boonslick Guest House is located on the Katy Trail, in Boonville MO

Following the link on this website, Boonslick Guest House North is in New Franklin.

I'm sorry for the confusion - we now have the correct address for this listing. New Franklin is correct.

There was a Boonslick Guest House in Boonville at some point in the past, but to my knowledge it's no longer open. I'm guessing we got our wires crossed when the New Franklin location came along with almost the same name.

The Turner Shelter in Tebbetts is proud to be one of the aid/sleep stations for the inaugural Katy 225 run race from 11:00 am Oct 24th to 12:00pm Oct 25th. The shelter will still be available for drop in stays but be aware that there will be a lot of activity in the shelter for that 24 hour period.

Here’s a link to the run’s Facebook page:
https://facebook.com/groups/2074881649376366/

Stayed here September 29, 2023. We camped and there is plenty of room to set up tents. A quiet area outside of town, off the road and quick access from trail located about 1/4 mile off trail on Sacajawea Road. We arrived in the afternoon of a warm day and set our tent up in the shade of the barn and it provided much needed shade after a long ride. We were greeted by the self-proclaimed campground host Andy and he showed us the grounds and how to access everything. New bathhouse with running water with toilet, sink, indoor shower and an amazing outdoor shower with HOT water and lots of pressure. There is a power outlet at the barn and a water spigot with potable water there as well as well as an outhouse and trashcans. The barn also has a covered porch with several chairs, a large round picnic table and a grill available for use. BP gas station a quick <2 mile ride down Sacajawea near 65 Highway with cold drinks and snacks. There are a few full-time camper residents there and they were very friendly and invited us to their weekend campfire. There are also several spots to set up campers with elec/sewer. The owner had me text her when we arrived and she showed up about 15 minutes later and was very nice and accommodating. Very reasonable for camping and the new showerhouse was a welcome surprise. A perfect spot for us after a 62 mile day from Pleasant Hill.

Hello all, the wife and I would like to tackle parts of the MKT Trail. First question is that hopefully e-bikes are allowed? Second for those seasoned MKT Trail riders, what is generally most often considered the beautiful sections of the trail?

Yes, e-bikes are allowed but must be limited to 20mph. Gennerally the section around Rocheport is considered the most scenic but you would miss out if you don’t explore other sections of the trail as well.

We've migrated to Sedalia to Boonville and Rocheport to Hermann.

As Gary mentioned though, Rocheport east along the bluffs is pretty impressive.

Side Note....would you scroll down a few posts and reply to my post about E-bikes. I see one in the future, but am not sure what it is yet.

This was the best B&B experience we have ever had
anywhere in Europe or the US. Immaculately clean,
beautiful room, friendly cat on back patio, delicious
chocolate chip cookies waiting in our room, excellent
breakfast of quiche, fresh muffins, and fruit salad.
This is how to treat guests! Highly recommend.

Rachel brought us a terrific lunch, with fresh fruit and sandwiches to the Turner Shelter in Tebbetts. Food was great and very reasonable price. She also brought us water for our bottles. We highly recommend her catering service. It’s in a great location also, between Hermann and Jefferson City there are not many options.

Does anyone have a phone number for Happy Trail Catering in Tebbetts

Rachel Collins Happy Trails 913-636-8645

Thank you. We're at the Globe Hotel, and Leaia was trying to help us.

Admins: Favor please. Anyway to change the time the emails are sent? Mine comes in about 1:11AM. (East coast here) I can't put my phone to sleep mode in the business I am in. One less "ding" I have to deal with.
Also I'd love to see a like button on some of these posts! LOL
Information here is great and some comebacks are pretty good also.

This may reduce some sounds, but you or others reading may have to modify for your device (android) or apps.
Apple: go to settings, then sounds, then change new mail alert to None. I checked this on my phone and it was already set to none, but I still get a sound with email so that told me the Gmail app I use was telling my phone to alert me.
Gmail app: tap the “hamburger” (the three horizontal lines) then scroll down to settings and change email notifications from All to High Priority or none.
Also on Apple you can customize FOCUS to allow or disable specific notifications (email, text, phone calls, apps) Focus is different than sleep mode because it allows you to choose what disruptions you want. I’m sure you can google or YouTube instructions on how to do this.
What kind of Captain? Fire, Pilot, Kangaroo?

Although Eric gave some good instructions for phone silencing, I also went ahead and switched the time for the digest as well, to 9AM Central. As someone who sleeps with my phone nearby, I can understand the issue (but it didn't bother me because I only get sound alerts for text messages, not emails).

Eric, I also fixed the issue that caused your post to get duplicated yesterday.

Happy trails!

US Coast Guard licensed. Also a Geocacher with that handle. Main reason I like to bike Rail Trails.

Thanks Ray for always being so responsive and taking care of all of us - trail users and trail businesses alike! I appreciate this site so much as the glue that bonds us all ??

Is the Steamboat Campground still open?

Steamboat Junction Campground

Camping
Shower
tent rentals available; snacks & drinks sold on weekends
Bluffton MO
199 Hwy 94
314-831-4807

Steamboat Junction Campground is located on the Katy Trail, in Bluffton MO