Katy Trail Forum

Are there portions of Katy Trail suitable for inline skating?

The surface is made of a small gravel that is crushed limestone-- my inline skates work only

on paved surfaces. I have seen inline skates with "cross-country" wheels, but I have no

experience with those at all. So, the answer is probably not- unless you have wheels that

will go on gravel. Sharon

If you are coming to Missouri from Florida you may want to check out the Great River Trail along the Mississippi in Illinois. It's a paved trail.

Hey Mark and Laura, I like your Web Site of Claysville store. Laura I saw your parents last sunday, boy it brought back old memories. Our church (Midway Baptist) is planting a visit to your store. I can't wait. You guys keep in touch. old friends Dennis...

dennishartley821@hotmail.com

Hey Mark and Laura, I like your Web Site of Claysville store. Laura I saw your parents last sunday, boy it brought back old memories. Our church (Midway Baptist) is planting a visit to your store. I can't wait. You guys keep in touch. old friends Dennis...

dennishartley821@hotmail.com

I want to ride the entire trail from Clinton to St Charles but am having trouble finding information on getting to Amtrak from St Charles. Can anyone help? send info to cricket1215@hotmail.com

Thanks

We are planning on doing a ride with our children on mothers day either starting in Booneville or New Franklin and heading east. My kids are 10 - very good rider, 5 - fairly good, and 3 - will be in a seat. My question is - does this area tend to be crowded with bikes on the weekends. I'm worried about my 5 year old running people off the path, however I think the nice flat ride would be better for us than the trails around OP which tend to be hilly. Any comments would be helpful.



Thanks!

Riding east from Boonville would mean crossing the bridge over the Missouri at Boonville; I would be concerned with your five year old if you met someone coming from the opposite direction on the bike/pedestrian path. Some grown-ups have difficulty navigating the narrow path under those circumstances.



Riding east from New Franklin is fairly flat and has some long stretches of open areas without much shade; if it is hot and sunny water and sunscreen are critical necessities.



The area around Rocheport can be a heavy bike traffic area.



No matter where you are though it is good to remind your children often to stay to the right side of the trail and that others will be passing on the left. They have to learn sometime and most trail riders are mindful of the erratic actions of children and will use extra caution when passing them.

If you take the bridge north out of Boonville and then the first road to your left at the foot of the bridge and proceed about 1/4 mile to the Katy....there is a parking lot there which would then omit any need for you and your kids to ride the bike lane on the bridge.

Thank you for your help - I think we will go with New Franklin and head east - so for anyone out there on Mother's Day keep your eye out for my little one - I'll try my best to keep him to his side of the path :)



Thanks again!

My friend and I set out from Boston to walk/bike the Katy in April. We are women in our late sixties and walk a long walk every year. We choose the Katy because we could walk from town to town where we could get lodging each night. But, the trail is flat and services for walkers are very sparse in some parts. Access to water is very limited in long stretches of the trail. It is definitely more of a biking trail. We opted to rent bikes on the long stretches without service.

We stayed in some great B&B’s and met some great people. We rented bikes in Sedalia, Rocheport and Hermann. It was no problem hiring a shuttle to pick up the bikes and bring them back to the rental shop. We also had the shuttle service drop off our packs when they picked up the bikes.

We started out with 10–12 lb packs. By the time we got to Jefferson City we decided to ship all but the very essential items to St. Charles.

We visited Columbia, Jefferson and St. Louis. Great cities, worth spending time in. St. Charles was a big disappointment. The shops carried the same stuff and had the overwhelming smell of potpourri.

St Louis was worth the time. The City Museum was especially worth while. Great fun!

Augusta was a great place to visit, brewery and wineries. One of the best meals during the entire trip was at Café Bella run by a mother and daughter. Don’t miss this place.

One of the best times we had at a B&B was Rendleman Home in Bluffton. Doug, the innkeeper made dinner and breakfast. The B&B is not on the Missouri list of B&B’s and the place was not decorated beautifully and was not especially clean but the meal was great and he was a real kick. He gets our star for the place to stay on the Katy. Most of the other B&B’s we stayed in were all beautifully decorated and the innkeepers very accommodating. We did start to get a little “over B&B’d” by the end of the trip and looked forward to the autonomy a hotel provides.

Would pick up in Boonville be possible? And if so what would be the cost for 2 riders (with bikes) from Boonville to Clinton?

Would pick up in Boonville be possible? And if so what would be the cost for 2 riders (with bikes) from Boonville to Clinton?

B & L Shuttle (Sedalia, Missouri)



Mile 229



P.O. Box 1973

Sedalia, MO 65301

660-221-4406

B & L Shuttle (Sedalia, Missouri)



Mile 229



P.O. Box 1973

Sedalia, MO 65301

660-221-4406

Mark Wednesday June 4, 2008 on your calendars. The Lewis & Clark Trailhead Plaza is being dedicated at 5:30PM that day in Jefferson City Missouri. Its a functional green space for cyclists on the state capitol grounds but also remembers the Lewis & Clark bicentennial in Missouri(2003-2006)with greatoutdoor public art. "Google" the sculptor (Sabra Tull Meyer) to see the bronze statues that will be the centerpiece of the trailhead.

The following link explains about the trailhead plaza...what it is, etc.



http://lewisandclarktrailwatch.blogspot.com/

Does anyone have suggestions about which route to take if you get off Amtrak in Hermann?

Take route 19 north across the bridge to get to the Katy.

Glenn's is nothing like it was in Columbia. The food is still okay, not great, but the service has gone straight downhill since the grand opening. The employees are rude, unclean, and some need lessons in appropriate dress (last time we were there, the hostess was wearing a black bra under a see-through white shirt). The staff polishing wine glasses at the cup board were touching their noses and wiping glasses (yuck). The entire time we had to listen to them gossiping very loudly about who is pregnant and who is sleeping with whom. The menu is limited, and for 1/4 the price we could have real cajun food.

Glenn's is nothing like it was in Columbia. The food is still okay, not great, but the service has gone straight downhill since the grand opening. The employees are rude, unclean, and some need lessons in appropriate dress (last time we were there, the hostess was wearing a black bra under a see-through white shirt). The staff polishing wine glasses at the cup board were touching their noses and wiping glasses (yuck). The entire time we had to listen to them gossiping very loudly about who is pregnant and who is sleeping with whom. The menu is limited, and for 1/4 the price we could have real cajun food.

Our experiences at Glenn's have not at all been like the anonymous posters. I've not noticed anyone being rude or unclean in dress or behavior. My question though is....on our next visit to the Boonville area, where do we go to get real cajun food for $5?

Our experiences at Glenn's have not at all been like the anonymous posters. I've not noticed anyone being rude or unclean in dress or behavior. My question though is....on our next visit to the Boonville area, where do we go to get real cajun food for $5?

Trek,

Good point!

Trek,

Good point!

I also have to agree with Trek. Our expieriences have been great! The entire staff has been polite and well dressed. And I don't believe the anonymous poster was being very 'appropriate' when picking on one certain employee.

I also have to agree with Trek. Our expieriences have been great! The entire staff has been polite and well dressed. And I don't believe the anonymous poster was being very 'appropriate' when picking on one certain employee.

I am looking for a retiree, preferably in his/her 50s or 60s, who regularly rides the Katy Trail to interview for a story I am writing.

Contact me at khstraach@aol.com



Thanks.

Well I was going to volunteer until I saw that you had to be retired. Guess I am just wishing since I am only 55. :(

I am attempting to ride the Katy from Clinton to St. Charles and I'm not sure how long I should plan. Would 40/50 miles a day be reasonable? I'm a 57 year old women in pretty good shape but I just started riding. I ride in Colorado so I tackle some pretty good hills. I understand you need to make overnight res. in advance and I want to make sure I can make it to my destination. Any advise on hotels? Also is the first part of June a pretty good time to rike? I know there has been lots of rain out there.

If you are in pretty good shape, 40/50 sounds reasonable. The trail is a very flat, former rairoad bed, no hills. The only problem I can see is June can be very hot and humid in MO. You will need to be very careful, and drink plenty of fluids in order not to get dehydrated. Go to the Plan a Ride portion of this site for hotels.

The Hotel Bothwell in Sedalia is a nice old historic (renovated) hotel, as well as the Hotel Frederick in Boonville. The Frederick is right across the street from the Katy and has a nice cafe inside as well. There are several B & B's in Hermann that are nice and cater to the biking crowd. It you want to pamper yourself, check out Hermann Hill Inn and Cottages in Hermann.

I agree with the above. Explore this website and you will get most if not all the info you need. I have stayed at both the Hotel Bothwell and Hotel Frederick/Glenn's Cafe and they are both primo.

There are some hills on the west end of the trail. The stretch between Clifton City to Pilot

Grove is a steady climb that I've experienced. Refer to the "elevation chart" under FAQ to get

an idea.

Our fav places to stay-

Sedalia-The Bothwell. Short ride off trail, full of history. Restaurant onsite, check for closed days. Can keep bike in room.

Boonville-We've stayed at the Comfort Inn, short ride off trail. Can keep bike in room. No close eateries (only Arby's and Wendys)but shuttle will take you to Casino OR shuttle to casino and walk few blocks to main street yo find restaurants. Holiday Inn Ex is next to Comfort Inn. Go off the trail at aprox mm 194.

Hartsburg-Stayed multiple times at the Globe B&B. Historic, charming. Jeanette's a great hostess. Very basic (no TV's in rooms, shared baths and basic breakfast), price is reasonable, very clean, comfortable. Again, check restaurant closed days (there's always the Hitching Post bar a few blocks away,they do a pretty good job with microwave/toaster oven food if you're hungry.

Jefferson City-Love Cliff Manor B&B. Will pick you up at JC trailhead for fee. Capital square 1/3-1/2 mile walk from B&B with restaurant options (Arris' Greek Pizza very good).

Rhineland-Doll House B&B directly on trail, very nice with Trailside Bar&Grill across road. Also Loutre Lane B&B, short distance off the trail (hilly) but very nice and will take you back down to the Trailside to eat.

Augusta-Best place we've stayed is Red Brick Inn B&B. Pricy but worth it!

Lots of other places along the way that also get rave reviews depending on where your daily mileage puts you. This message board is a great wealth of info. If the town you're staying in is large enough, don't forget about Pizza delivery if you're really tired.

I second the comment re carrying extra water. On eastern end towards St. Charles, not all trailheads have water avail (may have to search in town for a store etc). Western end pretty much has water every 10-12 miles EXCEPT there no water at the Clifton City trailhead...so it's a 20+ mile section between Sedalia and Pilot Grove without water.

Have fun!

I've read all the discussions about appropriate tires for the Katy Trail, but I'm still not sure what to do.



I plan on riding fairly often this summer using the trail in a manner most others don't--to commute to work. I work for the Conservation Department which I can access via the Hamburg Trail. I planned a route that involves only minimal riding on actual roads (Highway D would be killer on a bike, especially when the high school's in session) riding approximately 3 miles on pavement, 2 of which are in my subdivision.



I am a road cyclist through and through and while I don't plan on bringing my good bike on the trail, I've considered purchasing one of these (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3663046) Walmart bikes as a tolerable commuter for the summer / at college.



So my question then, as I already mentioned, is what tires are appropriate? I don't know how wide I would be able to fit on that bike, but I'm going to assume no wider than 28mm.



Thanks!

I have ridden my road bike on the Katy countless numbers of times and have never had any troubles. (no flats, no broken spokes, no bent rims, etc..) The only modification I made was too take off the 700x28 road tires and installed 700x35 cyclocross tires. The nobbies works like a charm. I bet you'd be able to fit 32s or 35s on a Walmart bike. (I got 35s on my Fuji road bike) Go to the store with a micrometer in hand and measure first.



My commute to work takes me on a mile of single track mountain bike trail to a dirt road to the street. I find the 35s to be a good compromise for all three surfaces I traverse.

25/28-mm touring tires work well on the trail, which is hard most of the time. But a wind or rain storm can litter the trail with small twigs having sharp protusions. Try to avoid most of the twigs, and/or use well-belted tires.

Would appreciate suggestions! My best friend and I are leaving hubbys and kids behind to spend a weekend on 2 wheels casually riding and sampling wineries. Coming Friday afternoon from STL airport - is St. Charles a good launch pad or should we drive further west to start? It appears wineries are clustered in Augusta...thinking St. Chrls to Augusta Saturday, then on to Bluffton on Sunday, where hopefully we can catch a shuttle back to St. C. Any input on our route? Thanks and ride on!

I think St. Chuck would be a good starting point. Augusta wineries are good, but if you are going as far as Bluffton, hit up the Hermann wineries, too.

Cheers

Need a recommendation where to leave my car for 5 days in Clinton.



Don't feel comfortable leaving it at the rail parking that long.

You can park you car across the street from the Clinton trailhead. There is a recreational or senior center, of some sort. They allow parking in the lot. It is paved and well lit.

Click on "search" in the line menu above, then scroll down to the quick-category serach box. Plug in "parking" and "Clinton," then search again. Instructions for parking at the community center are given at its listing. You can leave your vehicle/personal info at the front desk, or call it in ahead of time. Trail riders generally park on the west side of the lot where where the police can patrol it.

I think this place has gone the way of the buffalo. It was boarded up when we went though.

I think this place has gone the way of the buffalo. It was boarded up when we went though.

I just called to day and spoke with a live person who says they are open every day of the week except new years day, from 7 am to 8 pm.

I just called to day and spoke with a live person who says they are open every day of the week except new years day, from 7 am to 8 pm.

Unless it was the great flood of the early 90s, i don't think you were looking at the right building. This place is always open. The folks in Mokane are friendly.

Unless it was the great flood of the early 90s, i don't think you were looking at the right building. This place is always open. The folks in Mokane are friendly.

I think you mistook either the Mokane Lions Club building or the Masonic Lodge for the Mokane Market. The windows are boarded because it is faster,easier,and cheaper that way to clean up after a flood. All you have to do with a boarded up window is clean it, let it dry, and finish with a fresh coat of paint. We prefer KILZ paint due to it's long life.



When the water is up people like to come and play in the water with their boats. The wake from the boats will break the windows out. Once the windows are broken the action from the wake is intensified inside the building. If you have things up off the floor inside and they are a few inches above water, the wake from a boat will knock them off or get them wet.



The Mokane Market is the only business in town that does not have at least a few of it's windows boarded. It's located in the next block up from the Mokane Bar and Grill and just across the street from the Masonic Lodge.



I'm well familiar with the floods. I was the Mokane Lions Club Secretary for ten years. I dealt with both clean-up and paperwork with the government. Almost all of our clean-up is done by unpaid volunteers otherwise the club would have ceased to exist years ago. What you get from the government after a flood is usually not enough to repair what has been damaged unless you do the work yourself.

I think you mistook either the Mokane Lions Club building or the Masonic Lodge for the Mokane Market. The windows are boarded because it is faster,easier,and cheaper that way to clean up after a flood. All you have to do with a boarded up window is clean it, let it dry, and finish with a fresh coat of paint. We prefer KILZ paint due to it's long life.



When the water is up people like to come and play in the water with their boats. The wake from the boats will break the windows out. Once the windows are broken the action from the wake is intensified inside the building. If you have things up off the floor inside and they are a few inches above water, the wake from a boat will knock them off or get them wet.



The Mokane Market is the only business in town that does not have at least a few of it's windows boarded. It's located in the next block up from the Mokane Bar and Grill and just across the street from the Masonic Lodge.



I'm well familiar with the floods. I was the Mokane Lions Club Secretary for ten years. I dealt with both clean-up and paperwork with the government. Almost all of our clean-up is done by unpaid volunteers otherwise the club would have ceased to exist years ago. What you get from the government after a flood is usually not enough to repair what has been damaged unless you do the work yourself.

I remember there being a thread on here at one point about some kind of shortcut in Boonville to a local motel, but can't seem to find it. I'm looking for alternatives to the casino and B&Bs in downtown Boonville? Can someone help me with this?

I believe this is what you are referring too. I do recall a more recent post on this, but I couldn't find it either. Not being familar with Boonville myself, I would make a Google map of this area in case I got lost:



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If you are riding east to west on the Katy, after you pass the depot in Booneville you will pass through a long stretch of residential district, up a grade for quite a ways and through a small tunnel under a roadway. It's probably 4-5 miles from the depot to the Comfort Inn.



There is a clearing on your left side near mile post #194. A trail through the clearing leads to the Fuqua Homes manufacturing plant. Somewhat confusing there......but, ride through their parking lot toward the south and onto the blacktop road....it will lead you to the Comfort Inn (about a mile) which will be on your right with a truckstop on your left.



We have found the Comfort Inn staff to be very friendly and accomodating. No problem taking your bikes to your room or leaving your car in their parking lot for a few days while you are on the trail.



Enjoy your trip!

- posted 6/29/2005 8:56:48 AM by Trek Biker , St. Joseph, MO>>

As for lodging in downtown Boonville, don't forget the Hotel Frederick.

The Hotel Frederick is the place to stay in Boonville. Great rooms, free wi-fi, complimentary continental breakfast, bike storage and $20 discount on rooms for trail riders. Located across from the trail where it crosses the Boonslick Bridge. Glenn's Cafe and a wonderful lobby bar makes this hotel a great stop for trailriders.

We have stayed at the Hotel Frederick and most likely will return. The only drawback is the lack of a pool if you're looking to take a dip after a long summer day on the trail. It is though a very nice place with a fantastic asset in Glenn's Cafe. Its nice to skim a few bucks from the casino down the street and then hit the trail just out the front door the next morning.

After much research, I will share what I have learned with others interested in pet friendly

lodging along the Katy Trail. In Defiance the Das Gast Haus Nadler (636-987-2200) will

accept a well behaved dog. Parsons House B&B (636-798-2222) has an outdoor kennel

to accomodate a dog.



In the Marthasville, Peers area, Heaven on Earth B&B (636-433-2511) has nicely

appointed cabins and agreed to accept a dog. Concord Hill B&B

(636-782-2042)agreed to accept a rescue

dog.



In the McKittrick area, Penrod's View Guest House (573-486-2585) was very

accomodating and offers shuttle service into Herman for an evening meal.

In Blufton, Rendleman Home B&B (573-236-4575) likes dogs and was willing to

accomodate because no other guests were present.



In Tebbetts the hostel will allow the dog under the bunk.



In Jefferson City Motel 6 accepts pets and the Checker cab (573-636-7101)will take you and bikes there.



Comfort Inn in Boonville emailed me the following: Comfort Inn, Boonville accomodates

small dogs (under 25 Lbs) at a nominal charge of $10/night when the pet is accompanied

by the owner in the same room. Our hotel is conveniently located off I-70 @ Exit # 101

and within 1 mile from the Katy Trail service exit located between mileposts 194 and 195

in Boonville, Mo.



Some of these places may have been willing to accomodate me and my dog because the dog is a rescue dog, highly trained, very disciplined and well behaved and because I was travelling mid week and prior to the heavy tourist season. There were not a lot of other

guests to consider. I very much appreciated all the B&B's willingness to consider accomodating me as I am a "senior citizen" and unable to ride off the trail and add exta miles to a day's ride to find lodging. SS Salida, CO.

The Hotel Frederick will accept dogs and has a $25 pet fee. Located in Boonville at the foot of the Boonslick Bridge on the southeast side of Main St

Do you segregate "pet rooms" from the other rooms? Some folks don't do well with pet dander induced allergies.