Katy Trail Forum

I am a middle age woman planning to ride the trail, or some of it, alone. I have never ridden the Katy trail before and was wondering if anyone had any tips on a 3-4 day itinerary. I want to incorporate a visit to a friend who lives near Jeff city. What time of year is the best? Places to stay? I'm thinking its safe for me to do- any comments? Thanks!

Using the Milage Chart above might work well for you to see distances to Jeff City from both directions. That may help you with starting points, etc, beings you know how far you are comfortable riding per day. Spring and fall are usually "best" times to ride although....its all good. I would consider perhaps Hermann to Jeff and back, or Rocheport (Sedalia/Boonville) to Jeff and back. I've ridden solo round trip from Sedalia to Jeff and back and would consider it safe. I'm a middle age male and it was Thursday thru Sunday trip with few people on the trail other than around Rocheport and Boonville.

I am the Manager of The Historic Hotel Frederick in Boonville, Mo. I have had quite a few single ladies that have ridden the trail alone as guests in the hotel. It seems that a good ride is from Sedalia to Boonville, Boonville to Rocheport, Rocheport to Hartsburg and then to Jeff City. There are great B & B's in Rocheport and Hartsburg and hotels in Sedalia and Boonville that accomodate singles with bike storage along the way.

May is a great time with spring blooming all along the trail.

Good Luck in Your Planning.

Hi, I am a "glup" hate to say it middle age women also.

I have never ridden alone, but have ridden with my 2 now teenage daughters when they where younger.

We usually rode from Columbia....McBain actually to Jeff City.

We then stayed the night in Jeff City and rode back the next day.

It was a fairly easy ride.

I think we could do longer ones now if I could ever get them together.

I do want to do a longer ride this summer and am working hard on getting in better shape.

Mom to 3

I hiked the trail last summer. I never felt nervous about being alone on the trail because someone is usually riding the trail. I had 2 days where I didn't see a soul for 6 hours but it should be considerably less if you're biking.

I rode the entire trail alone (woman 50 y/o in 2003), with my sister in 2004, with hubby in 2006 and with the DNR ride in 2007. I have also done numerus 2 day trips alone and too many day rides to count. I have NEVER felt 'threatened' by anyone on any of my rides. I will say occasionally (very seldom actually) some of the locals may seem unfriendly...but there's a difference between unfriendly and threatening. My only 'scares" have been by dogs. Once between Clinton and Windsor one came running out of the woods growling and chasing me (but never caught me), and last summer on a 2 day ride a dog ran out and cut in front of me causing me to hit it and crash.

I do carry Haltz (or however you spell it) in my front pack now. Hopefully won't have to use it.

Ride and enjoy. My only suggestion is to be aware of your surroundings, have a cell phone just in case and always know where your next stop will be.

Hi Claire, I may be responding too late to your question, but I wanted you to know there is a safe B&B in Pilot Grove just 1 1/2 blocks from the Katy trail owned by a middle-aged woman. It is safe and I enjoy visiting with our guests. Give me a call at 660-834-4333 or 660-537-1786 if it is not too late to be of help to you.

I am the owner/operator of the Garden Gate Bed and Breakfast in Boonville, MO. I have had female guests that have ridden the trail alone. They stated that they never felt unsafe on their journey, whether it be on a short ride or the entire trail. We have lovely bed and breakfasts in Boonville as well as a variety of hotel/motel accommodations. Enjoy your trip!

Three of us are going to do the trail in mid May. We are planning on doing the whole thing in three days, but we don't know if we want to go east to west or west to east. Is the wind a issue? I ride the trail a bit around JC and it can be very windy heading west because the trail is in the flood plain and open to the wind. Also I am riding a older cheaper mountain bike are there any suggestions for modifications such as saddles (comfortable style), setback post, different tires, etc.

No question in my mind (others may disagree) - GO WEST TO EAST. Much more likely to get prevailing winds behind you and once you hit Sedalia, the trail tips more to the east.



I rode it in 3 days in October, 2006. Plan to do it again this fall. Rode Clinton to Hartsburg, Hartsburg to Rhineland and Rhineland to St. Charles.



Will probably even the first two days out a little bit in terms of mileage this time.



Just my 2 cents.



Enjoy the planning and the ride.

To make along story short. My wife and I are wanting to try something new. Neither of us have experients in hiking. We're both a little overweight. We would like to try a hike on katy trail. We're wanting to make a day or two of it. Is This trail o.k. for hiking? Where would a good starting and finishing point be? What kind of stuff will we need? When is a good time to do this hike? What do we need to do to be ready for a hike lik this? We want to camp. As you can see, We have no ideal of what we're doing. Please snd some help.

Read my comment from above. We saw more hikers than bikers for the two days we were on the trail. Many were older and maybe not in great shape, but all looked like they were having fun. It's a flat wide trail perfect for hiking for all ages and degrees of fitness levels. We stayed in a B & B right on the trail and that was great and I would stay there again. There are many benches along the way for resting and beautiful views--take a picnic and lots of water--especially as it gets warmer. Dress in layers--best for any weather and wear comfortable shoes and make sure to use the restroom before you head out--oh and don't forget the camera! There is a trail that goes over the tunnel in Rocheport--we didn't climb it, but I heard from another hiker that it was a nice hike with great views. Walking and hiking is one of the best ways to get into shape. Gook luck!!!

I have ridden on several parts of the trail and have seen many hikers of all sizes and shapes. Since it is flat, I am sure you will not have a problem. I don't recall good camping places, though. The area I am talking about is St Charles to Hermann. Perhaps a B & B or hotel? Have fun and go for it!

Well, I have hiked the trail from end to end, and I know a few others have, too. The trail is a great place to hike, especially since there are no really steep grades to contend with and the surface is easy on the legs.



I agree with the above statements and will add a couple of thoughts: 1., Start walking NOW before you go out on a long trip on the trail. Try walking for an hour or two on the trail or even around your neighborhood and see how you do. This will help you to get your stamina up. 2., Good shoes and socks are a must, and get backpacks that you can comfortably carry your equipment, food, water, etc. 3., In terms of camping, Klondike Park in St. Charles county near Augusta can't be beat. 4., Keep an eye on temperatures. I have done long walks in September that were beautiful and in July that was awfully hot, but also great.



Beyond that, look on this website for other places to camp or stay over night. The Peers Store will rent you the room above the store at very reasonable rates. Of course, be sure to get checked out by a doctor to make sure you don't have any medical issues. I am sure your doc will love that you want to start walking, but safety first. As I said before there are a few of us who have hiked the whole trail, and we have blogs about our experiences that are linked to this site. They might be of some help to you. (Which reminds me, I never updated the last day's walk from last July... Something for me to do tomorrow on my day off) Ray, do you want to link our blogs to this?



I say go for it and have a great time... Who knows, we might run into each other.

I did it, so can you. GC covered most, I'll add that you take a nice wide brimmed hat with ventilation holes so heat can escape. I almost considered an umbrella (as stupid as it sounds) for the sections with little to no shade. Bryson was tough during a really hot day. The best part of hiking the katy: you get a great tan on only the right side of your body since the sun is always to your right. It's a great attention getter while swimming. E-mail me at LMS346.com if you want me to send you more info from my trip. Remember- Hikers rule and bikers drool (sorry Mary).

The only thing this biker is drooling over is a full carbon frame and fork.

Good point jp.....I'been droolin over the Santana longbike.

After logging onto Santana's website, I am now drooling over a Santana "beyond" carbon fiber tandem with titanium lugs. I'm sure the misses would love one of these beautiful machines sitting in the garage calling for an adventure. Very sweet machines Trek. Very worthy of some long term drooling.

In 2002 my husband and I introduced ourselves to the KATY when I was 70lbs overweight and a mile walk was dificult. By 2007 we had switched to bikes and had ridden the KATY round trip twice. My weight was back to normal. I wish you both the joy of the trail.

You may want to get a boy scout book. Go to an official scout shop in the nearest city (they're all over the place) and you'll find a wealth of reliable information on how to hike safely. From what to pack to plant and animal dangers. From how to choose the right backpack to the right shoes. I've been working with scouts for many years now and I think they show the best examples of outdoor skills. (By the way, the book will also guide you on how not to get lost in the woods and how to survive if it does happen.) Good luck to you, both.

We stayed at A Secret Vine on Saturday, April 12th...the website said fresh homebaked goodies would await our arrival. They did but they were more like burnt offerings...4 small, hard, overbaked cookies not worthy of being eaten. The room was ok but there was at least 3 inches of water in the tub from who knows when...gross. The bed was very comfortable and the sheets were AMAZING. Unfortunately, we were doubly disappointed when our breakfast came the next morning...a frozen hashbrown patty, two coin sized frozen sausage patties, and a single piece of white bread french toast..or something disquised as such. The website said "Gourmet Breakfast"...I think not. So, for $150 I got a filthy bathroom, one nice bed, and left hungry the next morning. Definitely not worth the cost...I certainly did not get what I paid for. Oh well, live and learn.

We stayed at A Secret Vine on Saturday, April 12th...the website said fresh homebaked goodies would await our arrival. They did but they were more like burnt offerings...4 small, hard, overbaked cookies not worthy of being eaten. The room was ok but there was at least 3 inches of water in the tub from who knows when...gross. The bed was very comfortable and the sheets were AMAZING. Unfortunately, we were doubly disappointed when our breakfast came the next morning...a frozen hashbrown patty, two coin sized frozen sausage patties, and a single piece of white bread french toast..or something disquised as such. The website said "Gourmet Breakfast"...I think not. So, for $150 I got a filthy bathroom, one nice bed, and left hungry the next morning. Definitely not worth the cost...I certainly did not get what I paid for. Oh well, live and learn.

Hermann Hill Bed and Breakfast and/or cottages are the real deal in Hermann.

Hermann Hill Bed and Breakfast and/or cottages are the real deal in Hermann.

Best deal in Hartsburg! We stayed Friday and Saturday. The rates are very reasonable. Accomadations are great and the proprietor is very friendly. She even had homemade cookies waiting for us in the room! We brought our dogs and had a great time walking the trail. Dotty's Cafe has great food and the Hitching post was a good time.

Best deal in Hartsburg! We stayed Friday and Saturday. The rates are very reasonable. Accomadations are great and the proprietor is very friendly. She even had homemade cookies waiting for us in the room! We brought our dogs and had a great time walking the trail. Dotty's Cafe has great food and the Hitching post was a good time.

I am planning to bike with my best friend from Sedalia to St. Charles over four days in the middle or the end of May. We are two males in fairly good shape in our low 20s but do not have a whole lot of long distance biking experience. What would be the best way to plan out the trip in terms of miles per day and pace. Where are the best places to stay? We would leave Friday morning and need a place to stay on Fri, Sat, and Sun night. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

The best way to plan out the trip in terms of miles per day would be to divide the total number of miles from Sedalia to St. Charles by 4. That will tell you the number of miles you need to travel on each of the 4 days. I know....another one of those darn "how many apples do I have left word problems" that we all never liked too well. To check your work.....take the number of miles you need to ride each day (see above) and multipy that by 4. Your answer should equal the number of miles between Sedalia and St. Charles...if so.....youre in luck!

For the last ten years, about 20 - 30 of us have ridden Clinton to St. Charles as a group. After years of trial and error, we go Clinton->Booneville (72 Miles) Booneville->Holt Summit (North Jefferson) (48 Miles) Holt Summit->Hermann (McKittrick) (42 Miles) Hermann->St. Charles (61 Miles). Due to the size of our group, lodging and meals somewhat limit our choices. With just two of you, you may be able to chose from more options.

As an alternative, I like to pick a spot on the trail and ride out 1/2 a day and ride back 1/2 day. That way, there is no pressure and I can relax and enjoy the ride.

How about Sedalia to Rocheport-to Hartsburg-to Bluffton- to Augusta-to St.Charles

If you need a place to stay I would recommend the Hotel Frederick in Boonville, Mo. It is across the street from the Trail where the trail crosses the Missouri River at the Boonslick Bridge. Great accomdations and a fabulous resturant. Free Bike Storage, Wi-Fi, Continental Breakfast and great rooms in this 103 year old hotel. Check the web-site at hotelfrederick.com

Hi! My name is Dolores. I own the Pilot Grove B&B. There are three bedrooms available, one with twin beds. A continental breakfast or a full breakfast is offered. This is a nice quite place. The cost is $55/night/room which includes the breakfast. If I can be of help to you, let me know 660-834-4333 or cell, 660-537-1786.

The food is absolutely delicious. Haven't been for about a year but hoping to go this summer. I lived in Columbia most of my life but Claysville was discovered by accident by my brother and sisterinlaw out driving one afternoon. They are from JC and love the menu. See you soon.

This is a wonderful restaurant. My wife and I enjoyed a great dinner after a long day on the trail. I'd recommend making reservations though, as this is a popular restaurant in the area. Excellent food at a good price.

This is a wonderful restaurant. My wife and I enjoyed a great dinner after a long day on the trail. I'd recommend making reservations though, as this is a popular restaurant in the area. Excellent food at a good price.

I am one of the owners of "My Grandpa's Farm" which is located at 3925 South Highway 94 which is two miles south of Defiance directly off of highway 94. The Katy Trail is our Eastern border.The farm was originally owned by the Daniel Boone Family beginning around 1800. The Boone family stayed there until circa 1910.

We still have the original barns, a 500 year old catalpa tree, and heirloom plants and animals from Boone's time. There is a restaurant on the property and commercial craft and produce stands. Our season starts the end of March and we would love to have everybody come and visit. We give free lemonade to all who come and visit the farm. Individuals, families, and groups are all welcome. My phone number is (314) 369-9179.

Your farm sounds like a place I need to visit! I might be coming through late in the day on May 20th, that is, if you all provide lodging. Otherwise, I can stop by early on the 21st.

Sounds interesting.. We are planning a ride in June for 5 days... only going 20 -40 miles a day so we may stop at places like this. Do you have a web site?

CaroleH of Kirkwood: We are also planning a similar trip in early June. Do you have kids going, too?( reason for the low mileage) Are you going East to West? Just interested in getting tips for our trip. We have been on the Katy about 20 miles four years ago and want to do the whole trip.

i would like to travel to the grandpa's farm. how far is it from the inner city? what would be the closest bed and breakfast from there? i have been looking at daniel boones lick Inn. probably gonna travel around the first of july with my husband, and mother and dog, maybe even with my daughter and grandson. we have family in st. charles and in paris illinois so need to stay in between. anyway , to start need lodging for at least 4 , dog friendly?!staying aaround until july 11th.

I'm replying for Carol from Kirkwood, whom I recognize as my sister...

No, we're not bringing kids.

We could say we're doing low mileage b/c it's the first time some of us will be doing a multi-day tour and b/c we want to have plenty of time to sightsee along the way, stop early and enjoy the afternoons. Or we could say it's b/c we're middle-aged, sedentary, and out of shape. ;-)

How far off the trail is the Amtrak in Washington and how practical is it to get there on bike? I would prefer to use this stop and avoid getting into St. Louis. Thanks, BF

We hitched a ride in a pickup truck to cross the river. The driver recommended the Sleep Inn in Washington and dropped us off there. It caters to business people, and I thought it was overpriced for what we got. It's about 3 miles down a steep hill to downtown Washington and the Amtrak station. No problem biking there.

Washington is about 4 miles, via hwy 47, from Dutzow trailhead. Be warned that this is not an easy ride. Highway 47 has a 55 MPH speed limit and a gravel shoulder. The bridge across the Missouri River has a 45 MPH limit, and no shoulder. I've heard of people doing it on bike, but they have tougher nerves than I do. If you are spending the night, you might be able to find a B&B that will give you a ride.



Good luck!

My wife and I did this in October. We are not young (67 & 73), there was a significant headwind from the Southeast and my wife wimped out riding to and across the bridge. We got a ride in a truck from the host of our B&B (Brick House), and after the ride I decided my wife's judgment was better than mine. Unless you can do 4 miles at a brisk speed followed by about 30 mph up the hill to the bridge it would be a really scary and ill-advised trip by bike.

We caught the train from Washington to Jeff City--then rode back. The Dutzow Deli is right

on the trailhead across the river from Washington and a nice way to finish. I chickened out

on riding over the bridge to get the car, so my husband went by myself. He admitted it was

not smart--no shoulder and dangerous bridge. I would recommend calling a cab from the

Deli to get to the station.

Is water available at the trailheads, and are restrooms open now...or is that later in spring?

Should be April 1 when DNR turns the water on. I've not been at a trailhead to see for sure...but the turn on date is April 1.

I was at the Jefferson City trailhead this past weekend and the water was turned on there.

HOw far off would I be from an Amtrak Station if I were to ride the length of the course from Clinton to St. Charles

Go to the below on this site and it gives you good information on using the AMTRACK. You'll be about 15 miles from the station once you finish the KATY in St. Charles. You can ride to the station, but I'm told the traffic is bad. You should be able to get a shuttle without too much trouble. The AMTRACK will only take you to Sedelia, so you'll have to either bike back to Clinton, or hire a shuttle.





http://www.bikekatytrail.com/amtrak.asp

March-"in like a lion and out like a lamb", not this year! My husband and 2 best friends found that the weather in March is just simply unpredictable. It was cold and rainy last week, but we came to ride and ride we did! The trail is very nicely maintained and very well marked. We stayed at the Healing Stone Retreat and Spa. The staff was wonderful! We felt like we were in our own home. The food was fresh, organic and filling. The hot tub and sauna were a welcome home after riding. The best part of course were the memories made and cherished.

Where is this spa? I have searched but can't figure out the location/city/town. Thanks!

It's a little east of McKittrick, although it's listed on the Hermann page of this website. If you go to this link, you'll see a photo, map, and other info on Healing Stone. Zoom out the map a bit (by clicking the "-" button on the left of the map) to get a perspective of the location.