Katy Trail Forum

A little off the trail, but if you can check this one out. Some very good wines and great setting.

The view is unparalleled at this winery. This winery has expanded greatly within the last few years. The tasting room is vast in size and wine selection. The restaurant should be called, "The View!" They usually have entertainment on the weekends and their dry wines are quite nice. This is also a great place to stock up on picnic supplies for your other winery adventures.

Ahh, Montelle, one of my two favorite wineries on the trail.

Is there any shuttle service based out of St. Louis that can take 2 people and 2 bikes from The end of the trail at St. Charles to Kirkwood Amtrak station? The only one I can find on this site is the one that requires a night at the B&B. Thanks

Show Me MO Tours has shuttle service from St. Charles to Kirkwood. www.showmemotours.com All prices are listed on the website.

My wife and I were shuttled to the Kirkwood Amtrak station by Barb last summer... Top notch service!

Great dry wines accompanied by wonderful Italian cuisine. Mama Mia!

Great dry wines accompanied by wonderful Italian cuisine. Mama Mia!

I was surprised of the poor comments about Mount Pleasant Winery. I consider myself a "wine snob" and visit not only Missouri Wineries, but most vacations will include a winery or two. Wake-up. Try visiting Napa, Sonoma or New Zealand without paying upwards of $45.00 to try estate wines. Or a tour of the winery. Sorry for the folks who pay $5.00 for a bottle of wine. You get what you pay for, I wouldn't cook with a $5.00 bottle of wine, let alone drink it. My experience with Mount Pleasant? I paid around $20.00 for a bottle of Vignoles that I compair to a New Zealand Sauv. Blanc. This was a great wine. I sat with my friends in the reserve section, and enjoyed the band. I'm "older" but didn't get so wasted that I couldn't ride back to our car. Sorry losers, you don't realize what you have. Next time don't stop and save your 5 bucks for some Mad Dog 20-20.

I was surprised of the poor comments about Mount Pleasant Winery. I consider myself a "wine snob" and visit not only Missouri Wineries, but most vacations will include a winery or two. Wake-up. Try visiting Napa, Sonoma or New Zealand without paying upwards of $45.00 to try estate wines. Or a tour of the winery. Sorry for the folks who pay $5.00 for a bottle of wine. You get what you pay for, I wouldn't cook with a $5.00 bottle of wine, let alone drink it. My experience with Mount Pleasant? I paid around $20.00 for a bottle of Vignoles that I compair to a New Zealand Sauv. Blanc. This was a great wine. I sat with my friends in the reserve section, and enjoyed the band. I'm "older" but didn't get so wasted that I couldn't ride back to our car. Sorry losers, you don't realize what you have. Next time don't stop and save your 5 bucks for some Mad Dog 20-20.

So I take it you want everyone to know you've been to Napa, Sonoma and New Zealand. My, oh my, You were pretty dead on with the part about being a snob.

I guess I better tuck my tail between my legs, go swill my Mad Dog and stagger back to my car.

--one of the "losers" :-)

So I take it you want everyone to know you've been to Napa, Sonoma and New Zealand. My, oh my, You were pretty dead on with the part about being a snob.

I guess I better tuck my tail between my legs, go swill my Mad Dog and stagger back to my car.

--one of the "losers" :-)

Nice touch GC. I especially enjoyed the double entry! :)

Nice touch GC. I especially enjoyed the double entry! :)

Ray,something has gone haywire. I laughed at the double entry above untill I realized I had done the same thing. Does this mean we are stuttering? :)

Ray,something has gone haywire. I laughed at the double entry above untill I realized I had done the same thing. Does this mean we are stuttering? :)

Say it aint so, JK!

Say it aint so, JK!

In response to Peter's travels, I appreciate his offerings of comparing Missouri wines to renowned wine districts. This is not the writing of a wine snob, just an informed oenophile. Yes, many wineries do charge for tasting now. Just soaking in the history of Mount Pleasant is worth the $5.00. Enjoy!

In response to Peter's travels, I appreciate his offerings of comparing Missouri wines to renowned wine districts. This is not the writing of a wine snob, just an informed oenophile. Yes, many wineries do charge for tasting now. Just soaking in the history of Mount Pleasant is worth the $5.00. Enjoy!

Has anyone heard if the Katy Trail sustained any damage in the recent flood? We are planning a 5 day trip soon. Thanks!

Read down a few posts to:

Flooding

Started: Mar 20 2008 7:33AM by Ray (webmaster)

I just rode from McKittrick to St. Charles yesterday, and all was fine...there were not even any puddles. The ground was pretty soft and slowed my trip somewhat (only averaged 18 mph)...but consider it fine...and I'm just guesing all to the west of McKittrick is fine as well.

My husband and I am planning a trip from Rocheport to St Charles. We plan on taking about 6 days enroute with a side trip to Herrman. Since it's technically all "downhill" is this a do-able trip?? We ride fairly frequently but never more than 20 miles in one day. And will our car be safe in Rocheport?? Is that a good trailhead?? We have relative in St Louis that will shuttle us back but do you know of any shuttle service that goes from St Charles to Rocheport?? And does anyone know how much that might cost?? Thanks for any help or suggestions!!

Its VERY doable. In fact, 6 days will give you a lot of time. You should be able to get lots of sight-seeing in. The Rocheport trailhead is very safe and may be the nicest one on the trail. And you will love Hermann. I won't go into all your questions, but tool around on this page and you will find everything you need to know. Have a good ride!

what G C said. you should have no problem at all. have fun, be safe, happy bikin.

check to see which trailhead towns have lodging available, it may require more than 20 miles a day on some days.

Once you get on the trail I think you will find 20 miles is not going to be very far to ride. You will probably end up ridng more.

Have a great ride!

Show Me Mo Tours @ www.showmemotours.com offers shuttle service all along the Katy Trail. A shuttle from St. Louis to Rocheport, based on four (4) riders & bikes & gear is $230.00. (314) 781-0015 or (314) 452-5513.

the shuttle to Rocheport is 150.00 plus a nights stay at our B&B call 636-946-0619 for details

Well thank God for a little competition! Folks here have asked for a long, long time how much shuttle services cost....and all they get is a number to call. Kudos to Barb with Show Me MO Tours for being so forthright with information! You shoulda showed up along time ago!

Once you have completed the trail(either direction) is there any way to get back to the other end(bus, train, etc?) if you have a vehicle parked on the end where you started?

For $33(w/bike) you can take the Amtrak. Kirkwood to Sedalia or vice versa. The only draw backs are the bike ride from St. Charles to Amtrak Station and Amtrak's "on time record". Shuttles are availible but the cost will be much more.



Happy Trails, Paulie

Last March we rode Amtrak from Washington to Sedalia. It cost $27 per person plus $10 for each bike. We were told that the ticket price depends on the number of available seats at the time of booking, so the earlier the better. We had booked two days ahead.



We enjoyed our ride from Boonville to Dutzow/Washington so much, that we are taking some friends next fall from Sedalia to St. Charles. What a great trail!

You may want to try one of the shuttle services. They are like a taxi for the trail, equipped to handle your bikes & gear. Here's a list: http://www.BikeKatyTrail.com/planner.aspx?chkShuttle=on

Show Me MO Tours @ www.showmemotours.com offers shuttle service all along the Katy Trail. All prices are listed on the website.

call 636-946-0619 for prices and details

When I call the number listed on this website for the Katy Trail Shuttle, I get a message saying the number is not in service. Does anyone know if the shuttle is shut down for the winter? Or has it gone out of business? I'm not interested in staying at a B&B, so innkeepers need not reply.

When I call the number listed on this website for the Katy Trail Shuttle, I get a message saying the number is not in service. Does anyone know if the shuttle is shut down for the winter? Or has it gone out of business? I'm not interested in staying at a B&B, so innkeepers need not reply.

I am doubtful about whether they will reopen. The owner has a lot of things going on, and scaled back his shuttling operations quite a bit in 2007. I would not be surprised if he decided to get out of the business. I'll try to find out more.

Meanwhile, here's a complete list of shuttle services. Most of the services will shuttle between any two points on the trail, so it's worth talking to some of them to see if they can help you.

I am doubtful about whether they will reopen. The owner has a lot of things going on, and scaled back his shuttling operations quite a bit in 2007. I would not be surprised if he decided to get out of the business. I'll try to find out more.

Meanwhile, here's a complete list of shuttle services. Most of the services will shuttle between any two points on the trail, so it's worth talking to some of them to see if they can help you.

Show Me MO Tours @ www.showmemotours.com offers shuttle service all along the Katy Trail. All prices are listed on line.

Show Me MO Tours @ www.showmemotours.com offers shuttle service all along the Katy Trail. All prices are listed on line.

Does anyone know of a shuttle service in Kirkwood that could take me back to St. Charles. I am thinking of parking there and riding the trail,then taking the Amtrak from Sedalia back to Kirkwood.

Show Me MO Tours, www.showmemotours.com, offers shuttle service from St. Charles to the train station in Kirkwood. All prices are listed on the website.

I've gotten a few questions about whether there are any flooding problems along the Katy Trail. At this point, as far as I know, everything is OK. The DNR is not reporting any trail closures at this time. Most of the heavy rains and flooding occurred to the south, and many of the problem rivers (such as the Meremec) actually feed into the Mississippi, rather than the Missouri. Also, I don't think the rains were as bad upstream, such as in Boonville and Kansas City.

Having said all that, I'm not a hydrologist, so my guesses and observations are no better than anyone else's. If anyone out there has any insight into current conditions, please let us know.

Here's a handy tool that I found which shows flood stages in the region. As of Thursday morning, it shows most Missouri River towns in the eastern side of the state to be at "minor flooding": NOAA Hydrologic Prediction Service.

One other encouraging sign - current weather forecast has no serious probability of rain until next Thursday (Jeff City & St Charles 10-day forecasts chance of precipitation do not get higher than 30% until the 27th). You can get current forecasts by clicking the links by the tent pictures on this page: Katy Trail weather

It has been raining for a few days now. I plan to go on the trail tomorrow at Weldon Springs. I just want to know since it has been raining, will the trails be under water?

Let me know how it is/was today, Matt, or anybody else, as I plan to ride from Hermann to St. Charles on Friday...it looks like most of the heavy rain is to the south of this area, and hopefully it will have time to dry by then.

OK- I'm hearing here in Dever about the flooding along the Missouri. We plan on riding KATY starting April 4th. Will this work? Where can I get reports about the trail being closed due to flooding?

I'm looking for advice on parking in Sedalia. I'm planning an April ride and wish to drive to Sedalia then cycle east to St. Charles and return via train in a few days. Is there a safe, free location in Sedalia. Thanks!



sgoakes

The depot is a good place to park. If you park in the east lot out of the way the locals will keep an eye on your car. You can leave your name and cell phone number with the folks inside in case they need to contact you.

I took my three kids ages 5, 6 and 8 for a trial run this weekend. We started in Boonville and headed East. The constant slight incline really was a bit too challenging for the kids and they made it 4mi out and then back. I was looking for about a 10 mi stretch of either flat or down hill and while this area looked somewhat flat, we didn't spend much time actually "sitting" on our seats to pedal. They have done hills before, but most of their riding has been on paved surfaces and they have never quite experienced an incline that seem to go on and on without a break. We are planning a two day trip over spring break and I think 8-10 mi will be their max. We may have two cars for a pick up and drop sites.

Jamain,

Did you head east or west ot of Boonville? I don't recall much in the way of inclines going east, but west... oh yeah.

Cheers!

GC

Other than the bridge crossing the river there are no hills between Booneville and Rocheport. You must have ridden west. I would suggest drivng to Rocheport and riding east along the bluffs. Ride out as far as you think the kids can ride back. The view is great and there are benches all along the way you can take a rest at. Be sure when you start to ride back east a short distance first and let the kids ride through the tunnel. Have a great ride.

From Rocheport go east to see the bluffs, cave, river, petroglyphs, etc. and go west a short distance to see the tunnel.

The stretch you were on (going west) has a steady icline to I70 goes downhill for a while then has several good climbes up to pilot Grove. See elevations charty at:



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



for an idea of what you were heading towards. Follow Cliff's advice - start at Rochport and head towards McBaine if you have little ones. Also, in the early spring you can expect the trail to be soft and a little harder to pedal. Later in the spring - summer -fall the trail gets packed down and drier and much easier to pedal.

The other thing is that the trail was quite soft in early March, and it is MUCH tougher riding when it is soft. Of course, you may have the same issue at Spring Break.