Katy Trail Forum

The wife and I are thinking of riding a portion of the trail this fall, probably late September or early October. We are not true bikers, especially myself. Really don't have a clue where to start to plan this. On top of that, we don't know where we would plan to start or stop. I can envision maybe 20 to 40 miles of the trail and 2 or 3 days to do it. I would like any suggestions on what portions you all would think are the neatest in terms of scenery, road type, etc. Also wandering how we would make it work as we are going to have to get back to the vehicle afterwards. I suppose one option would be to just turn around and head back where you started. Are there other ways of getting back? Generally speaking we would need to stay in a BB a night or two.

Like I said before, just looking for some advise from the experienced.

Thanks in Advance!

I think I would do a Rocheport to Hartsburg round trip. That would be around 50 miles but that's a pretty easy two day trip. There are beautiful bluffs and a couple of conservation areas along the trail. You could eat lunch at either McBaine or Cooper's Landing in Easley and stay overnight at the Globe in Hartsburg. Just a warning about Cooper's ..... it gets mixed reviews in here but we love the place.

I think Jim is right about the Rocheport area.....usually mid October though for fall color. I might also consider Columbia to Rocheport or on to Boonville. The Hotel Frederick in Booneville is worth the trip as well as Glens Cafe, Napoli, etc. There are a few more B&B's in Rocheport also.....that is a busy time due to the fall color, so you might want to book your stay as early in advance as possible. Portland....Rhineland.....Hermann is a nice area too.....maybe not quite a scenic as the bluffs just east of Rocheport, but Hermann has a lot to offer. Hermann is an Amtrak stop too, if you wanted to do Jeff City to Hermann for example. The Plan a Ride feature above is a good tool as well as the Katy Trail Guidebook. Come on up.....its a great trail no matter where you ride!

I apologize in advance if I misunderstood your goal, but I clearly had a different impression, from Jim's, of what your maximum daily cycling would be. 20-40 miles in 2-3 days would mean less than 15 miles per day. In many areas of the trail, that's not enough distance to get from one town with lodging options to the next. Starting at Rocheport, that would get you to Boonville and back in two days, but not as far as Hartsburg. Without thinking about it too specifically, I would think the area closest to Augusta (or maybe Hermann) would be a better choice. On the other hand, if you really can't make 25-30 miles per day (giving you a lot more lodging options), I'd take an extra year to get healthy enough to ride farther than 10 miles a day and get much more enjoyment from the trail.

The Jefferson City to Hartsburg and back would get you the 10 miles per day for a two day trip, has a nice stop about halfway overlooking the Missouri river, and if in October you could plan to be in Harstburg for the pumpkin festival (see events).

Best breakfast and best service of the trip. Right at the foot of the bridge, when the signs point you away from Main Street.

Best breakfast and best service of the trip. Right at the foot of the bridge, when the signs point you away from Main Street.

You took a trip to Boonville! Eww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By the way, the service is not great at all, and the owner needs to call Jenny!

You took a trip to Boonville! Eww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By the way, the service is not great at all, and the owner needs to call Jenny!

We ate at Riverside diner and found the food to be good, service was good, and the price was excellent. I was amazed at everything that was part of the meal.

We ate at Riverside diner and found the food to be good, service was good, and the price was excellent. I was amazed at everything that was part of the meal.

I'm planning on doing this trip in less than a day on the Katy Trail. I'm a roadie but am not sure how my tires would (or likely would not) hold up. I'd prefer not to switch to a heavier bike for the trip. Any suggestions? Anybody have experience doing this round-trip venture in a day?

Your road bike tires will be OK unless you get a hard rain prior to your trip. If this happens, the trail is mushy and your narrow tires will sink into the surface badly. I'm a little perplexed as to why you want to do this long of a trip in only one day. You're not going to have any time to enjoy the scenery, and that's half the fun.

less than a day? Geez, what are you going to do with the rest of your day?

Road bike would be OK with at least 23mm tires.

My only concern would be how the rims would hold up. You're going to have to hit a pretty good pace and are sure to hit a bone-crunching rut or two. We have had folks with road bikes ride with us before and have had the occasional broken spoke.

St. Chuck to Jeff city and back? Do you need a riding partner?

Tuts....we'll be needing a riding partner(s) for several rides from early spring through fall at various locations along the Katy to pay for food, lodging, etc. ....interested??

Trek.. Always up for a ride...Training right now for a once in a life time tour set for early June. I read the forum quite a bit, so later this summer post for a new ride and I will respond.



Cheers.

Is there a trail "rule" that wearing helmets is mandatory? For example, would a park official tell you to get off the trail if he/she saw you without a helmet on? Just curious...

No....From DNR State Parks website: HELMETS RECOMMENDED. For your safety, all cyclists and equestrian users should wear helmets that meet or exceed Snell or ANSI standards.

Thank you for the info, Trek. By the way, do you know if aerobars are recommended/usable for longer/fast-paced rides on the Katy Trail?

I don't know Jack....about aerobars. ; ) We ride with OEM bars on the Trek hybrids and the Santana longbike.

St. Charles to JC and back in one day + road bike + areobars + no helmet = disaster.

Since you are in St. Louis, why don't you take your bike of choice out for a few test rides on

the Trail and see what works for you. I am more of a roadie, too, but have outfitted my Trek

mountain bike as more of a road bike with narrower tires that are Kevlar belted (Panaracer

Messengers), and made it as light as possible and I move right along at a good pace on the

Trail. I would not ride my road bike on the Trail because it just isn't built for the bumps and

uneven road surfaces...but, that's my preference.

For those who have been on the Trail for all-day/multi-day trips, is it recommended to clean your chain periodically? I would think so...however, wouldn't the well-lubed chain just attract more dust? I won't have much spare time, but am not sure if it's worth taking the time to clean the chain for my all-day trip.

I have not a problem with chain cleaning for just a day trip... and a well-lubed chain will

make your day easier. I use a dry lubricant like White Lightening on my chain with no

problems at all. The Trail can be very dusty, but not to the extent where I have found it

necessary to stop and clean my chain under normal circumstances. But, again, I ride a

mountain bike. The components on my road bike are more delicate and more touchy so I

don't know what your bike will be like. Again, I think a few test rides would prove most

valuable for you to find out what will work best for you!

It would be nice to see some of the extension of the RI include a section for horses. There are very few places to ride in a natural setting close to the city.

This is a bit off topic and not near the city....but have you riden at Poosey Conservation Area? It is about six miles south and east of Jamesport, MO in the heart of Amish country. There are over 5800 acres with 25 miles of multi-use trails. We hiked there early last spring and found it probably better suited for horse traffic.

Fabulous steakburgers in classic drive in. Just what we needed after coming off the trail.

Fabulous steakburgers in classic drive in. Just what we needed after coming off the trail.

I ate there last year at the end of my trail adventure and really enjoyed the steakburger & onion rings - real homemade stuff. The cigarette smoke in the tiny place took a few years off my life, but the food was super! Get a milkshake, too!

I ate there last year at the end of my trail adventure and really enjoyed the steakburger & onion rings - real homemade stuff. The cigarette smoke in the tiny place took a few years off my life, but the food was super! Get a milkshake, too!

Has anyone taken their bikes on Amtrak from Kirkwood out to Hermann? I've heard that for an extra fee, Amtrak will let you take your bike on the train. Also, does anyone know of sites to maps of bike trails in and around Hermann?

Amtrak will let you take a bike for an additional fee. Just check out their website. I took mine from Hermann to Sedelia, with no problems. In fact, the conductor even helped me get it on the train.

Many more details on this page: riding Amtrak along the Katy Trail.

If it's not too much trouble, we'd be interested in feedback from veteran Katy Trail bikers on our planned itinerary. Here's the plan:



Day 1

Drive to Jefferson City - ideas on where to stay?



Day 2

Start at Jefferson City, leaving car at Amtrak Station

Ride to N. Jefferson, hitting Tebbetts, Mokane or Steedman for lunch

Finish at Rhineland for night, possibly staying at Les Lavandes

Total for day: 41



Day 3

Ride to Treloar or Peers for lunch

Visit Blumenhof Vineyards in Dutzow

Finish at Augusta for night, hopefully with ample time to visit several wineries - recommendations on where to stay? Not seeing many places that would allow a child and perhaps have a hot tub.

Total for day: 39



Day 4

Ride to Defiance to visit Yellow House

Possible picnic lunch stop at Weldon Spring or further along?

End early at St. Charles in time to sightsee and visit wineries

Possibly stay Country Inn on Main Street unless we can find a good inn or B&B ok for our daughter. Would also appreciate input on things of interest for kids in St. Charles

Total for day: 27



Day 5

Take shuttle from St. Charles to Kirkwood, eat lunch/spend day

Ride train from Kirkwood back to station in Jefferson



Questions:

Suggestions on where to eat and stay, what to see along the way

Is this a reasonable distance (27 - 41 miles/day) to cover daily at a leisurely clip with plenty of stops?

Ideas on keeping kiddo busy during the ride? She's well-behaved and will enjoy it, but any unique ideas are welcome.

General comments?



I realize this is a lot of information, so thanks in advance to anyone plowing through it to make suggestions!

In Jeff City, staying at the Capitol Plaza (I think that's the name) would be good as they have an indoor pool. And there are eating places within walking distance (pizza is good). To get to the trailhead you take a cab as the ride there is a challenge especially if you have a trailer. From there to Rhineland should be a good ride. It takes longer to cover that much mileage with a trailer especially when you are stopping. Make sure places are open because that is always an issue, especially on Mondays or Tuesday. I don't know anything about the place you propose to stay in Rhineland.

Finishing in Augusta - many nice places to stay its the child that may be a challenge. There is one B&B that has a guesthouse that might really be good. You are across the street from the B&B but its very cozy, little kitchen, quaint and quiet. I've forgotten the name but its in the Guidebook. St. Charles should have plenty to keep you busy. Street entertainers during the summer months. Shops. Food. There are B&B's but there is a large hotel - maybe a Embassy Suites - not far at all. Indoor pool I believe and free breakfast. And the rooms are designed well for adults with children. Your mileage sounds about right with a 4 year old. Take snacks along - that's what I did. You should have fun.

I'd check this website and contact hotels in Jeff City about offering to shuttle you across the river bridge. Although I've ridden it before, I wouldn't do it with a child. The Complete Katy Trail Guidebook by Brett Dufur is a must have reference. It highlights many points of interest such as side trails, conservation areas, historical information, etc. that may be of more interest to a 4 year old child than visiting wineries. I'd save those for an adult trip where they could perhaps be more fully enjoyed....but I'm not a window shopper at the wineries.

I think your daily mileage is doable so long as the trail has not had any rain before you ride it. I received a trailer for Christmas and decided to take my granddaughter (7month) out for a test ride those few days we had 60+ weather lately. I was surprised at how much the wet trail affected my speed, I was struggling to make 5mph in those spots where there was a dip in the trail. More water had accumulated in those spots making the trail considerably softer. After about a mile or so I called it quits and had my wife pick us up.

My Father started working for the MKT in 1965 in the Mpls area in sales and was transrered to Millwaukee WI as sales mgr. in 72 untill his death in 1980. I will allways remember that when ever we were stoped by a train crossing the road my Dad reminding us that,that what was puttting dinner on the table that night.

We are planning to visit the Arkansas/Missouri area in early August to ride the Katy trail and Arkansas River Trail among others. We own GIANT Cypress bikes. What should we expect from these trails on these bikes. We plan to use St. Charles as our starting point. Suggestions and tips would be GREATLY appreciated.

I've logged many miles and a few end to end rides on the Katy, all on my Giant Cypress and have not had any trouble. Not sure how you have your bike equipped, but have a few suggestions...

Armadillo tires are helpful to protect from flats. If you are doing longer big mile rides, I added end bars to give me more options to change hand positions, I can't imagine riding without them now. I did a lot of miles with the original tires (I believe they were 36 or 38's), and currently have 32's on the bike...all have been just fine. If the trail is wet and soggy, the bigger tire is a bit better, but it would be hard going regardless. Fortunately, the majority of the trail drains and dries pretty quickly after most rains

Have fun!

I live in AR and have ridden both trails. The AR River Trail is asphalt paved and any bike will do.

i rode the katy trail and found water is in short supply. if you can carry extra bottles do so and people are very nice to stop and chat with or give out help if needed.

Great little B&B. Very clean and comfortable with everything we needed and wanted during our one-night stay. Rocheport is a great little town to stop and play in. Would highly suggest allowing yourself some time in Rocheport!

Great little B&B. Very clean and comfortable with everything we needed and wanted during our one-night stay. Rocheport is a great little town to stop and play in. Would highly suggest allowing yourself some time in Rocheport!

Chose not to stay at the Globe Hotel after walking in and being overwhelmed by the smell of cats. I was a bit worried about the cleanliness too. Additionally, there wasn't much going on in this town.

Chose not to stay at the Globe Hotel after walking in and being overwhelmed by the smell of cats. I was a bit worried about the cleanliness too. Additionally, there wasn't much going on in this town.

My friend an I are making plans to ride the Katy Trail west to east. We plan to take the train from Chicago to Kansas City. Are there shuttle services from KC to Clinton?

Why not just hop of the train in Sedalia and hit the trail without the bother of KC and how to back track from there to the Katy?

I needto know how toget to the kate trail from highway z in wentzville on the southside of highway 70 sany help would be geat so

type of mape would be great

you can take Z south through new melle to a left on F. follow to 94. turn right. takes you to defiance. parking along the trail.



can also take Z south through new melle to femme osage ridge road (possibly a back road). turn left. follow to T. turn left. follow to 94. turn left. follow to jackson street in augusta. turn right. should be signs to get you to the trail.



microsoft streets and trips gives the following from new melle. (didn't know exactly where you live).



to augusta:

south on F to a right on SCHLUERBURG road. right on 94. left on JACKSON street. left on WALNUT street.

approximately 14 miles.



to defiance:

south on D / DD to right (straight) onto 94. takes you to defiance.

total drive aproximately 17 miles.



hope this helps. have fun, happy bikin. be safe.

And here's a map that will help you: interactive Katy Trail map. Zoom in on the section of trail that you want to visit, and you cam move the map around to find your way home.

Old guy planning a leisurely 5 day ride from Clinton to Augusta in April. Does it make any difference when I start? Sunday Morning or Monday morning?

Clinton/Sedalia/Boonville/No Jefferson/McKittrick/Augusta



Thanks for any advice/suggestions.



Jim

If you start on Monday and spend the night in Augusta on Friday, the B&Bs typically have a higher weekend rate. Starting on Sunday, you would avoid that. Also, be sure to check because some restaurants are closed on Tuesdays along the trail (Dotty's in Hartsburg that I recall for one), and some shops be closed for the season still yet.

I think it's April 1st that the DNR turns the water back on at the trailheads so equiped, but would be worth double checking so you know your water availability.

Have fun!

On the Clinton to Sedalia leg, you could have horses to deal with as this is the only part of this trail that does so. Bicyclist's are suppposed(and really should) to yield to horses, and I would think that more horseriders may be out there on the weekend. However, I have not been down there that much, so I do not know how big of deal this is.

I have been on that stretch on the weekends and horses weren't a big deal at all. And at any rate, they have a right to the trail, too.

Clinton/Sedalia/Boonville/No Jefferson/McKittrick/Augusta



I would start on Monday. If you start on Sunday, the Boonville to No Jefferson stretch would be on Tuesday and Dotty's in Hartsburg is closed on Tuesdays. Your options for lunch would be quite limited.

Thanks for all of the comments so far. Anymore would be appreciated.

Jim