Katy Trail Forum

Looking for a good restaurant in/near Augusta to celebrate our anniversary.

Looking for a good restaurant in/near Augusta to celebrate our anniversary.

I ate lunch at Ashley's Rose Restaurant in Augusta back in 2000 while on a solo bike ride. It was very nice. Hopefully some one else with more recent experience will chime in! Happy Anniversary!

I ate lunch at Ashley's Rose Restaurant in Augusta back in 2000 while on a solo bike ride. It was very nice. Hopefully some one else with more recent experience will chime in! Happy Anniversary!

We ate at Ashley Rose last week and it was fabulous. Warning: this is the only restaurant open on weekdays in Augusta and it closes at 7:00pm. We almost went hungry.

We ate at Ashley Rose last week and it was fabulous. Warning: this is the only restaurant open on weekdays in Augusta and it closes at 7:00pm. We almost went hungry.

Hey can anyone tell me how much the shuttle costs if you take it from St. Charles to Clinton? Do you recommend the shuttle? I'm 21 and in decent shape, how long should I allow for the trip?

We stayed with Eldon and Maggie for a night on our trip and had a great time at the Meyers Hilltop. The ride up the driveway was a great workout too! Need to do it a few times AFTER breakfast tho! Be sure to try Maggie's wonderful Oatmeal Pancakes!



Being from Fort Lauderdale, we are used to drivers trying to kill us but I would NOT want to cross the bridge into Hermann without a BIG group of cyclist or a van behind. So: Eldon and Maggie graciously offered to drive us to town. It is a nice town with good stores, a bakery, wineries, and restaurants. We ate at the Stone Hill Winery, wayyy up the hill. After tasting, we bought some very nice wines then headed to the restaurant. While the service was good, the food was nothing special.

We stayed with Eldon and Maggie for a night on our trip and had a great time at the Meyers Hilltop. The ride up the driveway was a great workout too! Need to do it a few times AFTER breakfast tho! Be sure to try Maggie's wonderful Oatmeal Pancakes!



Being from Fort Lauderdale, we are used to drivers trying to kill us but I would NOT want to cross the bridge into Hermann without a BIG group of cyclist or a van behind. So: Eldon and Maggie graciously offered to drive us to town. It is a nice town with good stores, a bakery, wineries, and restaurants. We ate at the Stone Hill Winery, wayyy up the hill. After tasting, we bought some very nice wines then headed to the restaurant. While the service was good, the food was nothing special.

Maggie and Eldon are the best. Gracious hosts, very accommodating.

Maggie and Eldon are the best. Gracious hosts, very accommodating.

I see in all of the missives a wider array of people doing the KATY. I am so tickled as I believe that the KATY, being a young trail, is starting to experience its full potential. When I read of folks from Colorado going to the KATY, it speaks volumes to me. Just in three years it appears that the "cottage industries" supporting the KATY are becoming more in numbers, and more "Ma & Pa" type facilities which are in my opinion more "homey". The representative for the trail who is part of the MO DNR confirms that right of way acquisitions in order for the KATY to go to the Kansas border are ongoing, and the ultimate goal of the KATY. The "Cowboy RailTrail" in Nebraska when completed will reputedly be then the longest railtrail in the country, so here's hoping that when completed at the Kansas border the KATY remain, as it is now, the longest RailTrail in the land. Enjoy the voyage folks cause we're all on the same bus and no one gets out alive so keep on experiencing!!! Regards Mark, Bill, & Rich Dalton all formerly of Columbia, MO.

My wife and I just wanted to give credit to some unsung heroes. We want to tell the webmaster and all those responsible for the BikeKatyTrail.com website how much we appreciated the site and how helpful it was in planning our trip.

THANKS!!!!

Thanks for the compliment Doug! I'm glad to hear that BikeKatyTrail has been helpful to you. And I appreciate you "giving back" by sharing some of your insights and experiences here in the comments section - now other website visitors can benefit from your experience.

I need directions to the Comfort Inn in Boonville from the Katy Trail. Thanks.

I need directions to the Comfort Inn in Boonville from the Katy Trail. Thanks.

The Comfort Inn is about a mile east of the Katy...just north of I-70 and a few miles south of Booneville.



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!

The Comfort Inn is about a mile east of the Katy...just north of I-70 and a few miles south of Booneville.



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!

I see lots of info on what to bring and where to stay/eat. Anybody have any info on particularly scenic or interesting segments of the tail between St. Charles and Hermann? We especially enjoy trees , scenic overlooks, historic sites...? Any place we shouldn't miss?

If you're looking for trees, probably the most heavily wooded section of the trail between St Charles & Hermann is just east of the Weldon Spring trailhead. Nice views of the river too, and a nature walk trail at mile 53.5.

There are no scenic overlooks - where there are bluffs along the Katy Trail, the trail runs along the *bottom* of the bluff. But if you want a nice view from high up, ride up and across the Page Avenue Bridge at mile 42.8 in St Charles. Nice bridge, great river view.

For historic sites, here's a general list of "points of interest". Within this list you'll find historic sites and similar places.

Between Matson and Augusta is the new Klondike Park. Take a hike up the hill behind the warden office for a wonderful view of the MO River and the river valley. (The hill will take some effort).

For the best view we saw on the entire 200 mile trip, be sure to hit the A Frame Wine Garden at the top of the bluffs at Les Bourgeois Winery! It is a somewhat steep hike from the Katy Trail just east of Rocheport. It is marked and even has a bike rack. The view of the Missouri was AMAZING and the food great! It is more like a picnic place so you could even take your own food and get some of their wines but their "picnic for two " at $7 was a bargain.

As I recall there is sign posted at the A-frame stating that food and drink brought in is NOT allowed.....so I wouldn't count on bringing your picnic basket!



It is a very beautiful view from the A-frame and from the restaurant. And very good food at the restaurant....you just can't beat the seafood pasta for lunch at around 10 bucks.



We enjoy looking waaaayyyyy to the west from the deck at the A-frame to the water tower at Booneville....it's a good vantage point to see how far you've just ridden.



From your posts, you had a good ride....thanks for sharing your insight with the rest of us....and come back sometime.....that view is even better in the Fall!



See ya on the trail!

We had a GREAT ride!

Before I posted about taking your own food I called the A Frame and asked if it was OK to post what I did. They were fine with me saying you could bring food just not your own drinks.

My wife and I are planning a trip to Sedalia to ride the trail for the day. I hear that the downtown area is a good starting point for access to the trail. Would anyone have a suggestion on which direction to take out of Sedalia? I also hear that there are some decent restaurants in Sedalia near the trail - any thoughts?

My wife and I are planning a trip to Sedalia to ride the trail for the day. I hear that the downtown area is a good starting point for access to the trail. Would anyone have a suggestion on which direction to take out of Sedalia? I also hear that there are some decent restaurants in Sedalia near the trail - any thoughts?

We were in Sedalia last weekend. The trail between Sedalia and Clinton is very straight and consistently adjacent to farms. The trail east of Sedalia has slightly more variety, so I would recommend you go that direction. Have fun!

We were in Sedalia last weekend. The trail between Sedalia and Clinton is very straight and consistently adjacent to farms. The trail east of Sedalia has slightly more variety, so I would recommend you go that direction. Have fun!

We rode the trail Memorial Day weekend on our tandem. We camped at Windsor's Farrington Park (great managers...extremely nice and helpful!)@ $5 a night. We rode from Windsor to Clinton and back one day...Windsor to Sedalia and back the next. The honeysuckle smelled great. The first day, a thunderstorm came up at the end of our ride. Sort of scary. The two Sedalia trailheads are not in the downtown by the courthouse, and it was too late to catch any businesses open for us so we just ate our pb sandwiches and apples and oj, water and made the return trip. We didn't see any restaurants near the trail except maybe a Hardees.

We rode the trail Memorial Day weekend on our tandem. We camped at Windsor's Farrington Park (great managers...extremely nice and helpful!)@ $5 a night. We rode from Windsor to Clinton and back one day...Windsor to Sedalia and back the next. The honeysuckle smelled great. The first day, a thunderstorm came up at the end of our ride. Sort of scary. The two Sedalia trailheads are not in the downtown by the courthouse, and it was too late to catch any businesses open for us so we just ate our pb sandwiches and apples and oj, water and made the return trip. We didn't see any restaurants near the trail except maybe a Hardees.

Correction...I had Clinton and Sedalia mixed up. I don't know if Sedalia even has a courthouse!! Yeah, that Hardees was in Sedalia, on 50 I think.

Correction...I had Clinton and Sedalia mixed up. I don't know if Sedalia even has a courthouse!! Yeah, that Hardees was in Sedalia, on 50 I think.

We just got back from riding the whole trail from Clinton to St Charles and my favorite part was from Sedalia to Boonville. It's very wooded and there is actually some downhill between Pilot Grove and Boonville! We averaged 10.5 mph for most of the trip, but hit 16-17 mph in that section. Like some others who posted replies, we loved Pauline at Polly's Tea House in Pilot Grove. While we were eating lunch, several of her friends came for lunch and they were just lovely--all ladies and very friendly.

We just got back from riding the whole trail from Clinton to St Charles and my favorite part was from Sedalia to Boonville. It's very wooded and there is actually some downhill between Pilot Grove and Boonville! We averaged 10.5 mph for most of the trip, but hit 16-17 mph in that section. Like some others who posted replies, we loved Pauline at Polly's Tea House in Pilot Grove. While we were eating lunch, several of her friends came for lunch and they were just lovely--all ladies and very friendly.

We were biking the trail and ventured into Downtown Sedalia. There is a really good place called the Ivy Cottage Tearoom. Cute decor and the food is great. There is patio seating and a bike rack available if you want to eat inside. I don't think they are open in the evening but definately worth a stop if you are there for lunch or a morning break.

We were biking the trail and ventured into Downtown Sedalia. There is a really good place called the Ivy Cottage Tearoom. Cute decor and the food is great. There is patio seating and a bike rack available if you want to eat inside. I don't think they are open in the evening but definately worth a stop if you are there for lunch or a morning break.

We had a good dinner at DelAmici's, in the Hotel Bothwell, right on the courthouse squire. They are not open on Sundays.

We had a good dinner at DelAmici's, in the Hotel Bothwell, right on the courthouse squire. They are not open on Sundays.

We stayed at Cliff Manor in Jefferson City. We picked us up at the N. Jeff trailhead very shortly after we called and let him know we were there. We went with the "deluxe katy trail" package which includes dinner and also a packed lunch for the next day. Thom is a wonderful cook, we had a 4 course dinner, best dinner for me of our trip. 2 rooms with 2-person jucuzzi tubs, very relaxing after a day on the trail. Thom even washed our tandem off for us and filled our water bottles for the next day!!! The packed lunch was very tasty: sandwhich on a sub type roll, chips, canned drink, and either an apple or an orange.



While with this stay was the most expensive of our trip, when you consider what you are getting, it is worth it if you want a little pampering with the trailhead pickup/ bike wash/ dinner/ room w/ jucuzzi tub / wonderful breakfast / lunch for the next day / etc...



We'll definetely stay at Cliff Manor again!

We stayed at Cliff Manor in Jefferson City. We picked us up at the N. Jeff trailhead very shortly after we called and let him know we were there. We went with the "deluxe katy trail" package which includes dinner and also a packed lunch for the next day. Thom is a wonderful cook, we had a 4 course dinner, best dinner for me of our trip. 2 rooms with 2-person jucuzzi tubs, very relaxing after a day on the trail. Thom even washed our tandem off for us and filled our water bottles for the next day!!! The packed lunch was very tasty: sandwhich on a sub type roll, chips, canned drink, and either an apple or an orange.



While with this stay was the most expensive of our trip, when you consider what you are getting, it is worth it if you want a little pampering with the trailhead pickup/ bike wash/ dinner/ room w/ jucuzzi tub / wonderful breakfast / lunch for the next day / etc...



We'll definetely stay at Cliff Manor again!

Very nice B&B. This B&B was the best decorated B&B we stayed at on our trip. Breakfast was very good. Nice back yard area to sit and chat with other guests. My wife and I spent our evening chatting with 2 couples that were in their 60's riding the Katy Trail. Down/feather pillows and feather topped bed were very comfortable. There is a guest refrigerator where you can freeze your water bottles for the next day (fill them up 1/2 way and freeze them, then top it off w/ water the next day). Felt more like an "inn" rather than a staying in someone's house with 10 rooms and large upstairs commons area. We would recommend this to anyone and would stay their again ourselves.

Very nice B&B. This B&B was the best decorated B&B we stayed at on our trip. Breakfast was very good. Nice back yard area to sit and chat with other guests. My wife and I spent our evening chatting with 2 couples that were in their 60's riding the Katy Trail. Down/feather pillows and feather topped bed were very comfortable. There is a guest refrigerator where you can freeze your water bottles for the next day (fill them up 1/2 way and freeze them, then top it off w/ water the next day). Felt more like an "inn" rather than a staying in someone's house with 10 rooms and large upstairs commons area. We would recommend this to anyone and would stay their again ourselves.

Kim and Mark were both very friendly. We got the Katy Trail Package which includes pickup at the train station and also a packed snack for the next day's ride. My wife's comments were "best snack ever!!!". In our snack bags we each got cheese, crackers, fruit (orange or an apple), small trail mix, and a energy type bar. Kim's breakfast was wonderful and we defientely will stay there again on our next trip through Sedalia.

Kim and Mark were both very friendly. We got the Katy Trail Package which includes pickup at the train station and also a packed snack for the next day's ride. My wife's comments were "best snack ever!!!". In our snack bags we each got cheese, crackers, fruit (orange or an apple), small trail mix, and a energy type bar. Kim's breakfast was wonderful and we defientely will stay there again on our next trip through Sedalia.

My husband & I would like to try a trail ride this fall. Any suggestions on length of ride,sections of trail to ride with hotel,food suggestions or hints would be appreciated.

Also, do you find it better to do 1 way or round trip rides?

My b/f and I went from Sedalia to St. Charles in 6 days. We like to take our time and enjoyed our ride. The best section was from Rocheport to Jefferson City. We stopped in to have lunch at Dotty's Cafe in Huntsdale (excellant). Capital Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City sent a shuttle to pick us up at N. Jefferson T/H. They were prompt and accomodating. In the morning the front desk asked us to at least give them a 15 minute heads up when we would be ready to head back to the T/H. We loaded up and went from Jefferson City to Mckittrick.

The length that you can ride depends on you! The distance I ride is much longer what others like to ride.....and I'm sure that some riders wouldn't bother loading the bike to ride such a short distance! Consider how often you ride......how far you ride when you do.....thats probably a good distance for you to ride on the Katy!



This site is a very good tool to help you determine where to go and what to see and do. Only you know what you like! The Mileage Chart is very easy to use and can help you determine distances between trailheads, rest stops and places to eat.



All that aside.....and I know we all differ in opinion.....I am partial to the Rocheport area. It is very easily accessable from I-70, has a very nice bike shop with a very friendly owner and staff, has several nice places to eat (the view from the winery is great as well as the food!), has some very nice B & B's, and the scenery is some of Missouri's best from open fields, wooded hills, limestone bluffs, to the mighty Missouri River.



See ya on the trail!

From St. Charles to Clinton, May 29-June 4, 2005

1) It’s fun to adventure from east to west as Lewis and Clark did when they headed out; however, I recommend if you’re doing the whole trail that you start in Clinton. The stretch between Clinton and Sedalia is the straightest and has the least varied scenery, so I think it’s better to do that section when you’re fresh and the trail itself is novel.

2) If you plan to picnic, buy your lunch supplies at the first store you see, maybe even before you leave the town where you spent the night. The KATY goes through very rural countryside, and stores are limited. Towns are miniscule, many virtually abandoned after the floods of ’93 and ’95.

3) If you have a cell phone, definitely bring it. Although Cingular makes it almost impossible for a Verizon user to make calls in some parts of the trail, generally our cell phone was a tremendous convenience in calling ahead to reserve B & Bs.

4) The trail is level and easy to ride. The heat makes the biggest challenge, seconded by wind. Get up early and get started before that midwestern climate starts beating on you too much.

All of the replies add up to good suggestions and thus the only thing I can add is that all along the trail although there are many listed places of business for eating and lodging, but staffing can at some towns be "iffy". Rocheport is absolutely wonderful....just don't go through there on Monday's expecting to eat or have service at the Bicycle shop...unless things have changed since the Dalton Boys ride of '02. I would bypass Coopers Landing, go just a little bit further to Wilton and camp there. One thread that I totally agree with is if you are going self-contained then do shop for food at grocery stores when you get the chance as most of the small towns don't even have a convenience store. I personally like the "out there" nature of the KATY...just be prepared when it comes to re- provisioning, lodging, etc. My brothers and I were totally self-contained so when it rained we hoveled under a bridge. KATY Roundhouse Campground is too good for words. Jefferson City (Capital of Missouri), has a couple of hotels/motels which if you are going to get a room, will come get you on the KATY (bridge across Missouri River on Bike so-o-o-o not recommended), take you back, and usually include ammenities just by virtue of you being a KATY cyclist/hiker. Those ammenities as I recall hink) an included continental breakfast, and coupons for discounts at restaurants, and even tickets to movies. Enjoy the Voyage Mark of the Dalton Boys

Yes.....a few years have past since the Dalton Boys rode through. Air yer tires up and come on back....we're still have'n fun up here!

The Trailside Cafe and Bike Shop is under new ownership....this being his second season.

They are open everyday.....hours and services at http://www.trailsidecafebike.com/

Thanks, Marty and Joe. We really enjoyed reading your account. You may recall that we ran into you as we were riding from Clinton to St Charles. We had a great time too. I like your description of Doug's place. Here is our e-mail address; let us know if you're planning any more long-distance rides. smcg21@hotmail.com.

My wife and I just returned from our first trip on the Katy. We too wondered about a lot of the same things. We called and emailed a number people. Final Decision: to rider West to East for the winds and to start at Sedalia and go to St Charles (total 190 miles). Since it was our first trip without kids in YEARS we didn't mind spending some $$ so we stayed in great B&Bs the entire route. Itinerary: Sedalia (Bothwell) to New Franklin (Riverscene) 40 miles, to Rocheport (Yates House) 12 miles (a VERY short day but we wanted to spend some time in Rocheport), to Jefferson City (Hotel De Ville-no B&Bs) 44 miles, to McKittrick (Meyer's Hilltop Farm) 42 miles, to Augusta (The Red Brick Inn) 34 miles, then the last leg was 27 miles back to our car in St Charles. It was a wonderful trip!



I ride about 150 miles a week here at home but my wife is totally new to cycling and this was fine mileage for her (It did get a little harder in the rain as the rolling resistance goes up). We took our road bikes but with 700x32 Conti Top Touring tires, Spinskin liners, and Thorn Proof tubes and we had NO flats. We had all our stuff in just rear panniers since we were not camping. We both had a wonderful time, even with three days of rain. Victoria is ready to go again and that says a lot for the itinerary. All of the trail is an easy ride and the people were great!