Katy Trail Forum

My husband and I are riding from Hermann to Jeff City, then Jeff City to Rocheport, then Rocheport to Sedalia and had Amtrak tickets for the 5pm train back to Hermann where I have a house rented for 3 days. Amtrak just cancelled the 5pm train. Any suggestions for getting back to our truck in Hermann with 2 bikes? I don't want to stay the night in Sedalia.

Also, is the trail still closed west of Portland?

Just booked the shuttle with Todd. We're set.

Still curious about the trail closure at Portland and the detour.

Search.

There are several posts on this forum.

Kristin, wish this forum allowed images. Take Schmid Way off the trail (gravel) to hwy 94. Go East 3/4 mile cross bridge and immediately turn left onto 476 (gravel I think) which crosses the Katy trail in about 25 yards. Look at these instructions with google maps and it will be obvious to you. Have a good trip!

I did this detour today. No issues, didn't even see any traffic on 94. I talked to a couple riders who dragged their bikes through the creek to go around the closure. Sounded like a pain and I don't mind riding on the road. Still curious why it's taking so long for the parks department to clear this up!

Bathroom has been closed for "cleaning" for at least two weeks :/

I met this man today; he's biking from Pennsylvania to California!
https://peachbaskets.net/peach-baskets

He said he's camping in Jeff City tonight (Thursday). If you see someone riding west with a basketball strapped to his bike, say hi! :)

Any thoughts on hiking through the closure and fording salt creek? Thanks

If there hasn't been any heavy rain there you shouldn't have any problem. I walked mike bike thru there last weekend.

Thanks!

We spent one night on 8/31/20 and had a wonderful time. Kathy is an amazing hostess at her beautiful B&B, and her breakfast was amazing! We definitely recommend the Lindenhof and will return.

Is there still no Verizon Service and no one to answer phones at the front desk? Phones in the rooms?

Are there any chicken nuggets available on the trail?

Yes there are, but catching them may prove difficult as they are extremely fffaaaasssstttt!!!! Meep Meep.

Sorry, could not resist.

Are you allowed to use gas cooker at the Fair Grounds, plans are to start in Clinton and
ride back to St. Charles in Oct........


Fred

Is overnight parking allowed at the Matson Trailhead Lot?

I am planning to bike the Katy Trail next year, what is the preferred direction, East to West or West to East? Thanks.

West to East usually...it is a little more downhill and usually results in a better tailwind for the majority of the trip.

I've ridden both directions 4 times and concur with Mark that west to east is best. One other advantage is that many businesses on the trail are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. However there are plenty of open places in Sedalia and Boonville. So if you start from Clinton on a Monday morning, it isn't an issue especially if you stay in both towns. Even if you go straight to Boonville, that mitigates the potential problem.

However there is one disadvantage of going that direction. If you get on the trail early, the sun can be in your eyes. Make sure that you have good sunglasses.

what is the trail etiquette for when you meet a fellow traveler going the same direction. Should you just say hi and pass by, or is it Ok to ride along together and converse?

For me a lot depends on if I or the other rider is in a hurry. I at least say "Hi' or "On your left" when passing. Often I will slow down and talk some. Of course if someone is wearing headphone or ear buds, I figure that they don't want to talk.

Always announce your presence when approaching from behind as Jerry said.

Other than that, am not aware of special etiquette for bike trails. Wouldn't you do the same as you do anywhere else? If you are the friendly type.....speak, make a comment about the weather, the trail, the deer you just saw a few minutes ago. Be friendly if that's your thing.

It is okay to ride along together as long as they want your company. It's not okay if you're being a pest. It's usually not difficult to find out if someone wants riding company or not.

We’re road tripping back home to MO and want to ride the Katy Trail in mid-October. Because we may make several stops (and rides) between NYC and KC, I am considering bringing my everyday bike (2020 S-Works Roubaix) but subbing 32mm tires for the standard 28’s. We plan to break the Katy trip into 3 days W->E @ 80 miles per day.

Any thoughts as to the suitability of a Roubaix to the Katy Trail?

I ran knobby 28s on my steel road bike with no problems and I am a 240+ lbs rider also carrying a cantilevered seat bag. No flat tires the entire trip and just remember to keep a straight line when you sink into any looser gravel patches. There are usually just a couple of gravel stretches where a repaired trail area just hasn't had time to compact down yet. Also be prepared at the trail to concrete bridge transitions where sometimes a one or two inch lip has eroded down...those can do more damage to road bike tires than any thorn or sharp rock. Your nice road bike will need a good cleaning once you finish the trip, but it is well worth it!

I wouldn't bother with changing tires just for the Katy. For all of your several stops and rides...your call. 28's are fine. Stay in the hard packed track and you'll be ok. There is often loose chat, but if you are prone to not paying attention, those can be problematic with any tire. As Mark said and as you probably know if your everyday bike is a street bike, transitions/bridge approaches may need to be taken lightly.

Thank you both for the responses! Really looking forward to finally riding the Katy Trail.

Depending on your weigh, 28s or 32s should be fine. I usually ride on 32s at 70 psi. I weigh around 215 lbs.

To be honest, I'd rather not ride such a nice bike as the Roubaix on the Katy Trail. If it's dry, that crushed limestone dust can get everywhere. If it's wet, the dust can stick everywhere.

I have fenders on my old steel touring bike, my gravel bike, and an aluminum tandem that I use for the Katy trail. After rides on the Katy, my bike and body are much cleaner than those without fenders especially if wet. I seldom take my nice Giant Defy Advance on the Katy except for short stretches to avoid busy roads.

Which is the preferred direction fire biking the Katy Trail, East to West or West to East? Thanks, Greg

Planning to try to access the winery via the path; anyone have any info on its recent condition?

Don’t know the conditions of the path but if there are problems you can always take the road through town to get there.

Rode through yesterday, and the Katy is fine in that area. I didn’t walk up to the winery from the trail, but I don’t foresee any issues with that.

We haven't tried the path in several years, but if you haven't taken it before, it is a HIKE. If there is any recent rain, it tends to be quite washed out and slick. I highly suggest taking the road through town from the TH. We have done this several times and have had no issues.

Stayed at Bluffton Barn last week on a Sedalia to STL ride. Doug was a very friendly and generous host. Dinner and breakfast were both great. Looking forward to visiting with my family next time.

I had the pleasure of staying at the barn and spending time with Doug, his buddy BJ, and his fine dogs Freckles and Spot. The Barn will not be confused with a Four Seasons, but it is clean and comfortable. The reason to stay, though, is spending time with Doug and his posse, laughing and telling stories, and eating his fine cooking. A stay here is great way to enhance in your Katy Trail experience.

My wife and I are planning a trip to ride The Katy Trail between Rocheport and Rhineland the third week of September. We will park at Jefferson City, ride to Rocheport and spend the night, then back to Jefferson City and spend the night, then ride to Rhineland and spend the night, then back to Jefferson City. What are the trail conditions in this area and lodging suggestions? Thanks for the help.

The trail conditions should be fine in both of these sections. There was some flood damage along the river last year, but that has been repaired (although there might be some soft spots in places).

As for lodging, both Rocheport and Rhineland have several nice options. I recommend checking for reviews from other riders on this website: click on Towns and Services, and then see the map with lodging options in each town. Click on options to see the comments. You may have specific things that you are looking for (nice beds, good breakfast, friendly hosts) that match others' experiences.

My wife and I are looking to stay one night in the Rocheport/Boonville/Columbia area and would like to ride between 20 and 30 miles both days were are in the area. Recommendations for where to ride would be appreciated. Is the trail between Rocheport and Boonville closed? Thank you!

I would recommend a ride from Columbia downtown or Mcbaine to Rocheport or Boonville. That stretch of the trail is well maintained, and provides scenic river views.

The trail is still closed between Boonville and Rocheport, but a detour on a stretch of highway will get you around it. Some bikers have opted to just carry their bike across the Salt Creek.

If you're looking for a place to stay, the Blufftop Bungalow in Rocheport is a beautiful new construction, with Meriwether Cafe just steps away. Boonville's historic Hotel Frederick is another option, right off the trail with shopping and dining close by.

Thank you Alex!

Should you find yourself in Sedalia, we are less than a mile from the trail and have a restaurant and lounge on property. If staying the night be sure to mention you are riding the Katy Trail to receive a 20% discount.
Safe Travels!
Laura Erganian, GM

A group of friends and I are touring the Katy Trail over seven days. Looking for dining spots along the trail. We prefer locally owner places. I am curious how COVID-19 restrictions are affecting restaurants. Our tour begins in Clinton and ends in St. Charles. Our overnights will be Sedalia, Booneville, Columbia, Jefferson City, Hermann, and Augusta. We are particularly interested in lunch spots between these towns.

Stop at Meriwether in Rocheport. We would LOVE to feed you.

Boonville's Maggie's Bar and Grill is a locally owned spot on Main Street. It's a local favorite, and the owner consistently gives back to the community. Their burgers are the best in town, and the beer is always cold! Another local spot in Boonville is the Palace Greek Restaurant.

Our restaurants are back open in Windsor. Coming from Clinton go right at the trailhead just 5 blocks to most.

If lunch happens to work out while rolling through Mokane, the Mokane Bar & Grill is open and has great burgers and fries. We were there yesterday and the four of us all liked what we ordered and said we would love to go back. Mokane is between Jeff City and Hermann. It is up the main street not far off the trail on the left side, and take time to visit the little jail that will be on your right. Fun photo op spot and interesting!
Have a great time!

My sense is that COVID is not affecting the rural areas of Missouri much. On Aug 22 I was in Portland and ate at the Holzhauser's Bar and Grill and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. No masks, no tables closed, no acknowledgement of a pandemic. Friendly service and good bar food. This is only one data point, but I don't imagine you will have trouble finding food. That said, always have an extra granola bar or similar in your pocket just in case.

Our Ivory Grille Restaurant is locally owned and less than a mile from the trail. We also have our Oak Room Lounge on property. The food and drinks are the best around! 317 S Ohio Sedalia, MO 65301. They are open Mon-Sat 430-9pm. Feel free to use our bike washing station in the parking lot should you need it. We can also store your bikes for you while you eat.
We hope you all have a safe trip!
Laura Erganian, GM

A group of 8 of us want to take a first time ride of two days about 50 miles round trip. We're thinking of Rocheport to Sedalia, spending the night in Sedalia at the Hotel Bothwell. What, please, is the Trail like there? Any thoughts or advice will be appreciated. Thank you. Ned

A couple of thoughts. First while the Katy is, for the most part, fairly flat there are a few long grades and they are all on the section between Rocheport and Sedalia. They are not killer hills by any means but if you’re not used to gearing up they can be less than enjoyable. Second, I personally don’t find that section of the trail all that interesting since it’s mostly farmland but a lot of people would disagree. I think the section between Rocheport and Hartsburg or Jefferson City has a lot more variety.

As always, good advice. There is also a detour west of Rocheport that you’ll have to maneuver around. It is not a bad ride, but Rocheport East does have more points of interest/variety.

Thanks to you both. We'll likely take your advice and go east from Rocheport. Ned

If you need any assistance in booking a room let us know. Don't forget to mention you are riding the trail so you can take advantage of our Katy Trail discount of 20%. We also have a bike repair kit and bike washing station available for use as well. We do have guest laundry, a lounge and a restaurant as well.
We hope you enjoy your trip!
Laura Erganian, GM

My wife and I are planning on a Labor Day ride (Sat/Sun) from Herman to JC and then to Rochport. We wanted to see if anyone had any current info on the trail conditions for this leg.
I noted there is a detour between Rocheport and Boonville, but that is our October leg and we are hoping it may be repaired. The detour info is excellent.
Thanks for any feedback.

Rode through there yesterday and it was fine! There are some signs up that certain sections are closed Mon-Thurs 7-4 for work, but that won’t affect you all on the weekend. There were a few spots with deeper sand and gravel to look out for if you’re on a road bike with skinny tires, but overall no issues and a nice section of the trail.

I'm wondering if anyone has taken the gravel road 442 through the Dale Conservation Area as an option to US40 detour between Booneville and Rocheport. If so, what is the road surface/condition like? https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30955310

I am familiar with a couple of the roads next to 442, and the gravel is larger than the "chat" gravel on the Katy. I am likely heading that way on Saturday and will drive it to see if it's passable. Since it goes up the river bluffs, there are frequent washouts after rains, which makes it more difficult. I will try to post back here on Sunday.

Thanks BikerBoy. I will be riding a gravel bike with 37mm tires

Susan, I hope you see this post. I may repeat it in its own thread.

I drove around the Salt Creek bridge detour today. First, the bridge and surrounding area is exactly as it was the first of May -- levee repaired but no work on fixing the bridge yet.

I drove the gravel road detour you listed on the link above. I think this would be a very difficult ride for most people. These are poorly maintained country roads. They were muddy, hilly and with limited view. The detour listed above adds about 4.5 miles and to me is no safer than riding Hwy 40.

However, I think I found a good compromise: If going East, continue on the Katy past the "barricade" at Pearson (where Katy intersects CR 467, next to the "Peppermill" silo. Ride exactly 3 miles and that will put you under the Hwy 40 bridge and at the site of the washout. Walk your bike up the small levee and go just past the bridge. Turn right, walk down the levee and onto the gravel service road. Then turn right on the shoulder of Hwy 40 and go up the bridge. Ride exactly 1.5 miles until you get to CR 440. Turn right. This road is still a little rough, but you will only be on it for 1.45 miles. Then turn right onto US 240, which does not have a lot of traffic. Ride 240 down to the Katy, about 2/3 mile.

The reason I like this route better is that it keeps you off of Hwy 40 more (about 1.25 miles less).

When riding Hwy 40, I would strongly suggest that the rider with the brightest colored shirt should be the last in line. Note that there is a shoulder, but it has rumble strips, so that makes it almost useless. You may consider walking your bikes up the Hwy 40 bridge or even the whole way, so you could bail if some driver is not paying attention. The walk on 40 should take about 30 minutes, whereas riding would be less than 10 minutes.

Thanks BikerBoy for the detailed information. I did not get a chance to look at the site until today. I will plot out your suggested route and let you know if I have any more questions.
Safe riding. Susan

Here is a map of BikerBoy's alternate route as described above:

https://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/3184192711

Thanks for the map Ray. It agrees with what I had plotted out from BikerBoy's description and it's great to get confirmation! I'll be biking the route on June 22nd and will update after that. Appreciate all the input from you and BikerBoy.

Is there still a detour from Boonville to Rocheport. Riding tomorrow, any tips??

Going Boonville to Rocheport.... Actually got to the detour sign which makes you go right a few hundred feet to Hwy 40. Then left on Hwy 40 up a bridge overlooking the washed out bridge. I went about 200 ft up the Hwy 40 bridge and looked down and saw below just a small stream near the washout. I went back down the Hwy 40 bridge, took a left and another immediate left onto a farm access road to the washed out bridge area. I walked my bike down a short embankment to the small 2 inch high stream. Got a bit muddy going down the short embankment because it was raining that morning (I would suggest taking your shoes off), but washed shoes and tires in the stream. Came out right on the trail, put my shoes back on and went on my way. The detour route is about 4.5 miles with lots of elevation I was told. I cut that 4.5 miles detour out by going by way of the stream. I was ecstatic! Probably not for the casual rider, more for the adventurous rider not afraid to go unconventional.

Hi everyone,

I'm planning on doing a 4-day, 3-night trip in a couple weeks. Trying to figure out where to start/stop. Would love to hear your thoughts and advice.

Day 1: Coming from KC, park at a trailhead, ride 30ish miles, camp
Day 2: 30ish more miles, camp
Day 3:Turn around and retrace my tracks, camp at Day 1's campsite
Day 4: Bike back to my truck, head home

I'll be tent camping, and would prefer shower facilities at least one night. Want to make stops fairly close to convenience store/restuarant that is taking covid seriously. I saw a post earlier that mentioned Cooper's Landing was a mixed bag. That was my initial thought for nights 1&3, but I'm re-thinking that plan now. Finally, I'd prefer to start no further east than Booneville, if possible.

Thank you so much in advance for your words of wisdom, I've enjoyed reading all of the great advice on this forum. Cheers!

Park at train station in Sedalia. Ride to Katy Round House (Franklin) and camp. Ride to Tebbetts (after lunch in Jeff City) and stay at hostel (pay what they ask, and a little extra). Ride to Hermann for lunch. Ride to Washington, and take the Amtrak train back to Sedalia. Buy your ticket (Including bike ticket) on line early, so you have it, and so you know What time you have to be in Washington. Your welcome.

Great place for a family reunion when the fam likes to cycle. The Clark St. Lodge was large and comfortable for all (6 total) while the upstairs Loft was good for the kids with a kid.

It's 2 blocks from the Katy Trail which is what we really what we came for and had a great time riding, eating, and yaking away. Rocheport is beautiful small town with a bike shop and cafe right on the trail. We'd like to do the trip again in the Fall when the trees are at max color....and it's not 93F.