3 Questions: Where to Start E to W trip; best time of year; Train back to St. Louis

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Bill from Colorado from SW Colorado on 10/9/2022 5:39:56 PM:

A small group of us are planning to do the Katy Trail and Rock Island Spur next year, east to west.

(1) Could we ride from the Arch to Machens or St. Charles? (We did the Great Allegheny Passage and it was a kick in the pants to start at the Point in Pittsburgh (where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers meet to form the Ohio River).

(2) Our schedules are flexible - we can go anytime from May through end of October. We plan on five or six days of riding. Are there any periods of time we should avoid? I remember visiting a friend in St. Louis in mid-August many years ago and it was very hot and humid. Probably want to avoid having to deal with the heat and humidity. Also want to avoid any particularly windy times.

(3) I see that you can catch a train in Sedalia. If we sent to the end of the Rock Island Spur and biked back to Sedalia, could we catch a train back to St. Louis? Or is the Shuttle option just easier?

madununibomer from op on 10/10/2022 8:28:54 AM:

october november best time .if your going to double back to sedailia might as well ride to kc catch train at union station.there is a 7 mile gap between greenwood and the trail its not bad if you are used to traffic.that rock island trail that goes up to the stadium is brand new [very nice ride]crane brewery is a few miles from the stadium next to the trail you can rie thru the staium parking lot and catch the brush creeck trailon the north side easy ride to union station just my two cents.ps make your reservations a couple of months ahead on amtrack they have a limit of 4 bikes.

Kevin from Wisconsin on 10/12/2022 9:21:31 AM:

Having completed a west to east Rock Island Spur to Kirkwood tour a couple weeks ago, I see no advantage to doing the tour east to west. Given typical winds (W->E) and the elevation profile, a W->E tour might be more..pleasant.

We took the train from Kirkwood to Lee's Summit. Lee's Summit to the Rock Island spur trailhead at Pleasant Hill is 12 miles. The first day is then 60 miles from Lee's Summit to Windsor (Fitzgerels is an excellent place to stay..near the trail and food and great accommodations).

That said, there isn't much to the RI Spur. The trail itself is well kept and in good condition, but it's a 45 mile+ ride with no towns or services to speak of. Chillicothe was a life-saver for us as it was the only stop with a cold drink(tiny convenience store in town).. we did it at 94 degrees..long day. If you do the RI Spur..take plenty of water and some food as you won't find much of anything along the trail.

As for time of year..check the US Climate Data website for temps throughout the season. Early in the year it can be wet(though conditions may be very good), during the summer it may be very warm, fall is drier with more moderate temps.

Barry from Houston (formerly St. Charles, MO) on 10/12/2022 7:16:54 PM:

COULD/CAN you ride from the arch to Machens TH? Technically speaking, yes. Should you? Nope.

The STL region is not really very bike friendly, especially for urban riding (which is what about 75% of this ride would be). For my money, too many risks with very little reward. Go and visit the arch then find a nice little hotel across the MO river in “downtown” St. Charles…ride east to the Machens on the KT, around and begin your trip.

As others have said, there’s a lot to be said for riding west to east. But some ignore this and ride east to west anyway…and they probably enjoy it at least as much. FYI…this direction will render the last big chunk of your ride less visually appealing, IMO. No cliffs, no river, very little life. But maybe you prefer this!

Best of luck.

madununibomer from op on 10/13/2022 6:15:15 AM:

this will be my third trip this year.this year i will be going from the arch to machenes ive gone east to west and west to east theres no difference matter whitch way tha trail is mostly tree covered anyway plus in the fall the wind is north or south.when riding in any city just make sure you have bright lights and a rear veiw mirror

madununibomer from op on 10/13/2022 6:18:34 AM:

i think kevin is talking about chillhowie u can camp there to if want.

BillE from Spencer,Iowa on 10/29/2022 10:23:33 PM:

I parked Warrensburg (registered car with online police dept form) bought Amtrak & bike pass to downtown St.Louis. stayed at hotel by Amtrak. Next morning road bike to Arch,road around downtown some, then Google mapped to Discovery Bridge. Google took me on very easy (15 miles?) street riding. Not any worse than other cities except maybe couple miles no shoulder. Very wealthy areas and coffee shops towards North, daytime city felt safe. The Discovery Bridge has sidewalk seperate.
On West end, i rode Katy to Windsor then Rock Island Trail to Leeton then Google Map to my car Warrensburg Amtrak Station, some of it is busy highway State Rt 13 with 18inch shoulder maybe 5 miles of the 20.

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