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Katy Trail 100+ Mile Bike Trip for out of towners! Tips?


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Rob from Narberth, PA on 3/21/2023 7:25:55 AM:
Hi, I'm looking to meet up in St. Louis, rent some road bikes and do 100+ or so miles on the katy trail over two days with some of my best buds. A couple of us have done many century rides and the katy trail looks like it would be awesome to do slowly and take in the sites! Has anyone done enough of the trail to offer some advice, perhaps potential start point to do 50 or so miles out and then come back?

Since we're all coming from different states, I was thinking we fly into St. Louis, Uber to ideally a bike rental place close to the trail, and go from there! Travel light and either camp or hit a hotel for a night and them come back, stopping 3-5 times each way for different sites.

Any advice or suggestions on what stretch to do, or how to pull it off smoothly would be appreciated, not married to flying into St. Louis, was just the first idea that came to me.

 
Bill in Houston from Houston on 3/21/2023 8:31:15 AM:
Feels like Bike Stop Cafe in St Charles is built for what you need.

 
Anonymous on 3/21/2023 9:16:43 AM:
If you're going to ride 50 or so out and back, why not start in St. Charles? As Bill said, there is bike rental there. I'd do St. Charles to Hermann.

 
Rob from Narberth, PA on 3/21/2023 11:08:43 AM:
That looks like a great spot! Any suggestions of particular sites to see or things to do if we were going to do 50-60 miles out stopping 2-3 times each way for long breaks?

 
Jack on 3/21/2023 12:27:22 PM:
We did the whole trail two years ago. We loved Hermann. Stayed at the Vinchester Inn which was our splurge for the trip and had no regrets. Hit the town for dinner (pizza), drinks and live music. Could have spent an extra night there.

There are a couple wineries and we hit a brewery/pizza place for lunch. I have to admit the points become blurred over time. I think the thing about the Katy is you just come upon someplace that makes sense to stop.

I remember an A Frame cafe place that was surrounded by decks. A through rider had ended up opening it up and we sat there for a long time talking to him and enjoying the view. Not sure if it is still open or exactly where it was, we just rode by and turned around because it looked interesting. Great smoothies and conversation.

 
Bill in Houston from Houston on 3/22/2023 4:01:06 PM:
If I rode out 60 miles from St Charles, I'd get lunch at Treloar Bar and Grill, because we enjoyed the food there last time. But you might like something in Marthasville.

Marthasville seems to have some cool trail related stuff going on. Take some time to look at that.

Augusta has some fancy-pants wine kind of stuff.

Defiance has a bar that looks cool that I'd get an afternoon snack at.

The Klondike campground is in there somewhere. You should go through it just because lots of trail riders stop there, and the hill up to it is memorable.

 
Gary from Near Tebbetts on 3/22/2023 5:34:15 PM:
Blumenhof Winery is a nice stop on a sunny day to sit outside and have a glass of local wine. They also have live music on weekend afternoons. Check out their website for more information.

 
Rob from Narberth, PA on 3/29/2023 10:00:35 AM:
Great info! I'm seeing a lot of the town pictures of the trail look like it's a mix of gravel and road, can anyone comment on the stretch out from St Charles to abotu 60 miles out from there, mostly road, mostly gravel? What percentage of what?

 
Rich from KC on 3/29/2023 6:09:43 PM:
Trail is 90% crushed limestone and very little pavement , so you may consider renting gravel bikes, especially if it’s wet. It’s flat and smooth though, so you can go hard if want to. St.Charles to Hermann would be the best 100+ round trip and stay in Hermann.