Signage

Hi… My wife and I love the Katy Trail. One of best in US (maybe the best). We rode our first time on a section of Katy by Boonville where we recently moved to. We crossed over the Missouri River at Boonville heading to Nee Franklin. Great ride but as we started crossing bridge noted there we no Katy signs pointing us to the bridge then after we crossed we had to stop am because it was confusing where next to go. No signs again. We finally found it. Now we know the route but thought would be helpful for others to see if signs were placed in both spots. Thks

Did you pickup one of the trail maps available at the trail heads? You can also use Google Maps on a smart phone that will show you the trail.

Trails can be confusing sometimes when they pass through towns and you find that you're not on that straight ahead no brainer path forward.

Gary has a great idea to use either a paper or online map to verify your route.

Signs pointing the way may be a good idea, but it would probably be more effective to contact the DNR State Parks and let them know instead of coming here and letting everyone know you got lost. There's not much we can do other than wonder why you didn't use a map.

I had the same problem last year. Kinda wondered if its a rail trail where did the train go

If you are still talking about Booneville, you can see the original bridge north of the new bridge where the trail crosses the Missouri River. The center section of the old bridge would be raised to let river traffic through. You can go see the old bridge and ride up to the point where the center section remains raised. You’ll have to use your imagination though to see where the train came over the old bridge and turned right and passed Franklin Missouri on its was to Saint Charles.

Thanks for info on Booneville bridge , do you know when it was raised

When the railroad abandoned the line they no longer needed someone to raise and lower the bridge so they just raised it and it remained that way ever since. I don’t remember when that was, would make a good research subject for someone, you game?

I had the same problem 5 years ago. When I got to the part of the trail with the Chisom Trail monument I took a right on the highway. After several miles I realized that the crossing for the Missouri river was in the opposite direction. once I was on the other side, I missed the signage after the casino and went the wrong way again. But that is part of the adventure.

Speaking of the Boonville "lift bridge", I'm pretty sure the city of Boonville acquired the bridge from the railroad several years ago, with the intention of making the bridge usable and crossable for cyclists and pedestrians. But apparently the funding for that project did not come through.
Maybe someday... it would be pretty cool.

We have done the KATY 5 times over the years, and every time, just after the Booneville bridge we are a bit confused as to where the trail is. Signage would be a really good idea. Also, it will be really great if they get the old bridge put back together for cyclists. I bet it will happen one day!

Ya just gotta be on your game and be on the lookout for the twists and turns. But if you can navigate Sedalia, you can surely navigate Boonville. I wish there was a way to put both of these back on their respective trails. The thing I really don't like in Boonville is being in the bike lane coming across the river and having a head-on meeting with another bike of overtaking a pedestrian. And YES; having the trail go over the river in Boonville would be pretty cool. Enjoy.

Great to see the discussion about the old bridge in Boonville. At one time it was quite a political hot potatoe. When Matt Blount was governor of Missouri, 2005-2009, he planned on selling the bridge to I think Union Pacific. They planned on demolishing the bridge and use parts of the demolished bridge to build a new bridge over the Missouri River. The then Attorney General Jay Nixon (later 2 term governor of Missousi) opposed the plan, as well as members of the Boonville community, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and many others. In additionn to the bridge being a significant historic structure, there was a concern that destroying the bridge would mean that the Katy Trail would not be a continuous trail, which could jeopardize the continued existance of the entire trail. Landowners along the trail who opposed it could claim that it no longer met federal requirements for a rail to trail and petition to take possesion of the land back from the state.

Full disclosure here, I am not a fan of Jay Nixon, but at least in this 1 case he did the right thing, unlike many other things he did during his 8 years as governor.

And you already know the outcome, Union Pacific did not demolish the bridge. Hopefully Boonville will one day be able to follow through on their plans from about 17 years ago, and restore the bridge.

The first time (of many) that I crossed the Boonville bridge going toward New Franklin was a bit of a quandary, but I figured the original RR had to be west since that's where the old bridge is. Turned out OK but just kind of a deduction. I will say the pavement markings through Boonville are most welcome, although there are so many ways to get to the bridge it's worth it to go off route as Boonville is such a great town.
As far as Sedalia, I much prefer the old route past the cemetery on Engineer then right on the road (the name of which escapes me), but once one gets out of town on the new route the trail is excellent.
One last comment; I've done all or part of the MKT at least five times, and not once has the weather been as forecast. The advice to be prepared for anything is right on.