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Bruce from Raytown, MO on 7/9/2012 9:23:21 AM:
My wife and I are planning our first trip to the trail this weekend. We will only have a day and just want to get familiar with the trail. Coming from Kansas City, I am looking for a trail section that would be cool and shady, with interesting attractions and views. I'll be running a 12-mile run and my wife biking along with me. Hills don't bother me much, but if we can stay relatively flat, that is probably better.

Planning to stay near Boonville. Is it better to go east, toward Rocheport, or west, toward Pilot Grove?

Thanks for your help.
 
robert from houston,mo on 7/9/2012 10:20:24 AM:
For a 1st time I would suggest staying at Rocheport and ride to the east. Shady, flat and nice views. Rocheport is much more interesting than Boonville.
 
ArkyKenny from Farmington, AR on 7/9/2012 10:32:24 AM:
Agree. Go to Rocheport and go east.
 
Bruce from Raytown, MO on 7/9/2012 11:11:08 AM:
Thanks, Robert & Kenny. Sounds like good advice. I guess we'll miss the tunnel that way, but shady, flat and nice views are what we're looking for.
 
Gary from Near Tebbetts on 7/9/2012 12:14:35 PM:
The train tunnel is just on the western edge of Rocheport. You could easily go there, then turn around and head east.
 
Dave from Holden on 7/9/2012 2:41:06 PM:
is the trail flater out of Rocheport heading east?
 
ArkyKenny from Farmington, AR on 7/9/2012 5:07:16 PM:
Yes, it is flat at Rocheport because the trail closely follows the Mo River and is on an old rail bed. It's flat everywhere as far as I'm concerned, but it is particularly flat along the river. Also, the river valley, the bluffs, and the canopy of trees are pretty good for blocking the wind, so you don't have that to worry about as much as compared to riding on a road.
 
Gary from Near Tebbetts on 7/9/2012 6:54:59 PM:
Dave, it's not really any flater head east than west out of Rocheport but most people believe it is more scenic, especially true for Bruce's 6 mile out and back run.
 
Robin from Macon on 7/10/2012 11:42:33 AM:
Although not all (yet) have biked most of the Katy and to me there is no better area to bike than from Rocheport east - to Huntsdale is 6.6 - the bluffs and the trees also keeps this section of the trail cooler. And FYI, all of the Katy is relatively flat...it's the side trips that are not! Enjoy your first ride!!!
 
Jharte from Raytown on 7/10/2012 3:03:17 PM:
Hope you have a great weekend on the Katy this weekend! I've ridden it several times end to end. One of my favorite places to be. I agree with the above - Rocheport and East. An excellent place to ride AND/OR run. Enjoy!
 
savage24 from KC, MO on 7/10/2012 8:21:33 PM:
The trail east of Rocheport is especially shady in the morning because of the bluffs (you will be going southeast, not directly east). Do the trail in the morning and when your done, have lunch at Les Bourgeois Bistro. If you feel you are to sweaty for the bistro there are other places to eat in Rocheport, including a nice new BBQ place.
 
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