Rock Island Trail Forum

THE GOOD
It's free.
The police are friendly. Just call them when you get to town.
You can camp under cover in the pavilions.
There is a water spigot that looks locked but actually isn't.
There are ample pavilion posts to hang a hammock on.
There are ample outlets in the pavilions to charge your stuff.
There are lots of picnic tables in the pavilions.
The grass was nicely mowed and didn't seem to have muddy spots.
There were lots of trash cans and they were not overflowing.
It's not crazy far from Casey's and Deon's.
None of the people walking around the park hassled me.

THE BAD
It's all pretty dirty. Area under the pavilion needs to be swept, tables need to be wiped, and the bathrooms need to be pressure washed.
If you want to hammock outside of the pavilions, it might be difficult to find trees with proper spacing.

The people of Pilot Grove are very generous to let us strangers camp in their park. It's so nice to have a free resource like this. It was a great place for me, and I would definitely stay there again.

The restaurant is run by the sweetest people, and is a welcome change from the only other option, Casey's. The food was good and the prices were reasonable.

Is there a shuttle from the trailhead in St. Charles to the train station in Kirkwood? I know it is not too far but I am nervous about riding my bike in the city. Thank you.

What day?

Charlie and Stacey are great hosts. The sleeping cabins look brand new inside. The bunks are comfortable, with nice sheets and pillow and blanket. The heating and AC are more than adequate.

The bathhouse was clean and close by.

There's a fridge and stoves and coffee pot in the common area.

There are great spots for tents, and hammock stands and trees for hammocks.

There are nice tables and chairs to sit in and relax, and firepits with wood provided.

Casey's is close by for anything you might need.

I would definitely stay here again.

Thank you for staying with us, Bill, and for the kind words. We enjoyed you being here and the great conversations! Please come back soon!
Happy Trails!

From what I can tell, all of the shuttle services charge $120 per person. Does anyone know of someone who charges a set price? I thought some would charge a set price and then we could split the cost. There are 4 of us traveling from St. Charles to either Clinton or Green RIdge in 2 weeks.
Thank you!

People often suggest a one way van rental. We did that on the GAP trail and it worked out great. You stop wherever you want, you can pick up last minute supplies, and the cost can be pretty reasonable. Check rental car agencies and Uhaul.

Keep in mind that the local shuttles are locally owned small businesses. 120 for 240 mile shuttle for you, your bike and all your stuff is reasonable AND you're supporting the local small business.

Cabin was just like Kim advertised. It was clean and everything was easy. We would stay there again.

Thanks so much Steve - sorry I didn't get to meet you all. Hope you're having a great rest of your Katy and Rock Island adventure!

From Friends of Rock Island Trail https://rockislandtrail.org/
-------------------------------------------
Dear Rock Island Trail Supporters,

After years of dedication and advocacy, a day we’ve all been waiting for is finally here! Join us on Saturday, May 31, 2025, as we celebrate a major milestone in the development of the Rock Island Trail State Park with a ribbon cutting and groundbreaking ceremonies in Gerald, Owensville, and Belle.

Bring your bicycle or walking shoes and help us mark the official opening of new trail segments and the beginning of exciting progress ahead!


Event Schedule
9:00 AM – Gerald Ribbon Cutting
Celebrate the opening of 1 mile of trail at the Gerald Trailhead
Location: Hwy 50, Gerald, MO

10:30 AM – Owensville Ribbon Cutting
Join us for the grand opening of 2.5 miles of trail in Owensville
Location: Owensville City Hall, 107 W. Sears Ave, Owensville, MO

1:00 PM – Belle Groundbreaking Ceremony
Help us break ground for the trail extension in Belle
Location: Zumwalt Feed Mill, 309 Hwy 28 East, Belle, MO

Reception to Follow
Hosted by Friends of Rock Island Trail State Park
Location: Zumwalt Feed Mill, immediately following the Belle ceremony


Let’s make history together and continue building the future of the Rock Island Trail State Park!

I used the route from Lee's Summit to Pleasant Hill suggested by Mark from Lee's Summit, and added the optional section on Outer 291 in order to avoid the busy highway. It's a good route.

The higher traffic sections had wide sidewalks designated as bikeways. And the drivers on the sections where I had to be on the road were the most respectful I have ever encountered.

Thanks, Mark!!

Thanks for the information. I am in need of street by street directions between Lee's summit and Pleasant Hill. I'm riding the KT and RIS in June. Day 1 Clinton to Windsor. Day 2 Windsor to Lee's summit, Day 3 Lee's summit to Windsor, Day 4 East on the KT. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I bet Google Map can give you street-by-street directions from Lee's Summit to Pleasant Hill in just a few seconds.

Good food, decent prices, nice staff, and bike parking. And either smoking is not allowed, or just by coincidence nobody was smoking.

but when I click the link for an individual town, it's not showing anything.

For example, this link just opens a blank page.
https://bikekatytrail.com/green-ridge.aspx

Like I said, maybe it's just me, but it was working yesterday, so it feels like it might be a database thing.

Is anyone else having this issue? For example, if I click Windsor on the map above, a blank page opens and doesn't load anything else.

That link worked for me and displayed the page including the image of a tree tunnel. I am far from an expert, but suspect you need to clear your cache and/or clear cookies. Use google to search how to do that and use the instructions for the device you use, probably a PC desktop or laptop? Use your phone to take a picture of the instructions for immediate reference. Maybe another reader can chime in.

That did it! Thank you!

Bill I apologize for missing your earlier post, I was travelling that week and totally overlooked it.

But it's actually good that I missed it, since Eric had the answer!

Thank you Eric for solving this. My first guess would have been something with the Google Map, which would have taken me in a long and wrong direction, so I truly appreciate your solution!

Rooster's is your typical small town bar, but a little bit nicer. There are pool tables, and more TVs than average. There is a modern digital jukebox. The cheeseburger and tots were good. Smoking is allowed indoors, of course, unfortunately. There is an outdoor seating area.

Just a quick reminder. If it's been wet lately, the trail is softer, and it will take you longer to get where you are trying to go. This seems more pronounced on the Rock Island Trail.

The campground is in a beautiful spot, on a hillside looking over a small lake.

There is a faucet over by the fishing dock, but no other running water. I was told that the water from the faucet is drinkable.

Clean portapotty for a restroom.

Each campsite basically has a picnic table and a streetlight, which can be kind of bright. They seem to be enhancing some of the sites, which is nice.

Jay, the caretaker, is really helpful.

How is the parking in Tebbetts? I guess I am asking if it is safe for a vehicle to be parked there for two nights?

Check with Rachel Collins, she will know, or maybe let you park at or near her house.

We've left our vehicle at the trailhead before without issues. I don't worry about Katy trailheads for parking for a few days. That's what they are for.

(Admins, please delete if not allowed!)
We’re retiring — and that means someone’s about to score BIG.
We’re selling a beautiful building right on the trail in Owensville — and yep, the trail is being worked on right now.
This spot has serious potential:
? Live in it, run a bike shop, café, or both at the same time.
?? Main trailhead location = built-in traffic.
?? Tons of parking.
?? Trail front properties like this don’t come around often.
Check it out on Facebook at (Marketplace-Karen Dorton) and imagine the possibilities!

AmVet in Mokane has new hours if you’re looking to stop there for food/drink.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GMZFy3FrP/

Park is convenient and the pavilion is large if you want to set up on concrete. Showers are basic but blissfully hot on sore back and legs.
Ear plugs are a must if you want to sleep beyond 6:30 in the morning as the nearby road gets fairly busy in the morning. There is a bar close by that seems quite popular and cheery. However the night I stayed sounded like they were hosting karaoke night till 11:00 so again earplugs.

The gem for me was a recently opened coffee shop, Country Grounds Coffee Shop at 201 Depot st. right across from the trail depot. They were open early (6:30) and while the Latte good but the bacon egg and gouda cheese on sourdough was a real highlight. They open early but they also close earlier (2:00I think).

Easy on and off the trail with a very short road ride on wide shoulders (smooth pavement is such a treat). Loaded up on water and Gatorade as well as a surprising roast beef sandwich. Roast beef was actual hot roast beef like you might have with Sunday dinner. Really hit the spot.

Finding my way to the Jefferson City bridge in the dark was a bit challenging but the burger and fries at the pub were worth the trouble. The only downside is after a 68 mile day with temperatures in the 90’s I could have used a bigger water glass with refills. But after dreaming of a burger and pub fries for the previous several hours this 1/2 lb medium rare pub burger with just the right fixings was a dream come true.

A charming stop with a pleasant unpretentious atmosphere. I had a wonderful latte (best coffee of the trip) with a ham and cheese sandwich on croissant followed up with an apple turnover. All baking done on the premises. Very enjoyable stop and quite reasonably priced. Easy ride from the trail a at bridge height so no climbing on a full stomach. Set a happy tone for the rest of the day.

Can anyone give me some pros and cons of camping at Farrington City Park vs the Katy Rock Junction? I usually think in terms of traffic noise, sketchy people, access to restrooms/running water/electricity, trees for my hammock, tables to sit at, etc. Thank you!

Many use both Farrington Park and Katy-Rock Junction. The Park is a little further away from the Katy and from restaurants, but you have the beautiful lake and might spot a bald eagle. There are hammock stands at Katy-Rock

Thanks, Kim! As soon as I posted, I thought, you know, I gotta go with the small business, so I made reservations at Katy-Rock Junction. Farrington Park sounds really nice, so I will have to try it the next time. Thanks again for the guidance!

Awesome and enjoy!! Give a shout to say hi when you're in town. Appreciate all your help to trail users!

Please note that while the info above states closed on Mondays, on 4/23/25 it was actually closed on Wednesdays, as posted on the door. This is inconvenient as the next food available was pre packaged at Cooper's Landing, 16 miles. Don't know if this is only off season hours, but be advised.

Sorry to hear it. Meriwether's is a nice place. Glad you were able to find something at Cooper's Landing, and I hope you enjoyed watching the river go by.

In general I advise people to contact any amenity a month ahead, a week ahead, and the day before, just to make sure that they will be open.

I hope the rest of your ride was great!

Is it possible to rent bike in st Charles

Ride it to Clinton

Leave it there to be pick up by the company that rented it to me

Bike Stop Cafe in St. Charles can provide this service.

Does anyone know why they discontinued the annual ride held in late June?

Between floods and Covid, there were a number of years in a row where the ride had to be cancelled around 2020. So that ride sadly lost momentum.

There was also the issue of the Missouri DNR competing with private companies that also put on Katy Trail rides. Big BAM on the Katy and Bubba's Pampered Pedalers are just a couple of those companies.

I really enjoyed the DNR's Katy Trail rides and did most of them. However there are still great options for riding the Katy.

This was by far our favorite place to stay along the Katy Trail (KC-> STL).

Jerry was incredibly welcoming with fun stories and thoughtful touches throughout our stay, in a home that couldn't be closer to the trail.

We three ladies sincerely hope this wasn't our last visit to the B&B, we'd love to come back - thank you Jerry!

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.

Getting slightly lost in Boonville was great for me, as I just recently moved here, twelve years later!

Response to inquiry about last use of Boonville railroad bridge and last railroad use before rail abandonment.

The last train on the Missouri-Kansas-Texas (MKT) Railroad, commonly known as the Katy Railroad, before it became the Katy Trail, ran on October 4, 1986, from Sedalia to Machens, Missouri. Floodwaters damaged the tracks, and the railroad deemed repairs not worthwhile, leading to the abandonment of the right-of-way.

And thank goodness we now have this jewel.

What will I need for outdoor camping along the route? Also, any suggestions for good 2nd hand biking supplies?

Thanks!

We’re trying to plan a short Rv trip and hope to ride a
part of the Katy trail, we would like to camp near the trail, and enjoy local features also.
We would welcome ideas

FYI: this restaurant closed in March 2024.

Riding the trail between Dutzow and marker 70 and my performance trip computer feel off my bike...it wasn't snapped in securely....my bad...if anyone finds it LML....thanks...

The trail is great...enjoyed the ride despite the wind that day. What a Missouri treasure!!

Looking for a place to park a vehicle for 10 days in Marthasville. Is it safe to overnight park at the trailhead? Other suggestions?

We stayed here while bicycling the Katy Trail. My wife loved it because she is a retired teacher. The place keeps it school house theme and is very nice inside. Little details are considered with their decorations and furniture. They even have an original chalk board up in the common room. Breakfast is great too.

They have a shed for your bikes which is convenient. We highly recommend the "General Store" restaurant for lunch and dinner - very good meals and reasonable pricing.

We rode the Katy Trail April 7, 2025 thru April 15, 2025. We li=ucked out and had great weather - no rain at all whereas the week before had severe weather, tornadoes, and flooding.

The Lindenhof Bed and Breakfast is a great place to stay. Very comfortable. Kathy is very nice and caring.

Go to the two wineries that are walking distance from the BnB. The further one at the top of the hill serves food and the food is very good. Both wineries work together - same owners and the wine tastings are fun.

Buy some wine and enjoy the sights and return to the BnB and relax in the hot tub. You don't need anything else to do - just take your time and relax.

We were riding the Katy Trail and this place was our favorite stay out of 7 places along our trip. We liked all our stops but this one stood out. Highly recommend.