Rock Island Trail Forum

School House B&B is awesome. They go above and beyond every time my bike tour group goes through here (about 12 times a year). Andy is proactive and also reactive to group and individual guest needs. And so many options for lodging.

Question about a possible park or point of interest between Rhineland and maybe Jeff City? Last year while riding along this section I vaguely remember some kind of park that you could reach by riding up a steep hill which was along the trail on the north side or you could take a side trail of some sort. At the time I was too tired to investigate. I'll be riding this section again in September so want to put it on my to-do list to check out. Sorry, not a lot of information to go on but if anybody might know where I am talking about, please let me know. Thanks

Maybe you mean between Jefferson City and Rocheport? There is eagles bluff west of Hartsburg which is a steep hike up to an overlook of the wet lands and the MKT trail near McBaine that takes you into Columbia MO.

I can’t think of anything like what you described between Rhineland and Jefferson City.

Maybe Klondike Park?

I thought about Klondike Park but that was closer to Augusta, but yeah, let’s throw that in for possibilities.

Klondike is what I was thinking, also. It certainly fits the description. But it's 60 miles east of Rhineland. That's not even close.

There is a spur immediately east of the North Jefferson Trailhead that goes in the direction of Holts Summit and you may be able to get to the Cantebury Hill Winery. I just checked Google Maps and it's the John Sweet Spur Trail. But I'm not aware of it connecting to a park. It's right after you go under Hwy 54.

There's also the Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows near Rhineland. I don't recall if it is easy to get to by bike. But in 2009 I biked the Katy Trail with my daughter and my husband was our support. At one point we loaded the bikes on the car and went to check out the shrine. It was very interesting. It's actually in Starkenburg. You would take the Katy Trail to hwy P before Rhineland and then take Hwy P to the Shrine. I don't know if it's easy to bike on Hwy P. I think there's actually a pilgramage maybe in the fall to the Shrine, and the people walk on the Katy Trail. I've seen that and it also was very interesting. No one in hairshirts, or beating themselves with chains, nothing like that. But a large group of religious people, some with children, walking a very long distance on the trail to the church. I think they camp along the way.

I hope you find what you're looking for.

I’m fairly certain you mean Eagle Bluffs Overlook Trail. It’s between Jeff City and Columbia, has a trail leading down to the Katy, and there’s a wood sign on the Katy side. If you search for this on google maps it will appear the conservation area is further north, but it does stretch to the Katy. Open the link and scroll through the pictures, the next to last picture shows the sign which might jar your memory. The Klondike park others mentioned is way outside your search area, but does fit part of your description. It would be worth going to. I regret missing it because pictures I later saw looked very nice….i think there are a few ways into that particular park….one steep, one not.

Might be the overlook at GrandBluffs Conservation Area at Bluffton.

While we are naming everything we can think of, I also thought of Le Bourgeois Winery, up a steep side trail near Rocheport.

As mentioned, Eagle Bluffs is pretty cool. A few miles east of McBaine. Park your bike at the bottom and walk up a bunch of steps to get to a boardwalk and a viewing platform with a nice view.

Ok Guys......Give me so props here! My suggestion is the only one that fits the OP's description! We can all name great places to stop all my the Katy! ??

From the Missouri Department of Conservation website:

"The Eagle Bluffs Overlook is closed until further notice due to unsafe conditions. The trail is open, but the boardwalk and overlook platform is closed.
Notice
The Missouri River parking lot on Eagle Bluffs will be closed for construction in that location. It will reopen when the construction is complete (expected in the fall of 2025)"

Thanks for all of your responses. It was Klondike Park! Bike-packed/rode from Rocheport to St. Charles last week and even though we didn't stop to check it out this trip, we will do that another time. Safe travels to all!

Yesterday afternoon I encountered a person on a motorbike on the trail just east of the Family Arena in St. Charles. He had to be doing 35 or better coming around the curve headed west. When I saw the dust cloud I was approaching, I at first thought it was from the construction vehicles crossing the trail there. There were quite a few young kids in that area and the sight distance was virtually nil. Not sure where he got on or got off. Very foolish stunt.

I saw a Honda 350 gasoline powered motorcycle on the Katy Trail around mile marker 35 on (9/26).

I also saw a gas dirt bike in the same area a few weeks ago.

Powered vehicles are going to cause a lot of problems.
Land owners won't like it.

My family is planning to ride the trail in October on old fashioned high wheelers,we can ride pretty far, but the bikes are temperamental and we don’t always make our destination, also, we are very limited in the gear we can haul. Is the lodging fairly easy to arrange last minute reservations?

To answer Thomas's question about last minute reservations, it is my undertanding that it can be very difficult to make last minute reservations along the Katy Trail, especially in October when you are competing with Hartsburg's Pumpkin Fest, different communities' Oktober Fest, MU football games, and the fact that it's the best time of year on the trail. Book your rooms as soon as you can, and since you have the issue of potential breakdowns bring a list of bikeshops in the area, and shuttle services.

I'm not sure how far you wish to travel in a day, but I feel like lodging might not be available as often as you would hope.

If that is the case, think about taking turns, and having one of your party drive while the others ride. You could switch drivers at lunch, or even more often. This allows you to select lodging that isn't right on the trail, and get good support from your own vehicle.

You'll save a ton of money and gain so much flexibility.

My first trip and first time riding the KT, as I have it planned out I'm landing in N. Jefferson as the end of one of my days, wondering what camping options are around there? Or do I need to go a bit further or stop a bit sooner for camping. Thank you

Depends on which direction you are going, if coming in from the west go about 10 miles more to Tebbetts and check into lodging at the Turner Shelter. If coming in from the east stop at the Turner Shelter in Tebbetts before you get to North Jefferson City. You could also go into Jefferson City and get a hotel or motel room.

The is tent camping right there at the trail going into Jeff city. Surf the website. I’ve stayed there.

The camp sites at the Noren Access in North Jefferson have been closed. It had become a homeless encampment. No word on when/if they plan to reopen them.

We are getting ready for the ride this week (9/25-9/30) and next. I'm curious about the current trail conditions. I've read where its been pretty dry there just like our area. I'm imagining lots of dust? But it also looks like some upcoming chances for rain. Wondering what your experiences have been? Thanks! I know the bottom line is prepare for a variety.

After one good rain, the dust is pretty well settled for several days. You will still get dusty, but the trail won't be a continuous dust cloud. That said, if you have any allergies, be ready for them to act up, and bring plenty of your favorite meds.

Lots of rain will soften the surface and will create some ruts, so be aware of this. If you don't have fenders, be prepared to get some on your riding apparel.

I agree with GWW from Washington. I've ridden the Katy wet and dusty. Fenders were great for both conditions.

We are planning a lunch break buying deli supplies at Woods.

Does anyone have a recommendation about a close by park to have our lunch at?

Thanks!

Katy Trail Depot, or the town square over by the Hotel Bothwell.

Just a gentle reminder if you're staying at the Turner Shelter in Tebbetts. The a/c is on during the summer so if, for some reason, you want to open a window or two please make sure to close them before you leave.

Not impressed. Office was closed. I reserved online. Management is currently replacing tent sites 1-8 with small bungalows. This upgrade removes the tent sites that were in shade. Sites 9-13 are in the open. Not ideal during mid to upper 80 sunny days. I was held hostage under the pavilion until the sun went behind the trees (5pm). Showers are decent. It is a quiet campground. The bar across the trail has several beer varieties. The food is tolerable. Bar closes at 7pm.

We just got back from riding the OTET! Cincinnati seems like a cool place to ride. I tried the spaghetti 3 ways and it was great. My riding companions were unconvinced and chose Chipotle instead. :)

I'm thinking of cycling the Katy from Clinton to St Charles a day ahead of the Big Bam ride schedule. Should I expect any closures or congestion due to the Big Bam setting up for the next day? Any places that might be crowded due to people camping ahead of time? Thanks!

This is a shop that has the ability to fix a cable on your hybrid or do a clean and wax on your SRAM Red drivetrain. Small, unpretentious, and surprisingly well stocked. Highly recommended and, though the map may be confusing, it is a vigorous baseball throw from the Sedalia Depot.

Ebby that owns Pro-Velo is the best! Believe closed Sunday and Monday

I have two bikes to choose from. The first is a Marin Stinson 2 step. I am reluctant to rent this bike as it has a rigid front suspension. I never done the trail before and if it is bumpy I'm going to hate this bike. My current bike is like this. I used to have a mountain bike and I loved it because of the forks took all the brunt. The second bike I can rent is jamis citizen 2. I'm thinking I would like this bike better because of the front suspension. Any insight how bumpy is this trail? If the trail is bumpy I'm going to watch some spension. Thank you

The trail is mostly compact chat/pea gravel. The only time you may encounter rough areas would be after heavy rains where the water runs across parts of the trail. If that happens pick yourself up out of the saddle and use your built in shock absorbers. A mountain bike would be overkill in my opinion and you would suffer from the low gearing on long flat stretches of the trail.

I would not be taking a mountain bike. It would be the Jamis citizen 2.I would be renting it.It has suspension. I realize the trail is crushed gravel. I've never rode on that terrain .I don't know how smooth it can be. I'm trying to avoid having my shoulders take a lot of the shot from the front. Thank you

I looked up a review of the Jamis 2. It looks like a very comfortable hybrid bike well suited for the Katy with a configuration of upright sitting posture and step thru frame design.

I'd go with the Marin Stinson 2. Run those fat tires at about 30 to 40 PSI and that's all the suspension that you will need. My wife and I have a fat tire MTB tandem that we've done the entire Katy Trail plus GAP, C&O, and cross Florida. One of the first things I did to it was remove the front suspension fork. We just run lower tire pressure.

I see one issue with both bikes. They only have a place for one water bottle holder. Water stops can be far between on the Katy. You might want to investigate getting a water bottle holder for the handlebars or something like a Camelbak backpack.

All tent sites have power but not all have water. My site had a water spicket but no running water. Three tent sites have a small pavilion. The remainder are in the open. Don’t despair about the water. The park is not that big. Just find a site that’s not being used and check their water. I wouldn’t count on the men’s room sink because it has one faucet and dispenses hot water. I found that weird.

Decent city park. It has a playground, pavilions, restrooms with showers. It has spots for RVs as well as tents. 15.00 cash. Envelope and drop slot. Pay at the restroom building. Skip the Wharf St address on the Katy trip planner. Use 118 W13th St. The park and tent area is next to a busy road so, be prepared for that. There is a Casey’s c-store on that busy road. You’ll see it through the trees from the restroom. Bike or walk. Your choice.

My brother-in-law and I are attempting to ride from the RIT Stadium trailhead in KC to the Eastern Terminus of the KT in Machens later this month, approximately 300mi, in under 24hrs. Despite searching online I cannot find any instances of others doing this ride.

Does anyone here know of another rider or team that has completed the RIT+KT in under 24hrs?

Thanks!

Entirely possible. It depends on who you are, but a group did the 240 miles in about 12.5 hours, a mere mortal like myself did it a dozen years ago in 24. So if you're in a group and are just little faster than me, its theoretically in range. That said, I am totally unfamiliar with any routes not on the trail. (by "mortal" I mean never ran a marathon in under 3 hours, and never ran a mile in under 4 minutes) Its a fun idea, hope to hear how it goes!

This is the most up to date information on how to load a bicycle on the River Runner train in Missouri. I can say that because I am on train 318 now. The River Runner is a twice daily train between KC and St Louis, but one of the daily trains extends to Chicago, on a different route than the Southwest Chief. This particular River Runner adds the description “with Lincoln service.” This loading process is only applicable to the Missouri River Runner because they do not have a baggage car, luggage (and bikes) is carry on only. I personally call it a glorified commuter train, hence no baggage car. You must add a bicycle reservation when you purchase your ticket, and that fee is $10. I understand they have a limit of four bicycles per train, so book ahead. Due to Amtraks reservation system you wont know if bike spaces are available until after you add a seat into your cart….the next step is adding a bicycle (or golf clubs) This is where you learn if those spaces are available for you and there is a counter of 1-4 displayed. If spots arent available you don’t have to “check out” or get billed for the seat you placed in the cart, similar to other online purchases. Once you are beside the train, unload and set aside your panniers/bags if applicable, pick up your bicycle and carry it on board. On this train I was instructed to lean it against a railing in a passageway just a few steps up and into the train. On my previous Amtrak ride I stored it in the seating area of a passenger car where two rows of seats had been removed. The conductor assisted me in carrying the bike on board the first time, but not today which was not an issue. With permission I chose to lock my bike to the railing since it was out of my line of sight. ?
Be aware Amtrak is often late. They are completely at the mercy of freight traffic which always had priority. If you are interested in this you can check train status prior to your trip. Yesterday Amtrak was two minutes early arriving in StL from KC. The day prior the same train was about thirty minutes late. Today we departed 17 minutes late due to a broken down freight train.
I think that should cover most of the questions. It was pretty easy both times.
Happy Trails!
This is a copy of my post in the Facebook group Katy Trail Riders. That post includes a video, but essentially it’s three or four steps up into the train, a 90° turn followed by a few steps to the storage area. Very easy with an unloaded bike…unless you left your bags on, then it’s a bit awkward and unbalanced.

Great stay, convenient to trail. Great breakfast, very clean and comfortable rooms, safe bike storage, and lovely people. Will be back!!

My wife and I are biking the KT west to east the first week in October. Does anyone have recommendations for the type of clothing we may need for both biking and non-biking activities along the trail that time of year? Thanks in advance for sharing your insights and experience.

Just be prepared. I've ridden the magnificent Katy Trial in 2 Octobers and weather is mostly, just perfect...but...it can be hot and it can be cold and rainy. Take some layers and make sure you have rain gear!
Mostly just enjoy the beauty!

Just a FYI. We are still up and running. Full rv hookups and tent sites with a bathroom and shower. The picture is very old but can't seem to get it updated. You can also check Google earth for more current pictures. We are just 20 miles from hermann and October festival is coming up so look us up. If you're needing a spot close to stay.

I searched the forum and only found one on the subject from 2023. I will be renting an electric bike and camping. The rental company told me that most people charge the bike are staying at hotel or bed and bresftfast....Has any one had experince chargeing while camping? I want to do the most pretty part .Im thinking about starting in new frankiln and trying to do it in 3 days to st charles ...but i dont know if I can do it in 3.

A lot depends on the bikes battery amp hour rating, the bikes drive motor power, and how much you will rely on the motor vs pedal assist. When you stop to eat etc, look for power outlets and ask around. People will usually help you out.

The Turner Shelter in Tebbetts is a good place to stay inside and sleep while charging your bike.

NF to ST.C is about 150 miles. Do the math. Fifty per day gives you Tebbetts, Marthasville, and then Machens. Not sure what's near Marthasville BUT there's nothing at Machens. St. C would have to be your respite at the east end. Take it from a guy who depleted his battery once; DON'T DO IT! Be sure it's juiced. Pedaling an e-bike is a little more demanding. But if you're going east from NF, you're going in the least difficult direction. You won't be coasting but you won't be climbing significantly, either. But still, ... As for "pretty", beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Enjoy.

If you camp at Coopers Landing, you can plug in - just dont ask if you can. They'll tell you the electrical outlets are for RV campers.
I've plugged in my devices twice there. If you have space, you might carry an extension cord with you.
Turner Shelter, yes, as mentioned above.
If you camp at the ball park in M'Ville, there's outlets there as well.
Then if you need it, you could grab some lunch and a beverage at the Good News Brewery in Defiance. I'm sure you could plug in there too.

You won't find any places with a big sign that says "EBIKE CHARGING STATION", but there are lots of places to sit for a while and get some charge from an outlet on the side of a store or under a town pavilion or something like that.

I'd think you could find outlets at...
Rocheport - Meriwethers, neighborhood park, trailhead restroom.
Cooper's Landing
Hartsburg - trailhead, campsite, ballfield, that bar that seems to be the only thing with regular hours in Hburg.
N Jeff - maybe the trailhead bathroom, or the ballfields.
Tebbetts Shelter
Mokane - VFW, town campground
Portland - Holzhauers, maybe at the little campground.
Rhineland - maybe the park, Fire Department, or some of the unoccupied commercial bldgs
McKittrick - Loutre Market
Treloar - I think that the bar and grill is about to reopen
Marthasville - all kinds of spots.
Dutzow - that diner thing
Augusta - not sure about in town, Klondike Park
Defiance - all sorts of places
St Charles - all sorts of places

I’d be interested in knowing how much electricity an e-bike is using as it charges. Obviously that amount would vary depending on the bike, the type of charger, etc. Expanding on that, how much that actually costs in electricity used, which would vary by the rate charged by the local utility. I suspect it’s probably not much, but if I was a business owner I would see someone using my electricity as an additional hurdle to breaking even financially. Perhaps spending money in the business or paying a token fee for using the power would be the decent thing to do.
Using the electricity being paid for by someone else makes me think of the word freeloader.
Note: this is not directed at the original poster.

Just for reference:
My heat pump at home is set at 73 degrees and the thermostat has an option to see how much electricity it uses and allows you to enter your cost per kilowatt hour to see your cost per day. That said, running all day cost me between $2 to $3 a day. I’m guessing charging a bike battery would be somewhat less than that. I’m guessing there could be a meter you could add to a dedicated line to get an exact amount to charge but the expense to do that would probably far greater than the benefit.

Eric, that's definitely a fair point. It looks to me like a typical bike battery is something like 500Wh, or 0.5 kWh. Assuming some inefficiency, it might take 1kWh to charge from completely empty to completely full. That's about 15 cents worth of electricity.

I definitely think that if you charge your bike a business, you want to be a customer of the business in some form, whether you eat lunch there, or buy a bag of chips, or drop a dollar into the campground paybox. If you charge at a town park you could walk around and pick up some trash or dead branches while you charge.

Have you have you considered the option of manually using the pedals, perhaps? This is a forgotten skill from days of old.

Wow! Easy to say under the cloak of "anonymous". Some people get up there in age and parts don't work as well. Or maybe because they're hampered by injury or illness. It isn't because they're lazy or unwilling. Cycling is not about seeing how much pain and discomfort you can inflict on yourself. At least it shouldn't be. I'm sure the vast majority of them transitioned from pedal bikes. I did. Like me, they use an e-bike to stay connected with nature. And while they're there, they support those communities they pass through. Be better.

No kidding. That's a pretty uninformed comment. Many ebikes, like mine, are only pedal-assist. If you aren't pedaling it's not moving. The motor only helps push the pedals. No throttle. Also, without any knowledge of the rider. As we age, getting up the hills riding in the Ozarks can be limiting. I've ridden a Fugi Touring bike for years but found my yearly mileage dropping as arthritis got worse in my knees and wrists. Last year I bought an ebike and tripled my mileage from the previous year. I might still ride the Fugi on a rail trail like the Katy. But you can't beat the help getting up Missouri hills.

Also, Google says the charger would consume about 125wh charging a 500wh battery from 0. So the cost would be closer to a dime. If you plug in at a park or business while eating lunch or taking a break you might gain 10% on your charge costing a penny or two.

Recommend that the cite occasionally be cleaned up. Becoming massive and many click here don’t work.

Trail conditions more current would be helpful.