Rock Island Trail Forum

This looked like a great spot but the bike parking structures are around the corner and out of sight. After dealing with a homeless guy with a very aggressive dog on the bridge I didn't want my bike out of sight while I ate. Maybe next time. They have large front windows. I wish the city would put bike locking structures out front.

So Sorry to hear that. And you missed a nice lunch. Perhaps if that happens to someone else, they could lock up over at the Frederick Hotel. It is across the street, so that might be too far. But I think you could see it from the front window - not positive about that though.
I get it though, sure don't want to lose your bike!!

Just saw a video on YouTube that I believe was yours Gregg. If so, well done.....thanks for taking us along on your journey.

We've eaten on the bench in front of the Main Street Diner. Phoned ahead with our order and they delivered to the bench. Have also locked our bikes together and to the bench which worked well for no longer than we were inside. There is also a light pole right on the corner in front of the restaurant. We've never had any complaints using the bench or the light pole.

Wishing that the city would put a bike locking structure out front begs the question, where else might you stop that you'd think the city should accommodate you?

Can we have the link to the YouTube video?

Search Katy Trail on YouTube Billy....there are very few that are recent.

Homestretch of Day 6. After the St. Charles stop for lunch, I headed to Machens to ring that terminus bell. It's about 12 miles from St. Charles. As this forum page suggests, there's not much there but I had to ride the Trail end to end for it to be official for me. The Trail meanders through tree-lined areas, farm fields, passes some residential areas but other than that, there's no place to stop. I think I remember a sports facility along the way. Black Walnut is a TH but has no amenities so I took my photo and moved on. As the previous poster on this forum mentioned, there is a chain across the road about .25 miles from the Machens TH to the north. I heard that road is not private property so I am not sure why the owner of the chain is allowed to keep riders from being picked up closer to the TH. Maybe it is private but either way, I rode out of the TH on a somewhat hidden human-made trail, turned left then right onto the road and onward to the chained barricade with a no trespassing sign posted. Katy Trail complete! 278 miles and 6 days.

October 14, 2024 - 6th and final day. Started in Washington, jumped on the Trail at the Dutzow TH. The journey was ~40 miles. From Washington, there were only a couple of bathroom breaks otherwise it was full speed (13.9 mph average) to St. Charles. I've been to St. Charles and specifically the Bike Stop Cafe because where else does a cyclist go for lunch (even when I am not on a trail ride). I had a tuna melt with vegan chili and a beer which was perfect for the chilly ride that day. I started out at around 46 degrees with no long pants (forgot to pack the right type). My feet never warmed up so that chili hit the spot plus the propane firepit I ate next to was much appreciated. It barely broke 60 degrees that day but I pressed on to Machens after a hearty lunch break. St. Charles is a very touristy town with lots of shops, overnight accommodations, wine bars, restaurants and history information about the Trail. This day it was decked out for Fall and Halloween.

October 13th - Day 5 of my Katy Trail Adventure. Washington is ~4 miles from the Dutzow TH. I opted to stay in Washington as I have many times for various events, BBQ and Blues and Winefest. The Hoefel House Bike Hostel/B&B was a real treat. The hosts, Kurt and Peggy were made for the hospitality business. Originally planning to stay in a hostel room, I changed my mind and rewarded myself with the Locomotive Suite. Did not disappoint and the service provided by the hosts was nothing short of and better than a 5-star resort. Highly recommend and worth the extra miles off the trail. I recommend the Augusta Bottom Road route suggestion be updated with the mention of the pavement ending and turning into a rough unmaintained gravel road. I opted for it based on the recommendation from this website thinking it was paved the whole way; however, I will take the highway next time. The shoulder is wide enough for me and the 15 mph winds and 30 mph gusts would have served me better on the highway route as tailwind. On the Augusta Bottom route, these winds were cross winds, mixed with dust from the passing cars and one vehicle driver who decided to add to my challenge by screaming around me, fishtailing and stirring up enough dust that I could chew it. Never again! In Washington, most businesses are closed up by 9p. It was a Sunday so many were not even open when I arrived. I had a salmon dinner at Marquart's Landing, a bar setting with decent food, beer and service. I didn't mind the quietness of the town. It was fitting for my Katy Trail journey. Peace and serenity. The evening was spent outside stargazing and exchanging stories with the hosts who were respectful of privacy but also available for socializing. The next morning was filled with a breakfast made for a Queen. I was fueled up and ready for my final day on the Katy Trail. Day 6.

Leaving this comment about the Hermann City Park on the McKittrick Trailhead forum as there is no forum link for Hermann. It was Octoberfest when I was riding the Trail from October 9th through the 14th. I wanted to visit the German town of Hermann during this month. Hermann is two miles south from the McKittrick TH. It was Day 4. The City Park is $15/night with a limited number of fire rings. There is a shower house which I needed badly since Hartsburg's shower option was unavailable. You basically pick a grassy spot for a tent and call it your site. There were no more fire rings available so I built my fire in the pedestal grill located on one side of the pavilion. The pavilion has power to charge electronics and a plethora of picnic tables. The City Park was full of RVs and other tent campers; however, I was completely alone between the pavilion and playground. Occasionally a few kids would play on the equipment but at nightfall it was fairly peaceful given the fact that the park is adjacent to Highway 19. I discovered Stone Hill Winery was .5 miles away and ready for a break after setting up camp so I rode the half mile, up a VERY steep hill to the winery where I bought a bottle of wine and sat at a picnic table on a hill overlooking the residential section of Hermann. Live music played in the background. They have a restaurant on site so since it was dinner time, I decided to eat there. You can bring your bottle of wine in the restaurant which I enjoyed with the best trout, fingerling potatoes and roasted Brussel sprouts. Afterwards, I rode to Casey's and bought a bundle of wood for my 'grill' fire. The next morning I enjoyed breakfast at Ainsley's. Get there early as it's popular. They take you in the order you arrived. It was delicious! Great start to Day 5's ride to Washington.

Day 4 was from Hartsburg to Hermann, the longest ride of the journey, ~60 miles. In my research, there aren't any food options between these two points. After reading some reviews of Happy Trails Katy-ring Service, I decided to give it a try. I called Rachel who answered right away. She informed me that this is not her 'business' rather it is out of kindness (my words) that she provides lunch to trail riders. If she is available, she'll deliver it to you in person, otherwise, it will be waiting in the refrigerator at the Turner Shelter. She was very accommodating to my vegetarian diet. I order a veggie sandwich, veggies, fruit and pretzels. Rachel texted me in the morning of Day 4 to say my lunch which I paid for via Venmo, would be in the refrigerator labeled with my name. When I arrived around 11a, I grabbed my lunch and headed to a shaded picnic table off the trail away from the Shelter. When I laid it out on the table, I was in awe at the size of the sandwich, literally a garden on hearty whole grain bread, carrots, an apple, banana and a bag of pretzels. It was like 'mom' packed me a special lunch when I was a kid. I was emotionally overwhelmed by the generosity of the service and lunch perhaps because the journey was showing me that kindness still exists in the world. I ate the whole damn sandwich and carrots. Saved the rest for breaks down the trail. Strapped the pretzels to my handlebar roll bag so I could nibble on them along the trail. Best $15 meal I had on the trail! Highly recommend this experience.

The Bell Tent and Lookout was Day 3 on the journey. Traveled from New Franklin with a stop in Rocheport for breakfast and a wine tasting. The Bell Tent is obscurely located at the top of a very steep trail climb. It was challenging but doable if you're game and/or fit. I liked the challenge of finding the secret entrance, locking my bike up on the rack and climbing the hill to the top of a ridge that overlooked a large farm/prairie valley. The sunset was amazing from this view! The property is owned by a farming family and a young college student with an entrepreneurial spirit developed the site. It is in the forest away from the trail and very private. Once I settled in, I road into town .5 miles to grab a couple of beers to go with my veggie wrap from the winery. The next morning, I heated my egg sandwich in my cooking kit. The site is reserved through AirBnB. The tent with a Queen-sized memory foam bed was a appreciated and a compromise from sleeping on the ground the first two nights. The outdoor shower was not functioning so I had to forgo a shower until the next day. The water from the pumping sink is not potable and there is no power so be sure your electronics are fully charged and you have a back up. There is a grill, tiki torches and a small fire pit. The host was very responsive to the minor issues I had upon arrival. All in all it was a great night! Very unique and adventurous camping option which I loved!

Met a fellow Katy Trail Adventurer from Springfield, Illinois at the Boonville TH on Day 2 enroute to Katy Roundhouse. He recommended Meriwether for a trailside dining spot. Needed to restock, so I decided that would be my breakfast stop on Day 3. Morning of Day 3 after a pleasant night's sleep and the bike wash escapade, I rode 10ish miles to Meriwethers for breakfast. It is literally trailside to the north. Sat on the patio and enjoyed a cup of coffee and a delicious egg sandwich on whole grain with fresh fruit. The sandwich was a generous size so I packed the other half in my Dakine as a back up in case I couldn't find food on my way to Hartsburg which I knew does not have many options. As I headed out after breakfast for the ~33 mile trek, I stopped at the Rocheport TH and talked with riders/SAG team that mentioned a winery down the trail where I could get food for the trail. It was closer than I expected but decided not to pass up the opportunity to replenish nutrition. Blufftop A-Frame Tasting Room was ~1 mile on the north side of the trail. There is a bike rack at the base of a trail that you hike up.3 miles to the top which was a lovely hike in the forest. Once at the top, go through the parking lot to get to the A-Frame Tasting Room. I am glad I didn't pass it up because the view of the Missouri River was amazing from their expansive decking. I wasn't hungry since I just ate breakfast, so I had a glass of wine and bought a to-go veggie wrap that I ate later in Hartsburg at my campsite. Day 3 was a success!

Day 2 night's stay. Reserved a tent spot online, confirmed with John via phone. Upon my arrival, John greeted me outside the check-in office. He familiarized me with the grounds, tent spots, shower house, and firewood location. The tent spots are primitive but there is power to charge your electronics while you shower. The stalls are deep and narrow, (which doubled as a bike wash the next morning. The trail was so dry and dusty the week I rode it due to the lack of rain for weeks that my bike looked like a ghost bike after each day. The drivetrain needed a rinse every day) so I wheeled it into the farthest stall and rinsed off the chain and cassette. Good to go for Day 3! In the evening, I enjoyed a campfire, the sounds of coyote howling to each other and the stars twinkling above. Another $10 bargain!!

Sedalia to New Franklin was Day 2 and a 40+ mile trek. Katarina's was to be my lunch stop. I learned from the cashier at Casey's that she is closed until her baby is older (may be reopening next year 2025). There isn't much in Pilot Grove except Katarina's and Deon's Bar and Grill which I was informed only offers lunch on select days. It's challenging for me since I do not eat meat which is what you'll find at a lot of these diners. Casey's saved the day! They have pizza by the slice and beer in the cooler. The kitchen manager made a fresh veggie pizza while I waited. I grabbed a few protein bars, packets of Cholula, napkins, a beer and headed back to the TH for a hearty carb-filled lunch at the picnic table. Happy rider! Takeaway lesson: You can do all the research but expect the unexpected and be prepared to improvise! It's part of the adventure. :)

Lazy Liz Horse & RV Campground was my first night's stay on my Katy Trail Adventure. It's a roadside Horse Ranch repurposed into a campground and located 2 miles west of the Sedalia TH. The barn has a large patio on the backside with tables/chairs and a variety of seating. There are grills for your use and a community fire spot. Amenities include an indoor shower/bathroom (nicer and cleaner than most public restrooms), an outhouse, laundry room (BYOSoap), full hook ups for RVs, an outdoor shower which I used. It was awesome experience to shower in the fresh air and watch the sun set. Beautiful property and the hosts are very responsive. Make a reservation, drop your money in the cash box and enjoy the landscape. No frills and hassle-free! Best $10 I ever spent!

The night I stayed there were several RVs on site. They were attending a retrievers competition at the fairgrounds. With all the dogs, I expected it be a sleepless night in my tent. Turns out these dogs (estimated no less than 30 and maybe more) were either wiped out or very obedient. When 9:00p rolled around you could have heard a pin drop. I mention this as a suggestion to check local events or ask the host if large groups are expected during your stay.

I rode The Katy from Clinton to Machens starting on October 9, 2024. Prior to my journey, I spent a year and a half on and off this website and others to research the trail, TH amenities, overnight options, and food availability along the trail. For my adventure, I rented a car in Bentonville and dropped it off at the Enterprise dealer located 1 mile from the Clinton trailhead. (I don't own a car so this was the perfect solution). Conversely, The Bike Stop Cafe in St. Charles, Missouri, offers shuttles to/from anywhere along the trail according to my last communication with them which was September 2024. If you wanted to start in Clinton and ride east, which was recommended based on my research, you could leave your car in St Charles and shuttle to a desired trailhead. THANK YOU to the webmasters for all the valuable information on this site and riders who contributed to the forum. My journey of 278 miles in 6 days was flawless in large part due to the wealth of information on this site!

Great place to stay. Dry nice and clean. A lot of room and beautiful town.

according to Google map, Leeton General Store is permanently closed.

I had planned to ride this coming week Clinton to St. Charles M-F
The wind forecast has me a bit concerned. How sheltered or wide open is the trail generally?
Would southerly gusts be a significant problem?
I will be on a loaded to camp gravel bike. I really wanted to get the ride in before the time change and water shut offs 11/1.
Anyone ridden in Nov care to comment if I delay? Thank you.

From Clinton to Boonville a southerly wind will be more of a tailwind. If you look at the trail map you'll see why. From Boonville on it's pretty much a crosswind. The trail is sheltered for the most part but you will hit open sections. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Is parking at the Boonville trailhead safe for a couple nights? Thinking I might use the casino lot instead?

We've parked at the Booneville trailhead without issue.

If using the casino lot, I'd let their security know so they didn't think it was an abandoned vehicle.

Thanks Anonymous. Absolutely the trailhead lot was perfect and the folks working inside were first rate taking my info down and making me feel even better about parking there. NO issues and a great reminder that this trail, end to end, is just about the best thing in MO.

Our stay at the School House B&B was wonderful! The rooms are beautiful and the bed was very comfortable! Andy is a great host and cook! Delicious breakfast! If ever in Rocheport would stay again!
Sincerely,
Dianne

Definitely would recommend the schoolhouse property in Rocheport Missouri along the Katie Trail for your overnight stay. The schoolhouse B&B is clean, bedding sheets are top hotel grade. The outside patio and grounds are excellent for hanging out with your friends. Breakfast was superb! do you want me to answer for you Glen? I

I’m leaving 10/5 to ride the Katy from Clinton to St. Charles. Given the forecast for rain from Hurricane Helene into, at least, eastern Missouri, what kind trail conditions might I expect. I’m still undecided as to which of my bikes to bring. I know that’s a week away but I need to start firming up my bike plans. I understand wider wheels may be better but they are, of course, heavier.

It will dry up over the next few days and the forecast for the next week is mostly sunny and highs in the 70s, so the trail conditions should be great. The trail on the Kansas City side of the state is already dry and pretty dusty again. You mainly have to look out for small washouts by entrances and driveways where you can get some loose gravel spots. The leaves will start falling soon and those will start covering things like walnuts and some of the loose gravel spots. The wider tires are really not needed.

No rain in Columbia, either. Cloudy and breezy.

Thanks for that insight. I appreciate the responses and will plan accordingly.

We need a trip report from you, Riv. :)

Bill:

The trip across the Katy went well. The weather was dry with no rain in sight. Mornings were chilly but it warmed up nicely during the day. Some notables for me were:

Many long, straight sections with little change in scenery other than the rocky bluffs
Other than squirrels, saw little other wildlife
Surprised with the miles and miles of soybeans being harvested along the river’s floodplain
The size/breadth of the Missouri River. It reminded me of the Potomac along the C&O
Loved Herman, it’s coffee house, restaurants and shops but not the trains at night :-)
Liked the Lewis & Clark histories along the way

If I were doing it solo, I’d have to spend a lot of time planning for overnight stays, food stops and contingency plans for mechanical malfunctions, i.e. the same info I’ve assembled during my many trips on the GAP and C&O.

In summary, I enjoyed the trip and can now check it off of my bucket list.

Best Wishes,
Rivnuts

PS: The breakfasts at the Main Street Diner in Booneville were outstanding and very reasonably priced. Highly recommended.

All of that sounds exactly right. Glad that it went well for you!

So happy to see your report on your Katy Trail Ride. Did you get to see Cooper's Landing, do they still have Boathenge? Did you see the Big Burr Oak?

What did you think about the little towns? I used to ride mostly around Jefferson City, and loved Tebbetts, Mokane, and Portland east of Jefferson City, and Hartsburg and Rocheport west of Jefferson City.

Did you see any snakes? I think most times I rode the Katy Trail I saw a snake. October may have been late for them. I learned to breath deeply, relax and remember we share the trail, with walkers, other riders and wildlife, including snakes.

Were there many others on the trail during your trip? Did you meet people from other states, countries?

Again thanks for letting us know how your trip went.

Cathy from Churchill:

Indeed, I saw boat henge and had lunch at Cooper's Landing. I also saw the painted silos among other sights. That said, I missed the big burr oak. I wasn't paying attention when I crossed the intersection at which you must leave the trail to see that big, old oak. It was a few miles down the trail when I realized I had missed that opportunity. My bad.

As for the "small" towns I already mentioned my admiration of Hermann. I also found Sedalia, Rocheport, Booneville, and Augusta interesting. I'd need to go back to take in all those small towns to appreciate all they have to offer. I loved all the restored train stations similar to those along the GAP Trail. The state has done a very good job in building the depots and providing lots of signage as well as maintaining the surface albeit with a few washouts.

I didn't see any snakes, turtles or other aquatic life. I did hear some Canadian geese which are, of course, the state bird of Pennsylvania. :-)

Since I was participating in the Big BAM tour of the Katy, I was riding amongst 300 other riders headed for St. Charles from Clinton. I didn't see very may other riders going west until we got west of Augusta to St. Charles especially since most of the trip was on weekdays. As expected most of the riders on this tour were from Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska and Texas. I met a few from California, Oregon, Connecticut, DC, Florida among others. My informal visual and conversational survey suggests the average age of the participants was between 65 and 75 which is not unusual for these kid of tours.

Hope your fall riding is safe and often.

Rivnuts

How close to the train station are you? Katy trail?

You will need to call them directly. Most businesses don't watch the site.

Google Maps is a good resource at times like this.

I suggest using your adult skills and looking at google maps to see for yourself. That hotel is almost as far as you can get from Amtrak and not very convenient to the trail. Many riders, including myself, have been pleased with Hotel Bothwell. It is located downtown, near Amtrak, Katy, and dining/coffee/booze. The Bothwell hotel even has a bike wash station located in the alley.

I did a 3 day ride from KC to downtown St. Louis in early October 2024, I stayed at the Cycle Inn after a long ride from Booneville. It was perfect, Rich was very accommodating. The rooms are new and spacious. There was a hose outside for washing down the bike and cold beer in the communal fridge. Far and away the best option in Hermann for cyclists.

I stopped in to find out more about this place. From what I can tell, they open every day at 2:00. The kitchen officially opens later than that, but they can make you a frozen pizza any time. The folks inside were very friendly and hope that more riders will stop through.

Smoking is allowed indoors.

There's not much food along this stretch, so if you'd like to confirm hours and services with them, hit them up on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1502296727269701/

The Rowdy Rooster is no longer operating, but it has been replaced by Mavericks. We had dinner and breakfast there, and both were great. The new owner wants to be careful about overextending, so she doesn't even have a phone number. But if you are in town and they are open, we recommend it. And yes, get the doughnuts for dessert.

We just got back from doing the MO70. It's a 70 mile bike and canoe event put on by Big Muddy Adventures. We rode from Washington to Hermann on the Katy. We camped there, and then canoed downriver the next day. Just wanted to let people know that it was a nice event in case it popped upon their radar.

The logo is actually located very close to the first spot where you can see the river while traveling east from Rocheport. It is about 18 inches tall and about 7? feet off the ground. It is next to a piped spring, and quite close to the Ted Jones Memorial marker. I had spent so much time unsuccessfully looking for the logo that I thought others might appreciate the help.

What a delightful place to arrive at after a long day riding! There was a storage shed for bikes complete with plug ins for E-Bikes. The accommodations were charming, clean and so unique.Andy and his wife are wonderful hosts and our group loved the fantastic breakfast they served. We highly recommend this little jewel on the Katy Trail.

The many positive reviews for Lindenhof B & B are accurate and on point, a great place to stay while on trail or enjoying area. Late in trip, decided to stop instead of camping for last night of week plus "Rain Ride". Kathy has created a warm & welcoming environment with breakfast as advertised - home cooked delicious! Everything needed for you and your bike to be comfortable. A definite add to my KATY trail resource list - 3 trips and counting

Spent 8 days on trail last month. Plan was to camp Hermann Sat night with wet weather closing in hard. Pulled up to Cycle Inn, called contact number and the rest was magic. Rich not sure if he had a room at first but not to worry, fortunately there was a cancelation. Rooms are spacious, clean with cool misc momento decor and showers are tall & tiled - fabulous after a day on trail. I say showers since stayed there on way back too. Again, going to camp but Cycle Inn just too easy and comfortable. Rich and super assistant David go above and beyond to make your stay enjoyable. Somewhat newer but well thought out business venture. Rich saw an opportunity to provide great value in Hermann lodging space while engaging the cycling community. Support these top notch folks - they made my Hermann stops memorable

We ate here today between riding the park’s tram tour and biking to McBaine. It was busy, but got good service. Burger and fries were good. The wife said the patty melt was one of the best she has had.

We enjoyed the privacy of the dormitory, we had our own little domain, the water was nice and hot and beds were comfortable. Be careful on the lower bunk , not to bump your head! It was great to have coffee and oatmeal in the morning. The place was very clean!

I camped here on the 6th of October. No one working the office on the Sunday but check-in and payment were easy. Nice and quiet apart from a frequent coyote chorus throughout the night. Showers were nice and the bathhouse clean. I rate it as a very good place to camp.

I have 2 flat tires in Marthasville. Any suggestions where I can get inner tubes or repair?

You might swing by the Happy Apples Bicycle Bunkhouse. There might be someone there, another biker, that could possibly help you out.

I stayed in a cabin at the Katy-Rock Junction campground the first night of my trip. It was great to ride in, meet Charley and have a cold beer. My cabin was compact, but super clean and comfortable. The washroom was only 10 yards away, also super clean with plenty of hot water. Met some great people who were camping there and can't recommend this place enough!

Right on, Kevin. I stayed there last month and found that place to be awesome too. Charlie is the coolest guy and that place is super clean. I posted a Google Review, but thought I'd throw my two cents in here too.

The Katy-Rock Junc is a great little stop. My wife and I stayed there last Oct when we rode the KT. Only less than 20 miles from Clinton, but after a 5 hour drive from OKC, we were happy with a shorter first day ride.

Is Dale not there anymore?

Thank you Kevin and John for staying with us and your kind words and awesome reviews! You guys rock! We look forward to your return to Katy-Rock Junction!
Scotty Mac, my wife Stacey and I purchased Katy-Rock Junction from Dale, and are now the only operators/employees of the business. We would be pleased to meet you and have you stay with us on your next cycling adventure!
Give us a call at 660-233-1010.
Warm Regards and Happy Trails!

Ray, do you have a site for the OTET?

Hey Bill, I have a site for the Little Miami Trail, which runs from Cincinnati to Springfield:

https://trailhub.com/little-miami-scenic-trail.aspx

So that covers about 1/4 of the route. I've thought about expanding to the whole OTET, but haven't had a chance. In the meantime, this is the best resource I know of, for the full Cincy-to-Cleveland route:

https://www.ohiotoerietrail.org/

Well, while we're on the topic of other trails that Ray the Webmaster has websites for, Ray, could you just list the sites you support? I know you cover the Katy Trail/Rock Island Rail (Missouri), Great Allegheny Trail (Gap), C & O from Pittsburgh to DC, Erie Canal Trail, and now thanks to Bill's question the Little Miami Trail in Ohio. Do you cover other trails? Thanks.

Cathy, glad you asked! Below is a list, in roughly west to east order. Some of these trails are big and well known, some are much shorter and less known, but they're all just waiting for you to explore.

All the websites follow the same design pattern with the interactive map, trip planner, timeline, etc - although some of the smaller or newer ones do not have a forum, since they have less traffic.

And the list is always growing.... Before the end of the year, the D&R Towpath (east/central New Jersey - New Brunswick area - 77 miles) will be on the TrailHub website, where you can also find the full list below: https://trailhub.com/

Beyond that, I'd like to eventually add Coeur d'Alene, Ohio to Erie, and whatever other good suggestions/ideas may come along.


South Dakota - Mickelson Trail

Nebraska - Cowboy Trail

Texas - Northeast Texas Trail (from outside of Dallas to almost Texarkana)

Minnesota - Paul Bunyan Trail

Missouri - Frisco Highline Trail (southwestern MO)

Missouri - Katy and Rock Island Trails

Wisconsin - Elroy-Sparta Trail

Illinois - Hennepin Canal (from near the I&M Canal to quad cities/Iowa state line)

Illinois - I&M Canal (from outside Chicago to near the Hennepin Canal)

Illinois - Great River Road (Alton to Grafton, north of St Louis)

Mississippi/Alabama/Tennessee - Natchez Trace (from southern MS to Nashville TN)

Alabama/Georgia - Chief Ladiga (AL) and Silver Comet (GA) Trails

Michigan - Border to Border Trail (Ann Arbor area)

Ohio - Little Miami Scenic Trail

Virginia - Virginia Creeper Trail

Pennsylvania - Great Allegheny Passage (GAP)

Maryland/DC - C&O Canal Towpath

New York - Erie Canal

New York - Empire State Trail

Connecticut - Farmington Canal Trail (New Haven to Massachusetts - south/north)

Connecticut - Air Line Trail (outside Hartford to Massachusetts - west/east)

IMO one would be amiss to travel to ride the Coeur d'Alene without also riding the Route of the Hiawatha. It was one of the most beautiful and interesting bike rides that we've ever done.

Thanks for the info, Ray! Many of those were new to me. Time to add them to the checklist. :)

What a find! We instantly felt like family! Great couple of folks who are kind and generous. Helped us drive into town and gave us food for the journey. We would come back in a heartbeat.

What a wonderful spot to stay after a long trek from Boonville! Very easy to find and most welcoming with snacks, cold drinks, and a washer and dryer with soap provided. It seems they thought of everything!

Stopped here for a late breakfast and everything was great. Delicious food, large portions, plenty of hot coffee and fast service!

Grabbed a fantastic cheesesteak and a couple of Logboat IPAs while listening to some great live music last Saturday

Deon's is not fancy, BUT what it does have is ice cold beer on tap, delicious food and a friendly staff. It was a great place to stop for lunch.

This B&B is literally right on the trail! My room was quiet and clean with a comfortable bed. Rocheport is a very picturesque town, but there are not a lot of dining options, so the frozen pizza for sale in the freezer was a lifesaver (and delicious!)

Great, old school diner! They're open early and a short walk from the Katy-Rock Junction campsite. The food and coffee were great and I had a blast talking to the waitress.

Stayed at The Cycle Inn in Hermann this week. After a long day (84 miles), it was great to relax with a hot shower and sleep in a comfortable bed. My room was quiet, clean and spacious. If you need a place to stay in Hermann, this is it!

I am interested in riding the trail from KC to Machens in the fall 2024 and then returning via train from St. Louis to KC with my bike but when I search for train tickets the Amtrak system all trains state that bicycle transport is sold out. Is this system accurate? Is there a possible way to still get the bike on the train (purchase a seat, for example)?

Thanks.

Did you try a weekday? Just for your info….. it is easier to ride Amtrak first, then ride back to kc. That way you aren’t in a race to catch a train on time. If there is something that causes you to be delayed you will have to hurry to make the train.

Think about renting a car one way instead.

I just checked the first Sunday in Oct. Bike slots sold out. The following Wednesday 3 of 4 bike slots available. Looks like weekends are busy.

I made an Amtrak reservation from Jefferson City to Sedalia and Amtrak said all bike spaces were full. I went to catch the train with my bike and I asked the conductor if there was enough room for my bike. The conductor said Sure! Bring it onboard.

I got a response from AmTrak message service and called them but they were not very helpful: no ability to search trains by bicycle transport availability, no suggestions for getting a bike on the train (additional payment etc.), and general lack of interest in aiding me with my request. It just seems weird that for a whole train only 3 spots are available for a bike. I would like the trail and the train would have more interest in creating a combined service.

Amtrak's unwillingness to even slightly cater to the bikers on Katy has caused me some distress (when planning trips) over many years. If anyone has an "in" with Amtrak, please let us know. Us bikers are self sufficient and can take care of getting our gear on and off, are usually pretty well behaved, and we would be a consistent source of passengers for them if they would open up a few more areas for bikes, and be more amenable to those of us trying to schedule. Instead of a fun and inexpensive way across the state, we have to book with a charter transport company to get to or from our starting point, and at quite a higher price.

The River Runner train is a glorified commuter train running back and forth from KC/StL. It does not have a dedicated baggage car, so essentially everyone travels “carry on.” To accommodate bicycles they removed about two rows of seats on one side of one car on the entire train. This means they have made room for a total of four bikes. If they would add a baggage car, or remove seats in every car more bikes could be transported, but seats bring in more money than bikes, so…..For those not familiar you do have to carry your bikes up a steep, narrow set of stairs into the train then make a hard turn to enter the passenger area. Panniers or bags are removed to accomplish this task. It’s awkward but the conductor will assist you and direct you to the correct car. Remember that conductor is EXTREMELY busy, so be prepared to get loaded promptly because the train is on a timetable and they have a lot of passengers to assist and get moving with only a short amount of time. Tip your conductor. Pro tip: I’ve heard if you didn’t get a reservation slot for your bike that conductors are very willing to help if you slip them a crisp $20 bill.

to Eric from KCMO - Thank you for those comments. My husband and I hotel our way across the state, so getting our bikes and gear into the train isn't too bad. But I can see that, for the campers - of which there are many - getting all the gear and the bikes up the steps into the train could be difficult especially due to the time crunch.
I've never had the nerve to hope that we might get our bikes on without a bike reservation - hoping for a bike friendly conductor. If I was younger and a little more adventurous I would sure give that a try!
The first time we rode the Katy trail was about 10 years ago. At that time Amtrak had a separate car, with no seats in it, for gear and bikes. Does anyone remember that?
Also, has anyone contacted customer service, or found some way to communicate with the powers that be, to let them know that many bikers would be using their service if the bike slots were more readily available?

I would think MO DNR/State Parks would work with Amtrak to ensure that transportation was available for bike riders along the Katy. That collaboration will become more important as the Rock Island is completed.

Just wanted to correct something, as my family noted my lapse of memory. Regarding previous statement "The first time we rode the Katy trail was about 10 years ago. At that time Amtrak had a separate car, with no seats in it, for gear and bikes. Does anyone remember that?"
That trip, where there was an extra car for bikes and gear was actually in 2007, more like 17 years ago. But does anyone else remember that?

If roll on bike spots on Amtrak are sold out... box your bike and check it as regular baggage. Ive done this a few times with no issues.You actually can purchase a bike box at most of the larger stations. You will have to remove pedals,handlebars and the seat.Just get there early.If you are taking train at the beginning of your trip pick up a used box from your local bike shop{ usually for free } and box it up at home. this service isnt available at all stations/trains ...so check with Amtrak first

I was told at the ticket window in St. Louis that it was the conductor' discretion whether to allow your bike if the regular spaces were sold out. I went to the platform, and the conductor couldn't have been nicer about it. He wedged my bike into a space in the vestibule, and said he had done this many times. Don't be afraid to ask.

Can I ride my class 3 e bike on the Katy trail?

Yes, as long as you don’t exceed 20mph on the trail. You should be able to set your level three to level one or level two and stay within the rules.

Is Rivers Edge Campground open? If not, is the a place the to pitch a tent?