Rock Island Trail Forum

I'm thinking of staying at the Sedalia House B&B and wanted to know what the ride was like on HH to get back to the trail. We are planning on taking Amtrak to Sedalia, stay the evening, and then bike East the next day. It appears we would have to bike on HH for about 4 miles. Does anyone know what that road is like? Does anyone recommend this B&B? Or any other recommendations for accomodations?

I'm thinking of staying at the Sedalia House B&B and wanted to know what the ride was like on HH to get back to the trail. We are planning on taking Amtrak to Sedalia, stay the evening, and then bike East the next day. It appears we would have to bike on HH for about 4 miles. Does anyone know what that road is like? Does anyone recommend this B&B? Or any other recommendations for accomodations?

We stayed there, and it was very pleasant. We didn't ride HH--the owners will shuttle you to and from the trail (we were riding with young kids). Having driven it, I would say it is sort of average for Missouri country roads--no shoulder, but reasonable visibibility and moderate traffic. So it's no trail, but not terrible. If anyone else has actually ridden it, they may have better insight. Another option in Sedalia is the Hotel Bothwell, which is right downtown (close to trail and Amtrak)--reasonably priced and comfortable. Breakfast definitely not as good as Sedalia House, but a good in-house restaurant. Check hours, though. They aren't open every day.

We stayed there, and it was very pleasant. We didn't ride HH--the owners will shuttle you to and from the trail (we were riding with young kids). Having driven it, I would say it is sort of average for Missouri country roads--no shoulder, but reasonable visibibility and moderate traffic. So it's no trail, but not terrible. If anyone else has actually ridden it, they may have better insight. Another option in Sedalia is the Hotel Bothwell, which is right downtown (close to trail and Amtrak)--reasonably priced and comfortable. Breakfast definitely not as good as Sedalia House, but a good in-house restaurant. Check hours, though. They aren't open every day.

The Sedalia House B&B offers a special package just for KATY Trail riders which includes shuttles to and from both the trailheads and the dinner location of your choice, as well as a snack pack that's big enough to serve as a sack lunch for the next day. And, of course, it comes with a full breakfast. Check out the website located under Towns & Services...Sedalia.

The Sedalia House B&B offers a special package just for KATY Trail riders which includes shuttles to and from both the trailheads and the dinner location of your choice, as well as a snack pack that's big enough to serve as a sack lunch for the next day. And, of course, it comes with a full breakfast. Check out the website located under Towns & Services...Sedalia.

Never used the B & B, but have stayed in the Bothwell. They are extremely accomodating to bicyclists, reasonabley priced, and only about 4 blocks off the trail.

Never used the B & B, but have stayed in the Bothwell. They are extremely accomodating to bicyclists, reasonabley priced, and only about 4 blocks off the trail.

Stayed at the Sedalia House last year and I highly recommend it. The room was great, the breakfast was great and the snacks for the road lasted all day. The hosts were very accomodating and allowed us to park our car there and picked us up at the train station when we returned.

Stayed at the Sedalia House last year and I highly recommend it. The room was great, the breakfast was great and the snacks for the road lasted all day. The hosts were very accomodating and allowed us to park our car there and picked us up at the train station when we returned.

The Sedalia House is beautiful inside and the host is very nice and talkative. The ride getting there and back has a few steep hills especially going back to the depot. If you take the back roads the traffic isn't bad at all. We were on HH for only 1 mile, but at night. Its hard to figure out where you are at night at the depot, but once you find Engineer Street you should have no problem finding it even in the dark. It is 4 miles from the trail.

The Sedalia House is beautiful inside and the host is very nice and talkative. The ride getting there and back has a few steep hills especially going back to the depot. If you take the back roads the traffic isn't bad at all. We were on HH for only 1 mile, but at night. Its hard to figure out where you are at night at the depot, but once you find Engineer Street you should have no problem finding it even in the dark. It is 4 miles from the trail.

The food is good here, it was recommended by our host at the Rivercene. Very good Greek food at a lower price. One block from the foot of the bridge.

The food is good here, it was recommended by our host at the Rivercene. Very good Greek food at a lower price. One block from the foot of the bridge.

This is something you don't want to miss if you like history and a gift shop.

This is something you don't want to miss if you like history and a gift shop.

Dutzow deli has the best chili around. Everything else is great too!

Dutzow deli has the best chili around. Everything else is great too!

Wide selection of bike accessories and parts along with ice cream and snacks. Friendly workers willing to assist. Bought a book and left it at the store...they mailed it to me with no extra charge..top notch customer service. Plan for this to be a regular stop.

Wide selection of bike accessories and parts along with ice cream and snacks. Friendly workers willing to assist. Bought a book and left it at the store...they mailed it to me with no extra charge..top notch customer service. Plan for this to be a regular stop.

A Must Stay!! Rhonda & Leo was the friendliest people you will meet. Room was very nice and breakfast the next morning was top notch. The hot tub is also a nice bonus.

A Must Stay!! Rhonda & Leo was the friendliest people you will meet. Room was very nice and breakfast the next morning was top notch. The hot tub is also a nice bonus.

Nice Establishment! Easy to locate. Service and people were great. Pork Tenderloin sandwich was fantastic! Went back next day for lunch. The bike rack on the side of the building made me feel welcomed.

Nice Establishment! Easy to locate. Service and people were great. Pork Tenderloin sandwich was fantastic! Went back next day for lunch. The bike rack on the side of the building made me feel welcomed.

Fantastic Place to Stay! After riding 111 miles in one day, I was greeted with a cold glass of lemonade. Globe has three bathrooms (one with a shower, a bathtub and half bathroom). Washer & Dryer are available to clean dirty riding clothes. Breakfast in the morning consisted of various yogurts, homemade muffins, bagels, hardboiled eggs, and multiple drink options. Owner even gave me two muffins for the road....awesome!

Fantastic Place to Stay! After riding 111 miles in one day, I was greeted with a cold glass of lemonade. Globe has three bathrooms (one with a shower, a bathtub and half bathroom). Washer & Dryer are available to clean dirty riding clothes. Breakfast in the morning consisted of various yogurts, homemade muffins, bagels, hardboiled eggs, and multiple drink options. Owner even gave me two muffins for the road....awesome!

Stopped into Deon's Bar & Grill from the trail. Easy access from the trailhead, and great service. Filled up my water bottle & camelback with ice & water.

Stopped into Deon's Bar & Grill from the trail. Easy access from the trailhead, and great service. Filled up my water bottle & camelback with ice & water.

This was a fun place to stay. The homemade meal included real mashed potatoes & real butter,barbequed ribs,baked squash,green beans and bread. Nothing processed here. We especially enjoyed the bonfire after the dinner, and the host's warm hospitality. We would recommend the Rendleman home to anyone wanting a relaxing, comfortable country stay, with great food and wonderful conversation.

We also enjoyed our stay here. The meals and conversation were very enjoyable. It really felt as if we were spending time visiting with a cycling buddy in his kitchen as he prepared supper. Doug (our host) also saved our trip from the disaster of having a flat tire without repair kit (mountain bike tires are supposed to be invulnerable, right?). Because he was shuttling our van in the morning we were able to contact him while he was en route and he met us, lent me his bike, and then took my wheel to a bike shop for repair. By the next trail head he was back and I was back on my own bike.

I am not sure WHY there is such a puch to ride the Katy in 24 hours. I planned a 7 day ride and enjoyed every mile of it viewing streams, wildlife and foilage not to mention the bluffs and Old Many River plus some really special locals who live along the trail. I am a very athletic 77 year old woman and rode it alone to savor a very special state. If anyone wants suggestions for an indepth adventure on this longest narrowest state park pleasce contact me.

Congratulations on your ride. It sounds great.



In answer to your question - I can think of many reasons to do it in a day and I can also think of many reasons to do it in 7.



That's the beauty of the KATY....it is open to adventures of all kinds.



Congratulations again on the ride.

It was wonderful to read your description of your experience and I was amazed you did this alone! How fantastic! My husband and I are planning a Katy Trail trip in the next couple of years and definitely want to savor every moment as you did.

Thank you!

nelda, what a wonderful story. sounds like you had a great time, and met some great folks. thanx for sharing your ride.

Cold beer, good food, and fast service. Plenty of room to stretch out and relax. Great stop for lunch.

Cold beer, good food, and fast service. Plenty of room to stretch out and relax. Great stop for lunch.

Rhona and Leo know how to do a B&B right. Convenient shuttle service, friendly atmosphere, outstanding breakfast and comfortable accomodations.

Rhona and Leo know how to do a B&B right. Convenient shuttle service, friendly atmosphere, outstanding breakfast and comfortable accomodations.

There is a new stop on the trail as of 9-24-07. It's Missy's Mart on the west side of Tebbetts. Open early with coffeee sandwiches and snacks soda etc. Has easy access and a friendly owner.

That's good to hear! Will stop next time I'm in the area.

My husband and I had a fantastic time at Doug's place. We rode 71 miles that day and for the last 20 miles my husband was struggling with a slow leaking tire. Doug, who is an avid cyclist himself, keeps a small store of bicycle maintenance supplies. He had a tube that fit Craig's tire and got him all fixed up for the rest of our ride.



Doug cooked us up a delicious feast for dinner including grilled chicken, hamburgers, brats, spaghetti squash (the best I've ever had), potato salad, green salad and butternut squash soup. YUM!



That evening he kept a bonfire going and a friend stopped by with mandolins and guitars and we sat around the fire singing and playing (I'm a musician). What a great time!



Breakfast was thick slices of homemade French toast with molasses and strawberries. Everything Doug cooks is from scratch and usually grown in his garden. Very fresh and very delicious.



The best thing about Doug's place is that Doug really understands cycling. He cycles almost every day and uses the trail to go to the grocery store, the bike shop and almost everything else. His place is really more of a hostel for cyclists than a fancy B&B and Craig and I appreciated that very much. It is probably the best place along the entire trail for real cyclists who will enjoy Doug's cycling stories and personable character. He is a great host.



I enthusiastically recommend Rendleman home and Craig and I are coming back to stay again in October. We are definitely planning to become regulars at Rendleman and feel like we've made a good new friend. Thanks Doug!



~ Blue

My husband and I had a fantastic time at Doug's place. We rode 71 miles that day and for the last 20 miles my husband was struggling with a slow leaking tire. Doug, who is an avid cyclist himself, keeps a small store of bicycle maintenance supplies. He had a tube that fit Craig's tire and got him all fixed up for the rest of our ride.



Doug cooked us up a delicious feast for dinner including grilled chicken, hamburgers, brats, spaghetti squash (the best I've ever had), potato salad, green salad and butternut squash soup. YUM!



That evening he kept a bonfire going and a friend stopped by with mandolins and guitars and we sat around the fire singing and playing (I'm a musician). What a great time!



Breakfast was thick slices of homemade French toast with molasses and strawberries. Everything Doug cooks is from scratch and usually grown in his garden. Very fresh and very delicious.



The best thing about Doug's place is that Doug really understands cycling. He cycles almost every day and uses the trail to go to the grocery store, the bike shop and almost everything else. His place is really more of a hostel for cyclists than a fancy B&B and Craig and I appreciated that very much. It is probably the best place along the entire trail for real cyclists who will enjoy Doug's cycling stories and personable character. He is a great host.



I enthusiastically recommend Rendleman home and Craig and I are coming back to stay again in October. We are definitely planning to become regulars at Rendleman and feel like we've made a good new friend. Thanks Doug!



~ Blue

We are thinking about driving to St. Charles and getting shuttled to Defiance to ride bikes back. We have never been here before. Muscatine is atleast a 4 hour trip away. We thought it might be a fun weekend getaway. Anyone agree??

Save your money and the Earth. Driving 500 miles for a 20 mile bike ride is bad Karma. A good first step is to attempt to ride farther than you're going to drive to do a ride. Then you can approach Nirvana by learning to drive less because you ride rather than vice versa.

Couldn't agress with the comment more.. The poster needs to do those types of rides in the local park..

Cindy, if you have the desire and the means, then go for it !! Get out and enjoy yourself while you are able. Have a great trip !!

Cindy, My wife and I utilize St.Charles and the KT as a Weekend trip 2 or 3 times a summer. Its a very entertaining town that always has something going on. Riverport is just over the bridge to the east on I70 which has outstanding concerts spring to fall. I am only about 2.5 hours out and it is worth the trip to us.

The unfortunate thing is…..all the good stuff can’t be in everyone’s backyard.



We have driven the 2½ hours from St. Joseph to Rocheport many, many times.....just to ride over to McBaine and back. Was it worth it? Absolutely! Do we still do it? Absolutely! We do an annual ride/walk with kids, sister, and Mom each October to enjoy the fall color. We don’t go too far, but for us this experience is priceless.



Most of the time we do an out and back ride around 40 miles or so one way. The last time we rode the Katy it was a Century ride. We've learned to like it.....so we return for more now!



Come to Missouri…...spend some time in the beautiful historic district of St. Charles. Take a ride on the Katy. Will it be worth it? If I were a betting man, I’d put a few buck down on it for you having a good time!

Cindy I agree with Trek Biker! I live in Edwardsville Kansas and my wife and I take trips to the Katy several times a year. We drive to Rocheport or Booneville and ride east to several of the towns along the trail. Sometimes we turn around and ride back and sometimes we stay the night in a B&B. This past Saturday we drove to Rocheport, rode to Hartburg and had lunch, then rode back. We left the house at 6AM and got back home around 9PM. We had a great day. We have driven to St Charles and rode to Marthasville, spent the night there, then rode back the next day. You might ride from St. Charles to Defiance and back, that would be about 40 miles round trip or just do what you planned and shuttle out and come back. Just have a great time. In St Charles we stayed at the Country Inn and Suites on the south end of Main street and really enjoyed it. There are several resturants and stores up and down main street that my wife and I really enjoy. Overall it would make a very nice weekend getaway. Just click on St Charles on the mileage chart and look at all of the links to help plan your trip. Have a great ride.

cindy, my wife and i just took a 1400 plus mile road trip in july. festus, mo to van lear, ky (loretta lynn's home place) then on to damascus, va to ride the virginia creeper trail. left wednesday mornin, came home saturday night. was it worth it, abolutely. would do it again in a heartbeat. said that to say this, i guarantee you will love every minute of it. enjoy the trip down, take your time ridin the katy, when your done, enjoy the evening. st charles is a nice town. it is not the trip, it is how much you enjoyed the trip.

I think it would be well worth the trip. St. Charles is a wonderful place. A suggestion I would make though would be to ride from St. Charles to Augusta and stay in Augusta at a Bed and Breakfast. Augusta is a lovely place and there are 6 wineries and a brewery in the area. They stay open a little later than normal through the end of September or the middle of October. This year I am planning my 4th annual Katy Trail ride and the last three years we have focused on the Augusta area. My friends and I have been on most of the trail and St. Charles to Augusta is one of our favorite areas of the trail. We are staying in Dutzow this year because I did not book early enough to stay in Augusta on the dates I wanted. Good luck! Hope you enjoy your trip.

Come to St. Charles, stay at Lococo House we will shuttle you to Defiance, Augusta or any town of your choice on the trail, enjoy the trail and come back to St. Charles and enjoy Historic Main Street. Many exciting things going on this Fall.... call 636-946-0619 for prices and details

Thank you for all the suggestions, I think we will give it a try. Even if we decide not to ride the bikes, sounds like there is still a lot of things to see in St. Charles!!

This was a fun place to stay. The homemade meal included real mashed potatoes & real butter,barbequed ribs,baked squash,green beans and bread. Nothing processed here. We especially enjoyed the bonfire after the dinner, and the host's warm hospitality. We would recommend the Rendleman home to anyone wanting a relaxing, comfortable country stay, with great food and wonderful conversation.

This was a fun place to stay. The homemade meal included real mashed potatoes & real butter,barbequed ribs,baked squash,green beans and bread. Nothing processed here. We especially enjoyed the bonfire after the dinner, and the host's warm hospitality. We would recommend the Rendleman home to anyone wanting a relaxing, comfortable country stay, with great food and wonderful conversation.

Just wondering about the condition of the trail from Mcbaine to Hartsburg. My buddy and I rode it on Sat. the 19th and there were a couple of bad spots at Easley and just north of Hartsburg.

Rode from Huntsdale to Hartsburg this past weekend. The trail has been scraped, but still a little rough and some washboarding. Fresh chat had not yet been laid near Hartsburg. However, it was ridable on my comfort bike, and had no problems. If you are attempting a fast ride, this section will slow you down.

Trail in both directions around Easley is rough. Lots of ruts, washboarding, and looks like some tire tracks or 4 wheeler indents. Coopers Landing area was soft with bike ruts.

This section of the trail seems to be overlooked by the DNR.....always seems to be in poor condition. I guess it's too far away from most civilization to be trim and neat. We rode 70 from Rocheport to N. Jeff and back last Sat. in the rain. This section of the trail was like riding in a swamp in many places.

Rode the trail from Tebbetts to Rocheport on July 8th. I thought DNR would have laid fresh gravel by then.....I was wrong. There were a lot of ruts just west of Hartsburg where the people that rode in the rain left their mark.

they were laying fresh gravel for several miles in that area last week

We have a group of 50 scouts planning a weekend stay. We will be camping at New Franklin. As we will have varying skill levels, some will ride a mile and some will ride 50. Any suggestions on which direction (East or West) we should head for the best scenery? Any difference in terrain for 10-15 miles from New Franklin, ie. is one way harder versus the other?



Thanks

From New Franklin heading south you will have to cross the Missouri river after only a few miles and you can't ride across the bridge. So you will need to arrange for the boys and their bikes to be transported to the south side to continue on the trail. From there you won't see the river at all, only farmland and it starts out uphill.



For the level trail and scenery I recommend heading east toward Rocheport. Most of the 13 miles is very level and you'll see some farmland and buildings. At Rocheport the trailhead has several attractions right on the trail, a small park for picnics and many places to grab a lunch or refreshing drink. It also has a bike shop if any of the boys bikes need repair. Then, continuing from Rocheport towards the southeast you immediately see the most scenic part of the Katy Trail; the bluffs on one side and the river on the other. You can look at the maps of some of the other small (and I mean small) towns further toward Jefferson City if any of you and your Scouts are willing and able to forge ahead.



This sounds like a great idea to me. I'm sure most of the boys will have an experience that they will remember well the rest of their lives. Have fun, be careful.

Why can't you cross the bridge at Boonville anymore?? Arrange for transportation across the bridge.....south of New Franklin??? I've riden across the bridge many, many times. There used to be a very nice bike lane. What do you know that the rest of us don't Norm???



Unless there has been a major news event.....I think you are in error.

The best scenery is around Rocheport and east. Coming into Rocheport you will ride through the tunnel which your scouts will really enjoy. The town of Rocheport is really nice and you can eat or grab something to drink at the Bike shop right on the trail. Riding east you will be riding along the river with high bluffs on your left. There are benches all along the trail to stop and rest at. The trail is flat and easy to ride so your scouts will be able to ride farther than you might think. Be sure and stop and look at all the different things along the trail, like the Railroads munitions cave on the left side of the trail east of Rocheport. You'll have a great time, this is one of the best sections of the trail and one I would highly recommend to first time Katy Trial riders. Have fun!

Trek biker,



I stand corrected about the Boonville bridge not being passable by bike. I have never crossed it and had heard that it was not advisable to do so. However this website shows a very good photo of the bike lane and it looks very good.

Yes, The Boonville bridge is very passible. It has a very nice bike lane. I think you were confusing it with the now shut-down bridge at Hermann. The new bridge is open and it appears to have a nice bike lane, too. Has anyone ridden the new Hermann bridge yet?

The Boonevile bridge is easily crossed by bike, however, I strongly agree with Norm and Cliff, go east to Rocheport. It is by far the best part of the trail scenery wise.

re Hermann bridge--the bike lane is not open because of other construction equipment still in the area--but there is a nice shoulder area along the road to ride across anyway. We were told the bike lane will open Oct. 9th.

Had dinner here a couple weeks ago and all I can say is...GREAT! The service, the food, the price...everything was great! I would eat three meals a day here if I could! I can't say enough good things!

I agree, Dotty's was only second to a great great place in Rochport called Abigales. Best meal I have ever had, start to finish.

We eat at Dotty's everytime we trail thru Hartsburg. Great place. Home cooked, comfort food. Have bought a couple nice little knick-knacks there too. We were sorry to see that the cyclery in Hartsburg closed down last fall. The people who ran it were good folk. The proprietor said he was moving the business to Jeff City(?) or Sedalia or somewhere else along the trail. Good luck to them.

We've also eaten at Dotty's and found it to be a great place. Nice people, great food.

Add my name to the Dotty's fan club! Unfortunately, I don't get to visit there much since they are closed on my days off. If you are reading this and planning to visit Dotty's, please remember that they are closed on Monday & Tuesday. Be sure and check business hours when planning a ride on the Katy. This website is a great resource for that.

Ditto on the good comments about Dotty's Cafe. Extremely nice folks, place was very clean, great food. They'll give you ice and water for your bottles as well. There is also a small park under large shade trees to wait out the heat after lunch. Nice little town.

Bruce,

The park in Hartsburg is also a good place to dry a tent, eat a snack, or visit with an "old" trail friend. We hope you enjoyed your trip. We did make it back to Boonville and completed our Century ride. Steamboat Junction is a good stop, but I hear the hostel in Tebbets works too.

I wished we could have eaten at Dotty's last Tuesday. After we gave up on a lunch, we ate our trail mix at the trailhead. Then as we were leaving, they opened just for a group--wish they could have put a sign out that they would open at noon that day to serve others, too. Our 'lunch' was ice cream at Jeff City later that afternoon. We weren't the only ones looking for lunch that day either--it would be nice if the businesses got together to make sure someone was open each day.