Rock Island Trail Forum

noticed in a posting from 11/06 that a biker was bitten by a dog that lives near the trail just west of New Franklin. That prompted a string of posting, including one just this past month from a rider stating he was seriously injured in 06/06 and lawsuit pending. We were planning on biking from Boonville to Hartburg (haven't seen the tunnel or Native American pictographs yet). Now we are thinking we should just put in at Rochport (skipping Boonville and bypassing New Franklin completely). Does anyone know the status of these alleged "Councilman John James'" dogs ~ or any other such "beasts"??

Dogs or not I would start at Rocheport anyway. I don't know if you can call any part of the trail ugly but the Boonville to Rocheport stretch comes pretty close. The tunnel is just a couple hundred yards west of the Rocheport traihead so you could still see it. Of course, if you start at Rocheport you will the scenic junkyard just west of New Franklin.

I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I've riden this stretch several times(early morning)and have seen many, many deer and indigo buntings. In the fall, the trees to the north are just as beautiful as those above the limestone bluffs.



Your odds of running into a dog or two along the trail are just as high in other places. If though, a dog or two will determine your course, also beware as you pass the homes east of Coopers Landing.

"I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder"



That is indeed true - after all my wife married me..........

I walked that section of the trail in June and didn't encounter any problems

yeah, what jim said on 8/2/07 at 4:44 p.m., that goes for me to.



as far as the dogs go, i have ridden past new franklin a couple of time, the most i seen was a dog laying in the yard under a tree, and didn't even want to take the time to get up and bark.



personally, i do not care for the stretch between rocheport and franklin / new franklin. however, that is my own personal opinion, and i know others like it. i would also kinda beware as you pass coopers landing. i have also passed there a couple of times and it gave me the ebee gebees. don't know what it was, i just didn't care for it. like i said, personal opinion only.



i have also encounterd dogs along the trail, and the most was a couple of dogs just running in their yard as i passed, barked to say hi, and barked to say bye. that was the extent of it.



don't let the dogs change your course.



ever which way, be safe/

Just rode half the trail, and saw about 7 dogs. The first two ran to the property line. The second group ran at us and the owner called it off. And the three that scared us trotted up the trail toward us...and then past us...two beagle types, and a medium sized scary looking mutt. Then I realized they all had tounges hanging down to the ground! No problem...We carried dog spray, and I had it out at that pointbut obviously didn't use it--but I would recommend it for peace of mind.

My son and I just got finished riding the first half of the trail. We encountered a few dogs. In my opinion, one dog is too many. The ones that scared us the most were those running in a pack together. Turns out they were hotter and thirstier than we were! I recommend a can of mace. We turned ours in to the owner of the Globe hotel in Hartsburg who was going to pass it on to other cyclists who might need it. Just be careful.

Wow ~ thank you everyone for the comments, suggestions, recommendations! I appreciate very much your time and feedback. As a lifelong dog owner (shepherd, lab, mutts, and now a beagle)i don't scare easily; however, owners that do not manage their animals do!



If anyone else out there wants to comment about Coopers Landing further, please do: i'll be cking back in over the next few days before our little juant.



Now, if we can just get mother nature to ease off a little.....

For the past 3 years, I have ridden the Boonville to Rocheport section of the trail nearly every week, weather permitting, and have yet to have a run in with a dog. This past weekend I was nearly hit by two deer, but no dogs!

I have ridden by Cooper's Landing many times and never had a problem. There are some dogs around, and they may bark, but they have never been aggressive.

I've been riding the Rocheport to Jeff city section for 4 years and never had any problems with agressive dogs. My only problem was last month a friendly dog south of Coopers who ran out to my bike and ended up cutting in front of it and causing us both to hit the ground. As far as Coopers Landing, I always stop and get something cold to drink and watch the river for awhile. Also, tried the Thai food recently at Coopers and it was very good!

We saw two dogs on our ride from Huntsdale to Weldon Springs. One was a beagle and he

was dragging a leash around and barely paid attention to us. The other was a yellow version

of Cujo and stormed down a hill and came at us very aggressively, but didn't bite.



There are some crappy, run down areas along the trail to be honest, but they are very brief.

Don't let it get you worked up. Few dogs actually attack people, but I'd carry some dog spray

just in case. A good bike shop will have the kind that sprays 10 or 12 feet. We got some and

when the dog charged us, we thought about how nice it would be if the spray wasn't buried

in our back pack.

okay folks: we made it ~ had a great time overall, despite the crazy heat. We did put in at Rochport and turned around at Huntsdale...will leave longer legs for the fall. And thanks for the tip on where to find the long shooting dog spray ~ doesn't hurt to have it "handy", i.e. front basket1 = )

I don't remember any dogs from our Aug 07 trip in that area. You can usually take your water bottle out and the threat of squirting them or an actual squirt will work. We usually have a lot more problems with dogs on country roads with a home every 100 yards.

I am making my first extended trip on the Trail to "get away from it all" (all of a sudden I'm in my mid-thirties:) I am planning on taking the Amtrak from Kirkwood down to Sedalia then biking on down to Clinton to start from there....I am going to be doing the camping thing the whole way to St. Charles. I am leaving Tuesday August 21, from Kirwood on the a.m train, and will get to St. Charles Saturday or Sunday...Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated...If you are going the same week, I'll see you on the trail...... onebaker@hotmail.com

lots of hydration and call ahead to see if the business are open. other wise, have fun, be safe

I did almost the same type of trip you are doing 3 years ago. The portion you will be riding both ways (from Sedalia to Clinton and back) allows horses on the trail. Cyclists have to yield to the horses, and I found out the hard way this means stopping a good ways before the horses get up to you and staying still until they pass. It's a real pain, and it's not explained very well on the MO Parks website. Also, this is, in my opinion, the least scenic portion of the trail, and, unless you just want to say you rode the entire trail, I would skip this portion and just start from Sedalia. I also echo the hydration advice. You will love the KATY !!!!!

thanks for the advice....I really would have no reason to go down to Clinton other than just to say I've rode the whole trail...plus since the train doesn't get down to Sedalia until early afternoon it puts a crimp in my overnight plans....I have a camelpack so hopefully that will do for hydration...(also hope the heat breaks by then) thanks a bunch..

(1.) We just did it the "hard" (uphill) way from McKittric to Sedalia; 139 miles in 3 days. We took AMTRAK from Sedalia to Hermann. Lowest high temp in 3 days was 102. THERE IS NO WATER BETWEEN SEDALIA AND PILOT GROVE - 25+ MILES. We're 57 y/o. We drank a complete 2 qt camel + 2 pints gatorade every 20 miles and were still slightly dehydrated in the heat. (2.) Take a spare tube and tools- we had a flat and the trail is basically remote. (3.) We used A&D ointment to lube those sensitive personal areas - an entire tube between us. (4.) Avoid Katy Trail B&B - absentee owners and NOT as advertised on their web. (5.) Have a fun, fantastic time!

Water Water Water. I know water gets heavy @ 8lbs. per gallon. I was lucky enough to have someone cache a gallon of water at Clifton City. I carry a small Katadyn water purifier. It adds about a pound to my backpack but you can at least use a local water source with piece of mind.

Camping is going to be tough in this heat unless you enjoy hot sleeping. The campers we talked to could not sleep well as the temps were so hot at night. If you're economizing, try to break it up with one night at a motel.

You may want to take a shuttle from Sedalia to Clinton. We did that in June and it worked out great. Stayed in Clinton for the night and got an early start in the cool of the morning. We had a camelback and two water bottles each. Fill up with water any chance you get.

I'd recommend Katfish Katy's in Huntsdale and Steamboat Junction in Bluffton. That puts you

on about a 60 mile/day rate. All you need to do is find something halfway between Clinton

and Huntsdale. Both places are nice, clean and have hot showers.

My husband and I have just purchased new giants and are excited to start biking. We would like to hear from someone who has gone from Clinton to Sedalia and if it has nice scenery and did they feel safe. Thanks!

I've done this stretch. The scenery is boring, unless you like pastureland and cows. It is also the only stretch that allows horses, and you have to yield to them when you're on a bike. Safety is not a problem though, other than the horses. I would recommend that you skip this portion and go to Rocheport and ride to Hartsburg and back. Either way you will love the KATY !!

Safety wise, this trail is awesome! I don't think you could be stranded all day and not see another person. From Windsor to Green Ridge, we saw about 3 cyclists. From there to Sedalia, a few more cyclists, and even a few walkers! It was really cool to see everyone out there utilizing this resource...



For scenery, I would say Rocheport to Hartsburg as well. This section is quite flat, and beautiful. The Clinton to Sedalia section is mostly like riding through an endless tunnel of trees. Pretty cool, but nothing like the bluffs and river of the Rocheport area.

each section of the Katy has it's own uniqueness. it's up to YOU to find it. No one can tell you what to look for or what you SHOULD be looking for. Just enjoy the trail; it's ALL GRAND !



safety wise tho, that's a tangible quality. Don't be worried. you'll be fine. Having said this tho...be wary of the trail itself, there exist ruts or cracks randomly along the trail. They are a natural occurence I believe in a hard pack chat trail as it lives and breathes. Avoid them at all costs. Getting your tire caught in one and you WILL go down - not fun!

There is hardly a part of the trail that doesn't offer something for everyone. While this section doesn't have the Missouri River running alongside, it offers a beautiful view of the prairie and forest. I wouldn't wory about the horses as their impact seems to be consistently oversold.

Is the trail runner friendly? I see a lot of biking info but no running info. Any water at all available on the trail or nearby?

We are staying in Hermann. I am in training for a marathon & need to run a 17 miler while in Hermann. Thanks for any info.

Watch out for the horse fly's as big as birds! There is no water available on the trail. There are restrooms but no water.

If you would run towards Rhineland, there is water at their park pavilion area (few strides off the trail) and also the Trailside bar and grill is directly off the trail and you could buy bottled water if needed.

Regarding those horse flies.....I rode last Friday and they are at LEAST big as birds right now...lol. They sure sting too when they fly into you while you're riding (or running too for that matter).

Forgot to add that Rhineland would be about 4.2 miles from the Herman/McKittrick trail head. Also the Trailside Bar and Grill is on the north side of Hwy 94 as you come into Rhineland and the Park Shelter would be between 94 and the trail about the middle of town.

Has anyone on this forum ever successfully taken a trailer on Amtrak? We are taking a trip this fall on the Katy, and would like to take Amtrak to Kirkwood and bike back to Clinton. Wondering if it's possible to reserve an extra "bike space" for the trailer. Has anyone ever done this successfully. It's a Burley Nomad, and is slightly too large, packed in it's bag, to be taken as carry-on luggage, and we are definitely not crazy about checking it.

Any info? Thanks!

I've not attempted to transport a trailer but I suspect you may have problems so be careful. Earlier this month 3 of us transported bikes from Jeff City to Kirkwood. Amtrak staff wanted us to locate our bikes towards the front of the passenger car in an area designated for wheel chairs. This was just inches from the front row of passengers and appeared very unsafe if the bikes were to shift or roll. The front row of passengers complained. I didn't think it was safe either and became engaged in a minor heated discussion with the Amtrak staff while all the passengers sat there staring at us. I ended up laying the bikes on their side and stacking them on top of each other. I was told the other option was to reposition the handlebars and put the bikes in the overhead luggage rack! (Last year 4 of us transported bikes from Sedalia to Kirkwood and it was a wonderful experience. Amtrak staff loaded the bikes onto a separate train car and then unloaded them at our destination). All-in-all, Amtrak is a GREAT benefit to Katy trail riders but just make sure you're prepared to manage your bikes on the train. Hope you enjoy the trail as much as we did!

I've never done this, but in the past AMTRACK had a policy against trailers. I would make sure I had something firm from them before I attempted this.

I have been reading some past comments about this, and the Burley, broken down into a bag, only exceeds the carry on limitation by 4 inches (length).

We can easily pack our belongings in two backpacks and carry on the trailer, and set it up and load it after we get to Kirkwood. Anyone have any luck with carry-on luggage slighly over the requirements?

Very cozy and excellent place to stay. Inn keeper was very friendly, helpful and a wonderful cook. Breakfast was presented nicely, delightfully tastey. Highly recommend this place, if you're riding the Katy trail... or just looking for a wonderful get away place. The tub is to die for, especially after a sweaty bike ride. Can't wait to do a repeat!

Very cozy and excellent place to stay. Inn keeper was very friendly, helpful and a wonderful cook. Breakfast was presented nicely, delightfully tastey. Highly recommend this place, if you're riding the Katy trail... or just looking for a wonderful get away place. The tub is to die for, especially after a sweaty bike ride. Can't wait to do a repeat!

The people that run Fern's are very nice. I was scheduled to stay there on my trip. The morning I was supposed to arrive I hurt my knee. I called to let them know I wouldn't be able to make it and find out how much I owed for cancelation on such short notice. They refused to charge me anything. I look forward to staying there on my next trip.

Don't do it!



I stayed at Fern's because of the above comment, and because I wanted the first night/morning of our trip to be nice. I think someone refunding your money when you cancel that day is nice but beware, as this place is bad news.



I would have to say the whole experience was a mixture of creepy and dissapointment. The creepy part started when we were shown to the B&B, which is a seperate house from where Fern stays. On our way in to the house, Fern offered us the information that it used to be a "drug house." Gee, what a comforting thought for my mom, as we enter our place to stay in this unformiliar town. I can only imagine the things she was thinking as she is naturally worried most of the time anyway!



Then she showed us the house. The TV in the front room was broken. (Not that we wanted to watch TV, but some may.) She showed us the two bedrooms, and said we could have both, as no one else was staying in the other room that night. (More on this sly trick later.) She also told my mom not to use the "roll-away" bed, as it was "uncomfortable." She then dropped off the keys, and left back to her house, and we never saw her again.



Continued below...

We unloaded our stuff, and went to grab a bite to eat at the local resturant, and when we got back, we found that Fern had gone out to get our "breakfast" for the morning. Apparently, Fern's idea of breakfast is to go to the Casey's across the street, and buy some packaged cinnamon rolls, some green bannanas, and milk and Sunny D to drink. To say that we were dissapointed at this was quite the understatement. This is not the kind of breakfast that can power you through the morning, and I knew it, but I managed to force down a few rolls anyway, as I knew I had to eat. (I HATE green bannanas.) Is it too much to ask to have some effort put into breakfast at a Bed and BREAKFAST. (However, Fern and Co. cannot even SPELL Breakfast...just look at the sign out front. They spell it "breakfeast!"...rediculous!)



More below...

Anyway, after getting that bite to eat I was talking about, we decided to rent two bikes for the people dropping us off, as Fern's also has bike rental. The creepyness continued as we introduced ourselves with a "Hi!" to the man renting the bikes, and he just looked seemingly right through us, and said nothing. I joked with my mom after he had passed that he was thinking, "Yes, come into my lair of bikes from whence you will never return..." At least we can still laugh... Please don't rent these bikes. BIG MISTAKE! They are Wally world bikes, and they have maitenence issues. Or if you do, take the time to look and make sure everything is okay with them. My brother's bike had a very rusty chain, and on my girlfriend's bike the seat was so loose that it shifted back and forth the whole time we were riding. The next few days, she had major pain from this. My brother's bike also had this problem, but not as bad. Bottom line, you should be able to ride a rental bike with no issues because they should all be in reasonable condition. I can imagine someone getting one of these bikes to ride the trail with, and getting out a few miles, only to have the seat come loose, and be out of luck. Not a pretty picture.



even more below...

I am not finished. I know this seems long, but this was truly a horrible experience, and I want to make it very clear to all that this place is not safe, and a bad choice. We returned from our ride, and started to get our stuff together for the next day, when my brother locked the front door, and, oops! The door pulled right open. We checked again, and tried to do what we could to push the door closed, but it would not stay shut. There was no deadbolt, and we were all just standing there in an old "drughouse" with no way to lock ourselves in, and one worried mom! So, we made a doorjam with a chair that was there, and tried our best to feel safe, although that was probably no easy task for mom, considering her being uneasy in the first place. Can you believe the front door wouldn't lock? I mean, come on! Is this really happening?



even more below...

Well, we made it through the night, and luckily, we had no crackheads trying to break in to get drugs, or maybe our doorjam worked? We will never know! But we left for our first day on the trail, and after awhile, my mom told me some disturbing information. We had set up our reservaion for 4 people with Fern on the phone. She told us we could use one of the Queen beds with a rollaway, and that the price was $70. Fine. Mom sent a $35 deposit to Fern before we left, and when we got there was about to pay the rest, so she said, "How much do I owe you?" She expected Fern to say another $35, but she said, "$105." So, she WAS going to charge us with both rooms! Well, my mom is non-confrontational, and accepted this, but I wish she would have just walked away. I contacted Fern about this, and she told me that she thought my mom said she wanted the other room. I said we had a verbal agreement for one room, this is evidenced by her accepting of $35 for the deposit. Then she told me it was silly to put 4 people in one room. Well, if it was so silly, why didn't she tell us that in the first place? I mean she is the one with the rooms, so she should have been able to say it was unworkable before we would have been there! Come on, Fern, do you really think we are dumb enough not to see a scam in progress? We trusted you and you let us down. If we would have had the option of staying in the Windsor motel for $40, or the B&B for $140, which would you think we would have chosen...

Next time you're looking for a place to stay around Windsor, try Cruces Cabooses. You get to spend the night in a refurbished train car, which is very cool and appropriate for the Katy Trail. Very private too.

Hey, anything that locks would be better than Fern's! We only avoided Cruse's because of the higher price, but in the end we ended up paying a rediculous $140 as explained above, so what's the point?!