Rock Island Trail Forum

We are planning a ride from Columbia to St. Charles this weekend. Does anyone know whether Cooper's Landing is fully open for business--in particular we are hoping the Thai food is available. I know they were closed due to the flooding. Thanks.

We rode from New Franklin to Coopers Landing this past Sunday and the store was open and the seating area outside the store was clean and back in business. Campground had been under and looks to still be be "out" but he had a tractor going and looked to be working on getting it back in order. I don't think the Thai place was open. According to his web site, it's still down.

Have fun!

Tony's is not American food- Italian! Moderatly to higher priced, nice atmosphere, nice bar.



LG

Tony's is not American food- Italian! Moderatly to higher priced, nice atmosphere, nice bar.



LG

You are talking about Tony's in downtown St. Louis.

Tony's on Main in St. Charles is American food, is moderately priced, and is located at 132 North Main Street in St. Charles MO.

You are talking about Tony's in downtown St. Louis.

Tony's on Main in St. Charles is American food, is moderately priced, and is located at 132 North Main Street in St. Charles MO.

This is our first ride on the Katy, and wonder if someone could give us some advice. We're going to either ride from Tibbetts to McKittrick or from Dutzow to McKittrick. Which of these segments do you think is most scenic? Thanks.

My vote would be Tebbetts to McKittrick. But both are good

How many miles is it from the Martin Luther King trail in Columbia to McBain?

9 miles

Just to clarify: There isn't much of a trail at MLK park--there's a lovely garden, a shelter, picnic tables, and restrooms. It is one of the trailheads along the Columbia MKT trail, which runs another 2 miles or so to the Flat Branch area of downtown Columbia.

I do not know the answer but the stop in Rocheport is wonderful. Nice bike rental, nice park, great map, and relaxing little place to park.

OK, I have to clarify.



I think you mean to ask how long Columbia's MKT trail to McBaine. It is 8.8 miles from the trail head in downtown Columbia to Hindman junction on the Katy. From Hindman Junction to McBaine is roughly a quarter to half a mile.



HOWEVER: There is the Martin Luther King memorial along the MKT trail. It is at the approximate 1.5 mile marker on the MKT. That would make it about 7.5 miles from McBaine, give or take a few hundred yards.



Hope that helps!

Rode St. Charles to Dutzow Sunday. Went to the diner and had a cheeseburger. Tasted great after a day of trail mix and beef jerky. Serena was real nice and said they'll let you pitch a tent behind the diner. I ended up going back to Klondike to camp since they have a shower there, (cleanest I've seen, perfect temp too). Klondike was deserted and I'm pretty sure I was the only one camping Sunday night. What a great couple of days.

Im a 13 year old kid and i tried to ride from st. charles to difiance and my bike broke just past the 64/40 brigde it sucked. so im asking if klondike is a nice place to stay. Also how is the ride

I visit it every time I ride by: Quite a hill to get into it, but cute little lake to ride around.



*DOES* have vending machines for soft drinks (by the restooms; South-West end). Does have "outhouse" style restooms in various areas of park.

I visit it every time I ride by: Quite a hill to get into it, but cute little lake to ride around.



*DOES* have vending machines for soft drinks (by the restooms; South-West end). Does have "outhouse" style restooms in various areas of park.

Had high hopes to getting a New Orleans Snowball, but found out placed was closed down. Defiance had a nice bicycle store that was open for business.

Had high hopes to getting a New Orleans Snowball, but found out placed was closed down. Defiance had a nice bicycle store that was open for business.

Out of business? I've been by there several times this season. Still closed as of 5/19/2007. Phone service disconnected too.



It's a shame; it was a nice place.

Out of business? I've been by there several times this season. Still closed as of 5/19/2007. Phone service disconnected too.



It's a shame; it was a nice place.

I love Hartsburg, and the Hitching Post. Chad was a very bike friendly owner of the only bar in town. Gary Caldwell was also their and showed me around town. Very friendly place stop in and see Gary at his house 61 N Frist Street. Guest always welcome.

Great food and reasonable prices. A surprisingly extensive menu for such a small town. Make a reservation though or you might end up waiting a long time since the restaurant is pretty small.

Great food and reasonable prices. A surprisingly extensive menu for such a small town. Make a reservation though or you might end up waiting a long time since the restaurant is pretty small.

We stayed in the Attic Suite and absolutely loved it!! We would stay here again in a heartbeat. We are not big breakfast eaters so the continental type breakfast provided was adequate. We ate dinner at Abigails in town which was wonderful and had lunch the following day at Les Bourgoises (also delicious and with a beautiful view).

We stayed in the Attic Suite and absolutely loved it!! We would stay here again in a heartbeat. We are not big breakfast eaters so the continental type breakfast provided was adequate. We ate dinner at Abigails in town which was wonderful and had lunch the following day at Les Bourgoises (also delicious and with a beautiful view).

We stayed here on May 10 and had a wonderful evening before starting our bike trip. Thom made us feel very welcome and provided lots of information about where to eat in town. The area around the capitol is beautiful with several nice restaurants and an easy walk from the B&B. Breakfast was excellent also.

We stayed here on May 10 and had a wonderful evening before starting our bike trip. Thom made us feel very welcome and provided lots of information about where to eat in town. The area around the capitol is beautiful with several nice restaurants and an easy walk from the B&B. Breakfast was excellent also.

We just spent the night at Polly's on May 12. Polly herself is a wonderful hostess and fixed us a breakfast fit for a king. We had to tell her to stop bringing the waffles out!! She sat and visited with us over breakfast and we had some good laughs and conversation. The house is cute with a really nice front porch to sit out on after a long day or early in the morning before you start a day. If you are in the area, definitely consider staying here. You won't be disappointed.

We just spent the night at Polly's on May 12. Polly herself is a wonderful hostess and fixed us a breakfast fit for a king. We had to tell her to stop bringing the waffles out!! She sat and visited with us over breakfast and we had some good laughs and conversation. The house is cute with a really nice front porch to sit out on after a long day or early in the morning before you start a day. If you are in the area, definitely consider staying here. You won't be disappointed.

We (a family of six) are planning to bike the trail from Sedalia to St. Charles this coming week (16-19 May). Does anybody out there have any info on expected conditions anywhere along that stretch?



The flooding concerns seem to have been a little overblown (which, in thinking about those of you with lives tied the MO river, comes as a welcome relief).

My sons and 7 others are currently riding the trail from Clinton to St. Charles, the only concern they have is at McBaine to Easley. They will be riding that section Wed. Unless it is flooded, then they will take the roads. Good Luck, Barb

Three of us are planning to go from Rocheport to Jefferson City on Saturday 5-19. We would like to know the conditions on the trail from someone who has recently made the trip.

Also would like to know trail conditions. Plan to ride from JC to Rocheport or JC to Hermann on Saturday 05-19. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

As of the morning of May 17, The trail is fine from Rochport through Cooper's landing (Near Easley). At Cooper's landing you'll have water up to your ankles. At Easley the water is a couple of feet deep, but is receding. There are some roads around the trail that re-join around Wilton that should be ok.

Is the trail open between Boonville & Rochport?

I have been watching this link from DNR, as it usually gets updated every few days.



http://www.mostateparks.com/katytrail/conditions.htm



What it says now:



Trail notices as of May 17, 2007, 12:55 p.m.:



The section from MM 153.6 to MM 157.8 (at Hartsburg) is closed due to flooding



The trail at Rocheport and Hartsburg has been sandbagged to help protect the surrounding areas from flooding. Trail users should avoid those areas.



The trail from MM 161.6 to MM 163.4 (Easley area) has a layer of mud and some standing water. Trail users should be cautious in this area until clean up is completed.



There are washouts between MM 178.9 (west of Rocheport) and MM 181.5 and at MM 186.5 (east of New Franklin).



A crack is developing at MM 168.5 (east of McBaine). Trail users should exercise caution when approaching this area.

Does anyone know of a shuttle service that will transfer a rider and bike from Amtrack in Sadalia to Clinton Katy Trail?

We are planning on riding the trail from St. Charles to Clinton the week of June 4, 2007. Can anyone provide updated information on the conditions of the trail for a ride at that time? Also, if there are still areas that are washed out, does anyone have suggestions as to how to get from the washed out part of the trail to the rest of the trail?

Thanks very much!

Carol

I would also like to know the cost of the shuttle from Sedalia to Clinton for 2 riders and bikes

I would also like to know the cost of the shuttle from Sedalia to Clinton for 2 riders and bikes

$20 each

$20 each

Great park. Ranger John on the Trek was a nice dude. The hill is a challenge for sure. Do the one up to the lookout too. Only strange thing is not being able to park by the campsites. No big deal if you're on bike and no car. Clean, well maintained. I'll go again.

Great park. Ranger John on the Trek was a nice dude. The hill is a challenge for sure. Do the one up to the lookout too. Only strange thing is not being able to park by the campsites. No big deal if you're on bike and no car. Clean, well maintained. I'll go again.

I second that. I stopped "off season" and the water was turned off. One of the staff actually picked me up and drove me to the conference center to get water. Can't beat it.

I second that. I stopped "off season" and the water was turned off. One of the staff actually picked me up and drove me to the conference center to get water. Can't beat it.

Just rode the Katy Trail with a friend between Augusta and McKittrick on Tue, 5/8 and Wed, 5/9. We were hoping to have lunch at the Treloar Bar & Grill on Tues, but it did not open until 4pm. We arrived there around 1pm and the owner (I think) greeted us and asked if he could help us. He offered us food eventhough he wasn't open! Another great example of kindness and generousity on the trail. If I remember correctly, their posted hours were Mon: closed, Tues: 4pm-close, and 11am-close the rest of the week. Call before you plan on stopping for a meal. They have a vending machine with drinks outside.

Just rode the Katy Trail with a friend between Augusta and McKittrick on Tue, 5/8 and Wed, 5/9. We were hoping to have lunch at the Treloar Bar & Grill on Tues, but it did not open until 4pm. We arrived there around 1pm and the owner (I think) greeted us and asked if he could help us. He offered us food eventhough he wasn't open! Another great example of kindness and generousity on the trail. If I remember correctly, their posted hours were Mon: closed, Tues: 4pm-close, and 11am-close the rest of the week. Call before you plan on stopping for a meal. They have a vending machine with drinks outside.

Hi all. Rocheport is HIGH & DRY! Current estimates predict that the Mo River will not even come within 1-2 feet of crossing the trail. In other words, other than some sandbags/flood preparation, the town is UP & RUNNING. All B&Bs, restaurants, businesses, etc. are GOOD TO GO! Most trail sections are bikable although a short stretch through town here does have sandbags covering one half of trail's width. Current river predictions having river levels quickly subsiding after Sunday. There's still plenty of biking to be done in the local community and some areas of the Katy Trail near town. We'll all be back to normal by next week. Please spread the word!!!! Thanks!!!!! The comment "The MO DNR recommends avoiding Rocheport, where sandbagging is being done on the trail" should read "MO DNR recommends avoiding 2,400 feet of trail in Rocheport, where sandbagging is being done. The rest of the town is fine!" Most people don't realize that 99% of our town is NOT in the bottom -- in other words, other than sandbagging a few low lying houses on the edge of town on Moniteau Creek, life here is continuing as is. Any questions please check back here. This weather offers a really great opportunity to bike a bit and bring your canoe or kayak. The local wetland areas are flooded with a few feet of water, and you will have a once in a lifetime chance to paddle areas not normally accessible, through cottonwood forests and towering river birch. No river current, no worries. I'll try to post once a day for the next two weeks. In two weeks this will all be behind us. Please come see us! Thank you! Brett Dufur, Mayor of Rocheport and author of The Complete Katy Trail Guidebook

Hi there again. Great news. Reduced flood stage levels are looking very promising. Current update now says the river will crest tomorrow (Friday) morning. It's going to only rise up about 2 more inches and then drop 10 feet by Tuesday. Didn't even make it to the Katy Trail. Looks like our sandbag walls aren't going to get wet this time. Come to town and you'll get a look you don't see very often --- the Missouri River has reclaimed the "old slough" which used to be the riverfront where steamboats landed in the late 1800s. Kayak & paddle through wetlands that might never see water like this again. THANKS TO EVERYONE who came to town to help us fight the good fight! It has been amazing to see so many friends come together to help protect this little river town. Neighbors, cyclists, Boone County Fire District, Boone County Public Works, Boone Electric, Boone County Sheriffs, on and on, I could never list them all. Thank you! To all of the volunteers that gave an hour or all day, thank you! We may never be able to thank each one of you face to face, but please know that you are all Rocheport citizens for life --- many hands made the reaction to possible flooding happen at an incredible pace. We are high & dry, our town is safe, and I hope anyone reading this will help spread the word that Rocheport weathered the storm. They say you never realize how many friends you have until you need them, and we are proud to remember that Rocheport is part of a much larger community that transcends local map lines and distance. As we say, Rocheport is a state of mind! ~Brett

The river will drop more than 10 feet by Tuesday. That means the river will be back in its banks by Tuesday. Regarding the Rocheport Park and most areas that flood along the Katy Trail, the main clean up to be done is debris removal. Barring any unforeseen damage, Katfish Katys (for example) will be up and open for business in a relatively short amount of time. Same for Cooper's Landing in Easley. The response time of Boone County services to protect Rocheport, Huntsdale, Wilton & Hartsburg was truly incredible. I will post more information as it becomes available. But this is an incredibly short-lived event who's longest-lived ill effects are actually the result of the media's affect on the public (OH MY GOD THE RIVER HAS WASHED EVERYONE AWAY!) rather than the flood's seasonal, albeit large, rise (72 hours). Keep in mind the river always has a spring rise. This one was just larger. Most river towns are pretty used to preparing for, and rebounding from, these types of events. ~Brett Dufur, Rocheport

Brett, thank you for the updates. I'm glad to hear that Rocheport is in good shape and still ready to offer its unique charm to Katy travellers. No trip on that part of the trail is complete without a visit to Rocheport.



You're not kidding about the media hyping this stuff - this morning on CNN they said that the Missouri River was "expected to reach record levels". Now, I've heard lots of predictions over the past few days, but none that predicted "record levels" (i.e. higher than 1993). Media's just trying to get people's attention, I guess.

Hallelujah! Am so glad the rumors of Rocheport's imminent flooding have been greatly exaggerated (to borrow from Mark Twain, former steamboat captain)!



On a sidenote, Mr. Dufur, I'm so pleased to finally put 2 and 2 together-- I've been reading your guidebooks a lot of late, the Nature one and the Katy one, but I didn't make the connection you owned the B&B we're staying in. Cool.



Thanks very much for the illustrative updates, and for all you've done for the Katy Trail and the town. I agree-- Rocheport's a gem of a place. See you soon.

Good news about Rocheport and the rest of the area. I guess the levee breaks in the KC area saved the folks downstream.



One note, though: Let's not take too much of a swipe at the media, Brett. I don't think anyone, at least in the print area, ever said the river has washed everyone away. It seems that NOAA and the National Weather Service were the ones sounding the initial alarm. Lets just be thankful that this time around, the water didn't get as high as predicted. This was a little more than the usual seasonal rise, at least in the 11 years that I have lived in Mid-Mo.

Hey GC I hear ya -- just a little venting from a hectic week -- when I opened www.msnbc.com and the first photo shows the back of a small girl in Rocheport holding a doll framed tightly against a backdrop that looks like a sea of a flood with no structures in sight, it gives you the sense of total destruction, not to mention Fox news saying things like "expecting record flood levels" etc. Fox also had a piece where they showed a bunch of houses half submerged and then moved to a shot of Rocheport and a reporter's comment about Rocheport so that did leave a very tweaked perspective on what was going on here. We were blessed that it dissipated like it did. I'm just saying that the lingering effects of all that press literally take a whole season to go away --- I remember how 1993 and 1994 seasons for all these little businesses were just snuffed out, and how after the 1995 flood it was flat. Just hoping to get on with our normal season..... Follow this link for a pretty good picture of how the flood didn't even get our sandbags wet: http://www.columbiatribune.com/2007/May/20070511News009.asp



See you guys on the trail! Great website Ray!!!!! ~Brett

Rocheport is back to normal -- there were people riding their bikes on the Katy Trail through Rocheport again today (next to a wall of sandbags...) everything is back to normal -- the river is slowly dropping and I believe the robin's have eaten a year's worth of earthworms by now.... ~Brett

I agree, Brett. I will not bother anyone with my usual rant on TV news other than to say, it doesn't surprise me that they went over the top with all of this. I will say, though, that when the National Weather Service and NOAA start saying "near record river levels" you can't help but think 1993/95 revisited.

When all is said and done, I'm just happy to see the dry sandbags.



Now everyone get on the trail!!!

Hi all -- People are biking the trail in Rocheport. The Katfish Katy's at Huntsdale is 110% open for business. The trail in both directions is dry. There must have been 25 cyclists at their store this afternoon. I repeat: Katfish Katy's in Huntsdale is OPEN FOR BUSINESS AS USUAL. I heard Cooper's Landing in Easley had about 6 inches of water on their floor (and plenty of beer). I got to tour the river and wetlands today. All of the Katy Trail portions between Rocheport to below Huntsdale all appeared to be fine from the river. here's a link to Cooper's Landing newsletter with lots of great links of upcoming activities and "flood that didn't happen" links:

http://www.cooperslanding.net/newsletter.htm

P.S. The kayaking was otherworldly. Very incredible day!

See you on the trail! Brett

Get rid of your television and explore the beauty of all the KATY trail experience. Definately include the beautiful town of Rocheport and all of our friends there. Thanks Brett for all you do and have done to enhance one of Missouri's greatest treasures.

OK this is just wrong. This Friday is my birthday and I was going to ride from St. Charles to Augusta, camp at Klondike and come back Saturday. I just read that the Missouri River is going to rise by as much as 17 feet by this weekend and reach levels not seen since '95. They say parts of Hwy 94 in Defiance will be under water. Uhhhh, are my plans shot?

From stltoday:



<


Zerr said the Katy Trail, ravaged in 1993, probably would stay dry.>>



Hwy. 94 is lower than the Katy in places as I have seen sections flooded in both the Defiance area & Treloar on the highway many times, with the trail remaining dry. Klondike Park is certainly not going to flood, but if you want to camp there, I would call and see what they say. I believe that Park is run by St. Charles County.

Here's a link to the St Louis Post-Dispatch article about the upcoming river crest. The tone of the article goes back and forth between alarming and reassuring. The key quote, which stevek posted, is that they predict the Katy Trail will be safe. But if you're planning a trip in the near future, keep a close eye on the news.

Those of you out near or on the trail, please let us know what you see (if you're not too busy filling sandbags).

Here is a link to the NOAA site where you can watch the river levels. It also tells you what is
happening when the river reaches various levels...including what parts of the Katy Trail are
flooded at what stages (at least it does for the Jeff City area). The MO is out of its banks
around here in the KC area and I was told that I-29 was closed at Craig yesterday due to
flooding of the MO (that is north of St. Jo). Here's the link:

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=lsx&view=1,1,1,1,1,1

What about other parts of the trail? Is there danger of flash flooding or flooding along creeks, etc.?

From the MO DNR website on 5/7 http://www.mostateparks.com/katytrail/conditions.htm



There are washouts between MM 174 (two miles west of Huntsdale) to MM 181 (three miles west of Rocheport). The trail is still passable but is very rough in those areas. Trail users should exercise extra caution.



On Weds., May 9, the trail will be closed from approximately MM 136.5 to MM 137.1 (east of Wainwright) for culvert replacement. Trail users should watch for the detour onto Hwy. 94.

helpful links, thanks

According to this article from the Columbia Missourian newspaper, Katfish Katy's and Coopers Landing are now closed:
http://digmo.org/stories/2007/05/09/bracing-high-water/

Also, the DNR suggests avoiding the Rocheport area, where sandbags are being placed along the trail.

Yeah, the water is surrounding Cooper's Landing and there is sandbagging in Hartsburg and Rocheport. I have heard that Huntsdale should be OK, but that the campground at Katfish Katy's is underwater.

The Columbia Daily Tribune website should also be helpful. It is columbiatribune.com

Hi all. Rocheport is HIGH & DRY! Current estimates predict that the Mo River will not even come within 1-2 feet of crossing the trail. In other words, other than some sandbags/flood preparation, the town is UP & RUNNING. All B&Bs, restaurants, businesses, etc. are GOOD TO GO! Most trail sections are bikable although a short stretch through town here does have sandbags covering one half of trail's width. Current river predictions having river levels quickly subsiding after Sunday. There's still plenty of biking to be done in the local community and some areas of the Katy Trail near town. We'll all be back to normal by next week. Please spread the word!!!! Thanks!!!!! The comment "The MO DNR recommends avoiding Rocheport, where sandbagging is being done on the trail" should read "MO DNR recommends avoiding 2,400 feet of trail in Rocheport, where sandbagging is being done. The rest of the town is fine!" Most people don't realize that 99% of our town is NOT in the bottom -- in other words, other than sandbagging a few low lying houses on the edge of town on Moniteau Creek, life here is continuing as is. Any questions please check back here. This weather offers a really great opportunity to bike a bit and bring your canoe or kayak. The local wetland areas are flooded with a few feet of water, and you will have a once in a lifetime chance to paddle areas not normally accessible, through cottonwood forests and towering river birch. No river current, no worries. I'll try to post once a day for the next two weeks. In two weeks this will all be behind us. Please come see us! Thank you! Brett Dufur, Mayor of Rocheport and author of The Complete Katy Trail Guidebook

good luck, 5/12 we'll be finding out for ourselves what conditions are like west of defiance and will post update pm.

Trail was perfect. Klondike was cool. Folks weren't kidding about that hill. Made it though.