Rock Island Trail Forum

It comes out on Providence...just a short trek from Broadway and all of the businesses. We ate at a restaurant that featured Kosavo cuisine...very good...Try the Opa...it's fun to watch it as she lights it up.



The spur is 8.8 miles, curves a bit, can be hot but it has shade in some places. The grade may be a bit more than what you experience on the Katy because I don't think it is a former railway. Help me out here, ya all, what do you think of the MKT spur?

It comes out on Providence...just a short trek from Broadway and all of the businesses. We ate at a restaurant that featured Kosavo cuisine...very good...Try the Opa...it's fun to watch it as she lights it up.



The spur is 8.8 miles, curves a bit, can be hot but it has shade in some places. The grade may be a bit more than what you experience on the Katy because I don't think it is a former railway. Help me out here, ya all, what do you think of the MKT spur?

Actually, it is an old railroad bed, except for the very end, out by the Katy, where a landowner didn't want to sell. That's the reason for the big curve. Since then, he sold to the city to create the wetlands that are there now, and you can use the access roads instead of the trail--more direct, but rougher, and can be a bit smelly (the wetlands treat the effluent from the Columbia sewer system so that they are much cleaner before they hit Eagle Bluffs and the Missouri River). It's the only way in high water, as the official trail route tends to flood. The railroad was the MKT spur into Columbia, and ended at the old station, which is now a sports bar and restaurant--you can see it from the trailhead at Flat Branch Park.

Actually, it is an old railroad bed, except for the very end, out by the Katy, where a landowner didn't want to sell. That's the reason for the big curve. Since then, he sold to the city to create the wetlands that are there now, and you can use the access roads instead of the trail--more direct, but rougher, and can be a bit smelly (the wetlands treat the effluent from the Columbia sewer system so that they are much cleaner before they hit Eagle Bluffs and the Missouri River). It's the only way in high water, as the official trail route tends to flood. The railroad was the MKT spur into Columbia, and ended at the old station, which is now a sports bar and restaurant--you can see it from the trailhead at Flat Branch Park.

rode the mkt fitness trail once. truly enjoyed it. grade is not that bad and enjoyed most of the scenery. didn't care for the end next to the katy where we went around the setiment ponds, but oh well, stuff happens, no pun intended. it was a nice ride overall.

rode the mkt fitness trail once. truly enjoyed it. grade is not that bad and enjoyed most of the scenery. didn't care for the end next to the katy where we went around the setiment ponds, but oh well, stuff happens, no pun intended. it was a nice ride overall.

Love the MKT spur. I try to walk it a few times a week. Since I am planning to hike the whole Katy Trail this fall, I should be walking it every day. I guess it won't get any cooler! lol



On a side note, if you get bored with the full MKT spur, the MU fitness trail cuts off to the east at about Mile Marker 2 on the MKT. It takes you south of the main MU campus, and hooks up to the Hinkson Creek trail in Columbia and eventually ends at the Grindstone trailhead on old Highway 63 on the city's southeast side. There are plans to further extend that trail to the north, but it will take some time to do it. All in all, its a nice walk/ride.

Love the MKT spur. I try to walk it a few times a week. Since I am planning to hike the whole Katy Trail this fall, I should be walking it every day. I guess it won't get any cooler! lol



On a side note, if you get bored with the full MKT spur, the MU fitness trail cuts off to the east at about Mile Marker 2 on the MKT. It takes you south of the main MU campus, and hooks up to the Hinkson Creek trail in Columbia and eventually ends at the Grindstone trailhead on old Highway 63 on the city's southeast side. There are plans to further extend that trail to the north, but it will take some time to do it. All in all, its a nice walk/ride.

Adventure Cycling Association website.... click on photo of the week...look familiar? Its why we ride. Regards....Mark of the Dalton Boys

Definitely the COOLEST PLACE to hang out this past Memorial Day weekend.

Definitely the COOLEST PLACE to hang out this past Memorial Day weekend.

drew and karen, you are so right bouts the rocheport tunnel. mw nad wifey have walked through it and i have ridden through it a couple of times. it's great.

drew and karen, you are so right bouts the rocheport tunnel. mw nad wifey have walked through it and i have ridden through it a couple of times. it's great.

I was a bit unnerved by a dude shooting into the woods from just off the trail between Huntsdale and Rocheport. Is that legal? What should a person do if one hears shots and/or sees a shooter firing off into the woods? Can't those bullets ricochet or something. Pretty scary.

I was a bit unnerved by a dude shooting into the woods from just off the trail between Huntsdale and Rocheport. Is that legal? What should a person do if one hears shots and/or sees a shooter firing off into the woods? Can't those bullets ricochet or something. Pretty scary.

All good questions but the shooter may or may not have been discharging their firearm in a legal manner depending on where they were. Land owners like the farmers adjacent to the trail may be perfectly in their rights to shoot varmints or engage in sport shooting. There is a gun club on the opposite side of the KT and Rt. 94 near Matson so shooting is frequently heard. Nothing to worry about. You also don't mention what kind of firearm was being used, rifle bullets can ricochet and travel great distances and would cause more concern. If people were hunting with .22 rifles (squirrels?) near the KT that might a problem but if shotguns, the pellets don't travel too far. All in all, with the trail going through rural MO I wouldn't be too alarmed. That said, someone firing on the trail or firing across the trail is not a good thing and is probably not legal. Wearing bright colored clothes might also help people seeing you, especially during deer season. I have seen 20 gauge shotgun shells near Weldon Spring but that abuts Busch Wildlife where hunting is allowed. I hope this helps a little.

All good questions but the shooter may or may not have been discharging their firearm in a legal manner depending on where they were. Land owners like the farmers adjacent to the trail may be perfectly in their rights to shoot varmints or engage in sport shooting. There is a gun club on the opposite side of the KT and Rt. 94 near Matson so shooting is frequently heard. Nothing to worry about. You also don't mention what kind of firearm was being used, rifle bullets can ricochet and travel great distances and would cause more concern. If people were hunting with .22 rifles (squirrels?) near the KT that might a problem but if shotguns, the pellets don't travel too far. All in all, with the trail going through rural MO I wouldn't be too alarmed. That said, someone firing on the trail or firing across the trail is not a good thing and is probably not legal. Wearing bright colored clothes might also help people seeing you, especially during deer season. I have seen 20 gauge shotgun shells near Weldon Spring but that abuts Busch Wildlife where hunting is allowed. I hope this helps a little.

Not sure how close Busch Wildlife's boarders are to the Katy Trail but from the MO DNR site regarding the Katy Trail:



BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS. The trail passes through some remote areas and adjoins private property. Adjoining property may be used for commercial or business opportunities, quarrying, farming operations or hunting. Animals or structures located on adjoining private property may impact your use of the trail.

Not sure how close Busch Wildlife's boarders are to the Katy Trail but from the MO DNR site regarding the Katy Trail:



BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS. The trail passes through some remote areas and adjoins private property. Adjoining property may be used for commercial or business opportunities, quarrying, farming operations or hunting. Animals or structures located on adjoining private property may impact your use of the trail.

Hunting is prohibited on the Trail, but keep in mind, that is only about a 12 ft path. The land

adjoining that strip is all fair game. So, yes, be alert. And, during deer season, avoid that

helmet with the antlers sticking out! If the deer had any sense they would just huddle on the

trail during hunting season.

Hunting is prohibited on the Trail, but keep in mind, that is only about a 12 ft path. The land

adjoining that strip is all fair game. So, yes, be alert. And, during deer season, avoid that

helmet with the antlers sticking out! If the deer had any sense they would just huddle on the

trail during hunting season.

Since we went from Rocheport to Easley one day and Easley to North Jefferson another, we had an opportunity to try the THAI food as well as the bbq. It was good! The two choices of sauces were very different. One was sort of like a very spicy tomatillo sauce. You can add some red pepper flakes if you need it even hotter. The other one was a salty....yummy...well I can't describe it, but if you can't take much heat this sauce adds FLAVOR without the heat. The dish we had was delicious!

Since we went from Rocheport to Easley one day and Easley to North Jefferson another, we had an opportunity to try the THAI food as well as the bbq. It was good! The two choices of sauces were very different. One was sort of like a very spicy tomatillo sauce. You can add some red pepper flakes if you need it even hotter. The other one was a salty....yummy...well I can't describe it, but if you can't take much heat this sauce adds FLAVOR without the heat. The dish we had was delicious!

As you go east, look down the paved road to your right or you will miss it. It looks A BUNCH bigger close up. Thanks to the Joe/Jane for the tip as to where it was. Good photo op.

As you go east, look down the paved road to your right or you will miss it. It looks A BUNCH bigger close up. Thanks to the Joe/Jane for the tip as to where it was. Good photo op.

Good place to grab a cool drink. The camping was busy this Memorial Day. We may try to camp next time. Had a place to stay in nearby Columbia this time...thanks to our daughter and her husband. Take advantage of the photo ops sitting at the table on a "horse" stool...no not THAT kind of stool...! Also the swing benches made of horseshoes are cool. Sit near the trail in the shade and sip a gatorade.

Good place to grab a cool drink. The camping was busy this Memorial Day. We may try to camp next time. Had a place to stay in nearby Columbia this time...thanks to our daughter and her husband. Take advantage of the photo ops sitting at the table on a "horse" stool...no not THAT kind of stool...! Also the swing benches made of horseshoes are cool. Sit near the trail in the shade and sip a gatorade.

I want to thank you and all of the folks that send their comments in. My wife and I did the whole trail last week and if your webpage hadn't been available, I don't know think our trip would have been as enjoyable as it was. I'm turning 50 this year and this was our big adventure. We trained, kept up to date on the conditions of the trail and read what your readers had to say about the business' on the trail. It was such a tremendous help.

Again I want to thank you.

What a nice place to stay. Cookies waiting for us and yogart, juice and water in the fridge. The town was so friendly.

What a nice place to stay. Cookies waiting for us and yogart, juice and water in the fridge. The town was so friendly.

We visited Dotty's while staying at the Hartsburg Inn. The food was very good and the service was great. The locals were friendly and the entire town was very nice. Everyone we saw waved or spoke. A great experience.

We visited Dotty's while staying at the Hartsburg Inn. The food was very good and the service was great. The locals were friendly and the entire town was very nice. Everyone we saw waved or spoke. A great experience.

hAD A GREAT LUNCH AFTER FININSHING OUR 5 DAY RIDE SATURDAY. STAFF VERY CYCLIST FRIENDLY.

hAD A GREAT LUNCH AFTER FININSHING OUR 5 DAY RIDE SATURDAY. STAFF VERY CYCLIST FRIENDLY.

Is anyone just riding the St. Charles-Marthesville-St. Charles overnight trip? I am planning to camp June 19 in Marthesville and then ride back to St. Charles on Tuesday, June 20--anyone else?

Thank Goodness Mark & Pam's bike shop is doing great!!!!! We would all miss the "Queen's English!!!!"

Ain't that the truth! : )

My son's bike had tire problems on our ride from Jeff City to Hartsburg on Memorial Day. We made it to the Hartsburge bike shop and Mark was extremely helpful and courteous. He was nice enough to not ask why we hadn't replaced the tires earlier (which we should have) and showed us all the options he had in stock from low to high price. He recommended the Hutchinson Acrobat 700x37 for my son's bike since we ride Katy Trail almost exclusively and he very quickly replaced both tires. The price for the tires was very reasonable (yes, slightly more than ordering online - but comparable to any bike store I'm sure) and the labor charge was also very reasonable - especially since we were stranded and could hardly argue!



I'm glad to hear his store is doing well and I will visit it again soon. Thank you Mark for being there when we needed help.

This was a very nice bed and breakfast--great food and service--a touch of class.

This was a very nice bed and breakfast--great food and service--a touch of class.

Our Sunday ride was our longest ever-46 miles, and with the heat it was all we would want to do--the kids (9 & 11) were good sports, though, and followed the "no whining until we are at least halfway there" rule! I had forgotten how many times the trail crosses highway 94 in this section--and I thought some of the crossing are potentially fairly dangerous, right on big bends in the road. We stopped at the Peers store for lunch and had a look at the room she rents for a very reasonable price ($45 or so, including breakfast, depending on number in the party). Definitely an option when watching the budget. We stayed that night at the Doll House in Rhineland, where we were greeted with homemade chocolate chip cookies and lemonade. For dinner, we had pre-arranged a meal cooked by Amanda, and it was wonderful--pasta, salad, homemade bread, sugarsnap peas and onions straight out of the garden, and chocolate cake garnished with home-grown strawberries, and she provided a bottle of wine from a Hermann winery. Our room opened onto the upstairs porch, where the porch swing was a shady, comfortable place to spend the evening until we collapsed early. Breakfast was again huge and excellent, featuring home-grown strawberries, eggs, bacon and french toast. We then met up with some friends from Columbia, who, with their 4 children travelling by bike, trail-a-bike, and trailer, rode with us to Mokane. Shaved ice at Bluffton was a big hit, and we were very glad to find the bar in Portland open for lunch. As we rode through Steedman, the woman from the house next to the bar offered us water and emerged from her house with a big pitcher of ice water. That kept us going to Mokane, where we managed to shuttle our cars and load up before the rain hit us on our way back to Columbia. We thought the trail was fairly busy Saturday, about average on Sunday, and very empty on Monday --possibly due to the 90-plus degree temps!

Another Memorial Weekend, another great ride. We started in St Charles this year, shuttled by Gary Creason of Creason shuttles. He will talk you ear off, but is full of good information about trail businesses, and goes out of his way to be helpful. We thought we had done all of the trail over the years, but had not actually made it to the place where it becomes an overgrown railroad bed, so that''s where we started this time. We had a good lunch at The Canoe (?) in St Charles, then rode to Das Gast Haus Nadler in Defiance--boy, were we glad to spend some time in the hot tub! This is a great place, where all of the rooms open onto a big shady porch with wicker furniture. We had supper there of sausage, bread and cheese that we had brought with us, plus Jacquie had a complimentary bottle of wine for us from a local winery. She generously put our children into separate rooms for no extra charge as there were no other guests. We have had several similar experiences of generosity from B&B owners over the years. Breakfast was fabulous--individual egg casseroles, fresh-squeezed orange juice, strawberries and cream, homemade blackberry coffee cake and sticky buns, and more! Then she sent the extra baked goods with us! We were glad to have a lot of water (we bought another camelback and water bottles in Defiance), as there are long stretches at the Eastern end without water at the trailhead, and it was HOT.

We stayed at this bed and breakfast and it is somewhat run down and definately not worth the fee of 160 plus tax for the Miss Evelyn room.

We stayed at this bed and breakfast and it is somewhat run down and definately not worth the fee of 160 plus tax for the Miss Evelyn room.

Can someone make recommendations as to the best place to stay in Clinton that is near the trailhead and a good breakfast place to eat at prior to beginning a trip?



Thanks,



Ken

Try the Best Western - a little over a mile from the trailhead, and room includes continental breakfast. If that's not heavy enough for you, there's a Country Kitchen restaurant right there.

Rates at some of these Motels-Hotels are ridiculous for a one night stay, combined with the price of gas I see a great decline coming if they don't start charging a decent price for a room. I think anything over $40.00 a night for one of these rooms is outrageous!

How about the Hampton in Clinton? How hard is it to get to the trailhead from there?



Thanks,



Ken

We are primarily road riders and have heard just heard of the Katy Trail. We would love to ride it but we understand that some portions can be rough surfaces and gravel. Can anyone recommend what portions of the trail are accomodating to a road bike? Thanks.

If you're a real road rider like me, you'll have no trouble on 700x23s. Be sure to have Kevlar belts, spare tubes, and a patch kit. Watch for the rocks used in the parking lot of the trailhead on the New Franklin side of the MO river. Search elsewhere in this forum for plenty of opinions on tires.

I rode from Washington to Sedalia a few weeks ago with my road bike with 700x25s and didn't have any problems except for one flat. I didn't really find any of it to be too rough. A few areas were a bit soft, but that was to be expected with all the rain in the week before our ride. It actually rained for several hours on our ride, and the road bike handled that just fine too.

Me and my dad rode the whole katy trail last summer on our touring bikes and they handled it just fine. There are some rough spots that you dont want to hit going full speed you might want to be a little careful on them but other than that a touring bike will do just fine on the katy trail.

Had a lowly P&J at the Peers Store and it tasted like a 5 course meal after a long, hot ride. If I'm on that section of the trail again I will surely stop there.

Had a lowly P&J at the Peers Store and it tasted like a 5 course meal after a long, hot ride. If I'm on that section of the trail again I will surely stop there.

I have it on good authority that the winery in Hartsburg is opening on Friday, May 26. I have also heard that the menu looks great!

That's great news. Unfortunately, we're missing Hartsburg on both of our rides this summer, but I'm sure we will be there to try it out before long.

It's marvelous! I had dinner there tonight...great pasta dishes, good wine and a good beer

selection. It is operated by the same folks who own Holts Summit Winery not far from Jeff

City.

I'm thinking of riding Boonville to Hartsburg Friday 5/26, camping at the park Friday night and returning to Boonville on Saturday. Will probably be riding somewhere around McKittrick on Sunday afternoon as well.

I have been thinking about it, but haven't made any plans yet. If you want to talk off list,

send a note to webmaster and ask him to give you my e-mail. Sharon

Yes, planning to ride the Katy on Memorial Weekend, but was wondering how busy the trail might be those days and if being on a bike will be frustrating? Any input is welcome.

I have never found the Trail to be so busy that being on a bike is frustrating. I don't expect

any issues there. And, if you are concerned about it, bike on some of the less travelled

parts...for example, stay away from Rocheport, but I wouldn't worry about it. Most folks in

mid-Missouri think Memorial Day is for going to the Lake of the Ozarks (at least in my

experience). And, a lot will depend on what the weather forecast is for those days. See you

on the Trail!



Sharon

We have biked the trail for several Memorial weekends, and except for the odd mile or two just outside of Rocheport, and around Augusta, we have never seen a lot of people.

That's good news on the crowd levels for Memorial Weekend. Not that I am anti-social. I do love people. But distance is my goal this time, and I also don't want to bother others going at a more leisurely pace. From a couple of posts I just saw, now I am wondering if trail conditions are going to be the big hurdle for my road bike outfitted with 700 x28c tires. Oh well...more's the adventure.

I've done that section twice on a road tandem outfitted with 700 x 28 tires. The worst is the parking lot on the New Franklin side of the MO river from Boonville. This lot is filled with rocks the size of a small woman's fist. I'd recommend walking across this parking lot. Otherwise, you should have no trouble maintaining 17+MPH.

Wife and I will be riding on Saturday from Pilot Grove to Sedalia and back. Happy trails and a safe Memorial Day Weekend to everybody.

I should be out on the Trail on Friday and maybe Saturday too...be in Hartsburg Friday night.

I ride a blue Trek with skinny tires!



Sharon

Saturday about noon, will start in Clinton and try to make St. Charles by Wednesday. The 90 degree forecasts are not too appealing but will mostly be biking mornings except for Saturday. Not too worried about speed and distance, but mostly looking for the best pubs (bars) and wineries at which to meander for awhile. Never going more than 60 miles a day. Any special recommendations for good watering holes or stopping places? I'm all about second breakfasts and high teas.

droconner@yahoo.com

Hope to see some of you fine folks out there this weekend. My 8-year old son and I are starting in Clinton on 5/26 AM and ending up in St. Charles on 5/31. We could do without the heat, but who knows? With unpredictable Missouri weather, it could be back in the 70's by the end of our trip!

We're doing St. Charles to Mokane this year, starting Saturday morning. On Saturday and Sunday it will be my husband and 9 and 11 year old kids, and then on Monday we are being joined in Rhineland by friends with 4 kids from 2 to 13! We, too, are a little worried about the heat, but at least there's no rain in the forecast!

I'm a new biker and will be doing just 20 miles on Sunday but am worried about the heat (93F Saturday with a 68F dew point). I'm also a diabetic. Hopefully 2 bottles of water and and some glucose pills will be enough.

Take some Gatorade along...you will need the electrolytes that Gatorade will give you.