Rock Island Trail Forum

Has anyone recently ridden the trail from Weldon Spring to Machens? I’m thinking of a day trip one day next week but don’t see any recent info on the rider reported trail conditions. Thanks for any help!

From St. Charles to Machens is still a mess in a few places. I recommend starting at Defiance and turning around at St. Charles instead for a similar amount of mileage.

Maxine and Pete were wonderful hosts, their house is located in a beautiful area of the town. It is away from all the traffic yet located very close to the town. They both went out of their way to make my stay very comfortable. I can vouch that you will enter their home as a stranger but will leave as good friends of Maxine & Pete. My rating is 10 out of 10.

We have stayed at Kim's on several occasions, usually while riding on the Katy or Rock Island Trails. Recently, we stayed at Kim's for a fall getaway that did not include biking. The following weekend, my son and his wife spent a night at Kim's for a getaway. What a fantastic place. The cabins could not be more immaculate. The towels and linens are great. The kitchen is well stocked. The cabins could not be cleaner or more well kept. They are sparkling. Kim meets you when you arrive and is welcoming and personable. There are fire pits, wood for the fire, charcoal grills, comfy tables and chairs.There is a secure barn to keep your bikes AND there are even horse corrals! Best of all, Kim is a great advocate for the Missouri Rail-to-Trail systems.

We have stayed at Kim's on several occasions, usually while riding on the Katy or Rock Island Trails. Recently, we stayed at Kim's for a fall getaway that did not include biking. The following weekend, my son and his wife spent a night at Kim's for a getaway. What a fantastic place. The cabins could not be more immaculate. The towels and linens are great. The kitchen is well stocked. The cabins could not be cleaner or more well kept. They are sparkling. Kim meets you when you arrive and is welcoming and personable. There are fire pits, wood for the fire, charcoal grills, comfy tables and chairs.There is a secure barn to keep your bikes AND there are even horse corrals! Best of all, Kim is a great advocate for the Missouri Rail-to-Trail systems.

Thank you so much Denise! Love having you all and love that many are enjoying the comfort of the cabins at the crossroads of the Katy and Rock Island!

Thank you so much Denise! Love having you all and love that many are enjoying the comfort of the cabins at the crossroads of the Katy and Rock Island!

Can a bikes go on the trail

Yes. "Electrically assisted pedal-powered bicycles and tricycles (maximum speed of 20 mph) are allowed."

https://mostateparks.com/page/57944/general-information

According to the Missouri DNR Katy Trail web site, you can use electric bikes but only up to 20 MPH.

You may ride an e-bike on the Katy according to the Missouri State Parks website. There is a 20 mph speed limit though.

I had the pleasure of riding the whole 237 miles of the Katy Trail in 5 days. I did it solo, but met a lot of good folks along the way. And the places I stayed were very accommodating. I stopped in Boonville, Jeff City, Hermann and Defiance. And I'm planning on doing it again next year, but with friends. Thanks for all the info you guys gave me before my ride. Oh, ya, I did not have a flat and the last part of the trail from St Charles is a good ride, curvy, small hills, but smooth riding. But when you reach the end, there is no parking, just a toilet building, no water. The Closest road was Ell Rd and Hwy 94. I was extracted from there! Good riding to you all.

Forgot to put the dates I rode: 14 - 18 October. from Clinton to Machens.

Nice ride. Congratulations.

Will, you are correct after going through St. Charles, Machens is a bit of let down. But the ride to get there is pretty nice along the river. Maybe additional services will be put there in the future. Congrats on the full distance.

Thanks for posting, I plan on doing the same type of ride next spring. Did you camp or do Hotels/B&B's? I'm trying to determine if I want to try this method or do the annual ride in June and camp with them.

JAL, I stayed in both Hotels and one B&B. I rode From Clinton to Boonville, 70 miles and stayed at the Island of Capri Hotel and Casino (39.00), it was cheap since I go there from time to time and on this nite I went into the casino for an hour and won 180.00, so I left, this paid for most of the stays for the rest of my trip! I was lucky! I then rode to Jeff City (51 miles), stayed in Capital Plaza Hotel 59.00 plus tax and I had to ride 2.8 miles from the trail and over the bridge but on a pedestrian walkway. Nice room and they had a free hot breakfast at 6am. I then rode to Hermann (43 miles), and stayed at the Harbor Haus Inn (just on the second block on left after you come across the bridge) it was 49.00 plus tax, small room, clean and they had breakfast at 8am, was very nice small room and very friendly family staff. I left there and rode to Defiance, about 41 miles and stayed at the Parson's House B&B, Norm is the owner, he was very friendly and helpful. The house and room is an old house, but very accommodating and the bed slept nicely. He had coffee and breakfast casserole waiting for guess the next morning. This was the most expensive and the only place I had not made reservations for on my trip (109.00 total) I then rode from there to the end of the trial, Machens, about 33 miles. I took about 600 pics and really enjoyed my ride. I will be riding again in the spring, with friends but probably just a 2 day trip. The main reason I did not camp was because I would have to buy a tent and carry it along, also. I had never done this before, so it was all new to me. I brought some saddle bags from Walmart, and they work for small cargo, but I was told to go online and buy better ones for same price. I am looking for those now. Pack light, carry rain gear and extra inner tube, just in case. I didn't have a flat or any kind of bike problems.

Great info ! I appreciate the follow up post with the lodging details.

Thanks, Will. The info you gave is quite helpful. Planning on doing the Katy one of these days.

Will, and you others, THANK you for great info; I'm planning full distance this Spring/Summer. You mentioned and annual trip (organized) in June? Is this the MO DNR trip? How do I find out about it? And has anyone used any of the trip organizing firms listed? How are they?

Here is a link to the 2013 DNR ride with lots of info: http://mostateparks.com/2013-katy-trail-ride. The 2014 ride will most likely go in the opposite direction and registration doesn't open until March. The Katy is an easy trail to do on your own. Just spend a little time on the Mileage Chart, Trip Planner, and Towns and Services pages above to plan your trip. The DNR trip and other organized trips may have a day or two longer than you might prefer.

If you want someone else to organize everything, I am sure the DNR trip would be great...but I agree with the previous comments...the KATY trip is about as easy to organize on your own as any bike trip I can imagine. Literally, a change of clothes that allows me to comfortably go into a restaurant for nice meal in the evening, a credit card, a tooth brush, about 3 tubes, a patch kit and a multi-tool and I'm good. Wash out the bike clothes every night and get up in the morning and repeat the process. Love it. Miss it. Can't wait to ride the KATY again.

The June DNR organized ride is limited to 300 riders and sells out fast, Jon. It is well organized but it's a group ride and does last a few days longer,5 I believe. It has 2 good long days and the rest are 25-30 mile days. You can camp out with the group or stay in hotels too. It is a good introductory ride for the KT. If you are in good shape 3-4 days on your own is more flexible. There are other more pampered and more expensive organized rides. Spring and fall are better times since the summer is pretty hot and crowded.

Hey Will! Good to see you made it. I meet you on my way back from St. Louis. Kc to St. Louis and back no problem and no planning. I had camping equipment. I appreciate the Missouri DNR for making such an easy, close to home trip possible.

Thanks Boomhauer! Yes I did! And was good talking to you! I think I'm hooked on this cycling stuff now! Lol. I'm thinking I'm going to ride 2014 Katy Trail Ride in June? I want to see what's it like to ride with 300 other bikers.
Also, when you got to Clinton, the end of the Katy Trail, what route do you take back to KC?

Left Clinton 5pm on a Friday oct 11, camped in Windsor that night. Next day rode 100 miles to Hartsburg and camped in a baseball field. Sunday rode somewhere past gore and camped on the river. Monday woke up at 4am and pulled into st Charles at 10:15am. Found ways past every detour and took no shuttles!

Nice push Brother!!????

Congrats on riding the trail, and it's great to see the trail open all the way again. I rode the trail end-to-end in 2018, and actually started in St Charles, and did an out and back to Machens the first day. As mentioned elsewhere, not much in Machens, but it is the beginning/end and one can ride to Portage des Sioux from Machens to see the Mississippi River. Hope to ride again in 2020. By the way, don't think one can go wrong with any lodging anywhere on the trail, but can certainly recommend the B&Bs in Pilot Grove, Hartsburg and McKittrick.

It was a bucket list thing, i did the round trip, from beginning to end and back, it was the week of fathers day 2017. One of my fellow rugby players Pat rode with me to coopers landing, where my son-in-law joined me to Clinton, I turned around and rode solo back to the beginning(Machens) 9 days on the trail no flats, scenery awesome. Total of 490 miles. Highly recommend it, can't wait to do it again.


HAPPY TRAILS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We have a group wanting to bike from Clinton to hermann and train back to kc. Amtrak says only 4 spots for bikes. Does anyone know is there room for more bikes? Thanks

My impression is NO, there are only 4 slots. The slots are inside the passenger car, with 2 on either end (between outside door and sears). One could probably squeeze two bikes in one slot and not have them in the way, but I don't think Amtrak will sell more than 4 bike tickets per train.

There is room for many bikes on the trains
It has frustrated me for years why Amtrak limits each train to 4 bikes
Write your congressman!
Safe travels

Depending on the size of your group it might be cost effective to get a shuttle. Then you have the added benefit of door to door service at a time you pick. A stop along the way might even be possible.

My husband is thinking about heading out to Sedalia this weekend and do some riding on the trail out there and on the Rock Island Spur. I was wondering it there has been snow or if there will be by then on the trail? I'm thinking it may not last long even if there is?

Windsor and the area had a little snow overnight. Looks like will be melting and Katy and Rock Island both good for the weekend

YES! SNOW ON TRAIL IN BOONVILLE (all be it very little) GET OUT YOUR FATTYs (Very Fat Tire Snow Bikes) We are going to get ours out in a minute here, just for the fun of it.

Thanks for the responses. He thought it would be fine but I wanted to check!

Snow this morning here in Sedalia, but sun is out and I think most is gone.