Ray (webmaster) on 6/17/2004 1:05:15 PM:
The Katy Trail uses the exact same mile markers that the railroad used. So even though the Katy Trail starts in St Charles, the railroad started their numbering somewhere 39 miles farther east/north. The DNR indicates that there is "undeveloped trail" for another 12 miles past St Charles, going through the towns of CuldeSac (34.5), Black Walnut (30.05), and Machens (26.9). But I do not know anything about the condition/ride-ability of this undeveloped section.
It's worth noting that because the trail leaves the railroad right-of-way in Rhineland and Sedalia, your actual mileage will differ slightly from the mile marker mileage when riding through these towns. As you follow the trail off of the railbed in these two towns, you are no longer travelling the measured distance of the railroad mile markers; you're actually riding a bit farther. This difference is minimal, but it's worth mentioning for those riders who wonder why their bike computers have suddenly gotten out of sync with the mile markers.