The Rock Island Trail

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Reply to Quick camping

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Mark from Shawnee on 7/26/2018 7:39:37 AM:

Hello all,

I am planning on hiking the entirety of the Katy in March 2019. If I keep my usual average of 20kms per day(hey Im a relaxed hiker)I will end up with several spots where no "camping" is an option.

Per Mo Park rules, can I throw out my bivy tent along side the trail when I need to or do I have to only use specified camping locations such as private pay sites, dedicated camp areas etc?

Thanks all.

M

Jerry Whittle from Belleville Il on 7/26/2018 8:33:10 AM:

Here's the best source of information about the trail itself.
https://mostateparks.com/park/katy-trail-state-park
The park, itself, is only open from dawn to dusk. "Missouri State Parks does not provide camping along Katy Trail State Park. Camping is available at public and privately owned campgrounds adjacent to the trail."

Also the park is very narrow in most places. If you pitch a tent 20 feet off the trail, you are probably on private property and many of the property owners would be very unhappy to find you there.

Anonymous on 7/26/2018 9:04:30 AM:

In short.....no to the first question and yes to the second.

Anonymous on 7/26/2018 9:49:41 AM:

Although many adjacent property owners are anti-trail, I would bet that if you told someone you were hiking the length of the trail and offered them $20 if you could camp in their pasture overnight, they would let you do it.

Mark from Shawnee on 7/26/2018 10:57:57 AM:

Thanks much for the info. I found the camp info right after I posted this... typical of me.

Sounds like this isn't the trail for me unless I want to pay for some lodging along the way.

Cheers!

Anonymous on 7/28/2018 11:15:08 AM:

I don't think you will have a problem camping. Make it a charity walk where you are raising money for a cause and you will have even less a problem finding agreeable residents letting you camp overnight. Have a sign on your pack saying "Walking for MS" or something. Actually take donations along the way if offered, don't solicit, donate the money at the end of the hike and write up a story for the newspapers.

Allen from Shawnee on 7/28/2018 3:27:16 PM:

Besides campsites not lining up I don’t believe the water at trailheads is turned on until April.. The C&O canal from Cumberland to Washington DC has free camping every 5 miles or so, it might be a better choice for you, although it’s a long ways away it is reachable by train. In March you might have some pretty cold nights. I did it in May one year and had a night in the low 30’s

Allen

steve from saint louis on 8/17/2018 6:05:33 PM:

A little late in responding but we do have the Ozark Trail in Missouri, which would be idea for the type of backpacking and leave no trace camping that you describe. Just have to be conditioned for hills of the ozarks vs. the relatively flat Katy.

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