The Katy Trail October 29th - November 2nd, 2010 The Katy Trail is a rail-trail stretching from Clinton, MO (southeast of Kansas City) to St. Charles, MO in St. Louis. Most of this 225- mile path follows the Missouri River precisely where Lewis & Clark set out across the then unknown wilderness. Many of sites along the trail are marked with stories of their adventures and misadventures. In July of 2010, I discovered the Katy Trail while visiting family in Columbia, MO. I knew immediately I’d be back to bike tour the entire trail.
In a marginally similar manner, Bryce Nerland and I (Stephen Lee Ogden) set out into the unknown. The Katy was an obvious choice for a first bike tour. It's the longest rail-trail in America, completely flat, and covers a variety of amazing landscape. It also travels through many quaint small towns and offers plenty of tent camping opportunities. Combining cycling and backpacking seemed like an ideal combination for a great trip. Our trip began with an Amtrak ride across Missouri and a cheap hotel room. We woke to freezing temperatures, sunshine, and the excitement of setting out on another adventure.
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Right Bryce and his fully loaded bike.
Opposite Page At the main trailhead for the entire trail, you'll find one of the original Katy caboose cars.
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Clinton, MO - The beginning of the Katy Trail
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Calhoun, MO - Bryce is standing in front of one of the oldest grain elevators in Missouri. After taking this picure, I discovered my first flat tire ... just 10 miles into the trip.
This is what a Katy Trail hill looks like. Bryce is riding the drops.
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Above Sunset of our first day. This was about 5 miles west of Pilot Grove, MO. Right Bryce hits the 50 mile mark for day one. A personal best distance. By the end of the day he we would complete 65 miles.
Opposite Page Bryce’s first flat. A very small thorn penitrated the tire and tube. This is the same cause of my first flat. 7
Pilot Grove, MO - Camp 01 - After 65 miles, we were ready for fine dining. What we found instead was a gas station pizzaria and a campsite in a public park (no bathrooms). We made the best of it and slept really well despite the noise from the local teens and their souped up trucks. We pitched the tent near the slide. 8
Boonville, MO - This is an awesome little town nested right on the Missouri River. We ate breakfast here at a grease pit diner and stopped by Chuck’s Bike Shop ... or emporium might be the better term.
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Boonville, MO - Chuck’s Bikes - a small bike shop full of junk. Bike junk, political junk, and regular junk. How beautiful.
Boonville, MO - Meet Chuck, a retired mechanical engineer turned bike mechanic. He was pitching 3 must have items ‌ a split seat saddle, rubber no-flat tube strips, & a dust friendly chain lube.
Boonville, MO - Chuck & his split seat saddle 12
Bryce & I along the trail.
Rocheport, Mo - The only train tunnel on the trail.
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Above Bryce speeding through the train tunnel Left We had a fantastic lunch at Abigail’s Cafe’. They used bike wheels to hang kitchen pots.
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Easley, MO - Cooper’s Landing Campground - Camp 02 - Great stop. Good Thai food and live music. Hot (and somewhat private) shower.
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Above The sunset was enjoyed along with dinner with the Bradleys (my relatives from Columbia, MO) Right Live music played on into the night. This was a starry long exposure aimed west. Left Top Cooper’s Landing dock Left Bottom Our humble tent and my dusty Peugeot Bike
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Somewhere between Easley & Jefferson City - A cold morning looking out over the Missouri River flood plain
Past Hartsburg, MO - daybreak
Bryce riding over one of the many steel bridges
Scenes along the trail near Jefferson City, MO. 22
After Church in Jefferson City, we had a great fried chicken meat & 3 lunch at the local airport. We then proceeded over many miles of windy trail heading towards Portland, MO for the evening (Haloween) 23
Portland, MO - Camp 03 - We dined at the local Riverfront Bar & Grill (greasy goodness) and camped at the campgrounds just outside near the river. Hot showers and a good night’s sleep were had.
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Bluffton, MO - Steamboat Junction - The house here was made from a steamboat captains boathouse after a wreck on the river. We had a snack break from the honor system snack stand.
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Near Rhineland, MO - Meet Chris. A fellow bike toursit who needed help changing a tire. We rode together into Herman, MO and shared lunch at the Stone Hill Winery. He was a great guy. He told Bryce and I about the MR340. Google it.
Herman, MO - We visited a local bike shop where the owner reminded me of Dustin Hoffman. He gave us directions to the 1847 Stone Hill Winery Resturant across town and up a steep hill. 27
Above The Hermann, MO Stone Hill winery sat atop a large hill overlooking the town. The town was historically a German settlement Right Peers, MO - Camp 04 Camping at a little league ballpark with showers and more bar-food.
Opposite Page - The map of Hermann, MO we used to navigate our way to the Stone Hill Winery.
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Top Left The sunset near Peers, MO on a cold fall morning. Top Right Bryce shedding a layer ‌ and looking real nice doing so. Bottom Left Bryce loading his bike for the final day. Bottom Right Bryce cruising down the trail.
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Somewhere along the last section of trail
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We arrived in St.Charles sometime mid-afternoon after a beautiful final day of cycling. Trail worn, we were delighted to enjoy a great meal at the Trailhead Brewing Company. After a late lunch, we toured the Lewis & Clark Boat House and called for a shuttle to drive us back to the Amtrak station where the car was parked. Riding the Katy Trail was truly fantastic. It was a great opportunity to take in the finer details of the Missouri River Plain and enjoy some quality friendship. We meet several great people along the way and stayed in some awesome camping areas. The weather was mostly perfect with chilly mornings and crisp sunny afternoons. All 225 miles were beautifully flat. We both agree that the sunset on the Missouri River while relaxing at Cooper’s Landing was the highlight of the trip. We hope to enjoy the Katy again sometime in the future.
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