The Katy Trail End-to-End #10

Meet the shuttle van at St. Charles, MO near the eastern end of the Katy Trail at our/your reserved lodging. On day 7 this will be your tour end point. MM26.9 to MM39.5 is rideable, and nice, but not fully developed with services. Overnight parking is available for our cyclists. E-bike rental is six blocks away and directly located on the trail. The St. Charles trailhead or lodging is a 20 minute drive or taxi ride from Lambert St. Louis International Airport. NOTE to our friends driving from west of Missouri — Save a drive to St.Charles/St. Louis — you can optionally park at the west end of the trail at Clinton and shuttle back from St. Charles on the last morning.

The shuttle provides door-to-door service for you and bikes directly to your Clinton lodging. Airport pick up is available for a very small cost, if any, and if within a timely schedule. 4 hours shuttle drive time to Clinton.

Lodging: Modern Small Hotel at Clinton

Today is your first cycling day. Leave luggage with your host. We will transfer it for you to this evening’s destination, and each day on your tour. IF able, please take some light clothes along. Rare as it is, situations may arise of late afternoon luggage arrival. Or take advantage of our no bags transfer discount. Note: B&B check-ins are usually 3:30/4:00pm. If arriving sooner, please call ahead. Our lodgings are very accommodating but many of our host do their fresh food shopping in the afternoons.

Ride from your hotel to the trailhead (MM 264.6). While cycling along rolling farmland, bordered with sections of trees, you’ll finish the day in Sedalia, MO, home of the Missouri State Fair (each August) and a place where legendary musician Scott Joplin worked and lived. We finish at one of the grandest restored train depots along the trail. Your lodging is 6 blocks from the Sedalia trailhead.

Lodging: Small Historic Hotel at Sedalia

Today is the longest section of your tour on the Katy Trail, 50 miles to Rocheport. The distance can be shortened with an advanced request to 36 miles with pickup and shuttle from Boonville (MM 191.8) to your lodging in the lovely village of Rocheport (MM 178.3). The only tunnel on the trail is just west of the Rocheport trailhead and the town has a winery, antique shops and a few restaurant choices. Upon reaching Boonville, MO, stop in at the Rivers, Rails & Trails Museum just before the Boonville Train Depot. The museum is free and well worth the short time to visit, and the depot is restored in a beautiful Santa Fe Mission design. You’ll know the cycling day is ending upon reaching the only tunnel on the trail, the Rocheport Tunnel. While in Rocheport, MO stroll along the Riverfront Walk or visit Les Bourgeois Winery for a bluff top view, with superb dining.

Cycling day 3 starts with the most scenic of towering bluffs and the Missouri River almost touching on one another as you cycle between. With this day of cycling 37 miles, you may want to add a few miles with some cycling on the MKT Trail connecting into Columbia, MO. This starts off the Katy Trail at MM 169.9, at the Hindman Junction. Or save time for a stop at Coopers Landing (mm 163.5) Arriving at the N Jefferson TH at MM 143.2, it’s approx. 2 miles to the nights lodging on the Jefferson City Katy Spur, including crossing the Missouri River on a fully separate bike lane. With a couple of bridge over looks, you’ll encounter great views of Jefferson City, MO that is the Capitol of Missouri. Once a bustling town with stage coach, riverboat and rail traffic, it is the first city in the country named in honor of President Thomas Jefferson and a good spot to add an extra night’s stay if so inclined.

With a second ride over the bridge, the cycling adventure continues onto Hermann, MO. Most of this cycling day includes short sporadic bluffs with sections of forest on your left, and wide open river bottoms on the right, as the Missouri River meanders seldom to the trail. This section also includes rural landscapes and several small towns of historic note as early railroad towns. As we reach Portland the Missouri River is in sight as you cycle just past Bluffton and the Grand Bluffs Conservation Area. At McKittrick (MM 100.8) cross the Missouri River Bridge with its protected bike path into Hermann for your evening lodging. This bridge is bicycle safe and friendly. The winery town of Hermann has much to offer including antique shops and several wine tasting rooms and restaurants. Crossing the river into Hermann, your lodging is getting close. Hermann is our number one town for adding an extra day. If taking a day off the bike, visit wineries, brewery’s, shops and more as you take in this historic town. The option of finishing in Rhineland (lodging right on the trail) changes this cycling day to 39 miles (-7 miles) and the next days cycling to 40.5 miles (+3.5 miles)

From Hermann, back on the trail (1.5 miles), the McKittrick TH is basically the Katy Trail cycling start of the day. Traveling through many small rail towns, this section touches the Missouri River for approx. 4 miles earlier in the day. Mostly cycling with wide open views, the geological setting gives an understanding of the immensity of our great American Water Ways. Finishing the day in Augusta.

The last leg of this self-guided cycling tour brings us back to cycling amongst lower bluffs with an optional spot for high bluff views. If inclined, climb a very short distance up to Klondike Park. The views are great, and with some added easy cycling around the park lake, (nice loop trail) you will add a few extra miles. When reaching Defiance (MM 59.1) please stop in the Katy Bike Shop, our shuttle crew’s headquarters. Grab some souvenirs and a bite to eat, and a possible quick tour of Daniel Boone Home National Historic Site. Cycling through Weldon Springs Conversation Area, we touch the river once more, before finishing this independent cycling in the historic town of St Charles. Another popular town for a multi-day stay.