Cycling Missouri's Historic Katy Trail

Day 1: The group will meet at 8:30 a.m. in St. Charles, Missouri. Our first stop will be a guided group tour of the nearby Lewis & Clark Museum and Boat launch. After touring the museum and viewing the replicas of Lewis & Clark Expedition boats, we will load up our bikes and gear for the four-hour van excursion to Clinton, Missouri. Conveniently, our outing will finish at the same place it began. Clinton is the western terminus of the Katy Trail. When we arrive in Clinton, we will tour the wonderful Henry County Historical Center. We will spend the night in Clinton. There will be a comprehensive trip orientation at the motel.

Day 2: Rising after a comfortable night's sleep, we will eat breakfast before riding 38 miles northeast toward Sedalia. This portion of the trail follows the oldest section of the M.K.T. (Missouri – Kansas – Texas) rail bed. Unlike the majority of the Katy—which hugs the Missouri River—this is a hillier, more secluded, and wooded portion of the trail. The group will tour the refurbished Katy depot and museum in Sedalia before touring, lodging, and dining at the National Landmark Hotel Bothewell in downtown Sedalia.

Day 3: After eating breakfast and taking a historian-accompanied walking tour of downtown Sedalia, the group will continue 38 miles northeast across the rolling Osage prairie, toward a rendezvous with the mighty Missouri River at Boonville. We'll spend the afternoon touring historic Boonville’s antebellum historic buildings. We will visit Thespian Hall, which is the oldest operating theater in the US west of the Allegheny Mountains. The group will then cycle across the Missouri River to the National Landmark Rivercene Bed and Breakfast. After a relaxing break sitting on the porch or in the garden, we will enjoy dinner at the mansion.

Day 4: After breakfast, we will proceed toward the town of Rocheport (at 17 miles, it's the shortest ride on our itinerary). Along the way, we will stop for a discussion at the site of the famous riverside community of Franklin, the eastern terminus of the Santa Fe Trail. Passage through a 243-foot-long railroad tunnel will bring us into Rocheport. Brett Dufur, the author of The Katy Trail Guidebook, and Lewis & Clark re-enactor, will join us and explain the history and environmental concerns along the trail. The afternoon will be time for relaxation and self-discovery. Before dinner, we will take a short ride down the trail to the Les Bourgeois winery, located upon the bluffs overlooking the Mighty Missouri to enjoy a glass of wine as we watch the sun set over the river. Following dinner, the group will be lodging at a trailside B&B.

Day 5: We'll continue our journey, heading 37 miles downriver toward the State Capital in Jefferson City. This section of trail is memorable for the towering sandstone bluffs, long sacred to local tribes, which stand as sentinels along the trail. We will enjoy lunch along the trail before safely crossing the river on the $6.7 million newly completed bicycle and pedestrian bridge into Jefferson City.  An afternoon tour of the State Capital and Missouri State Museum will highlight the renowned Thomas Hart Benton murals.  We will dine at a local favorite restaurant near our downtown hotel.

Day 6: Today we'll cycle 43 miles downriver through dense woods that support rich bird and wildlife populations; on past trips, the variety of birds seen has been spectacular! Our destination, the historic city of Hermann, is the centerpiece of the mid-state German immigrant heritage and its vineyard region. We will visit the Deutschheim State Historic Site and tour the celebrated Stonehill Winery. Afterward we will dine at the winery and stay at a local bed-and-breakfast in the midst of the sprawling riverside historic district.

Day 7: We will enjoy some free time to stroll the historic district near our lodging and visit the Hermann Old Schoolhouse Museum. We will then re-cross the river and continue 40 miles to the tranquil and scenic town of Augusta. Augusta was founded in 1836 by followers of Daniel Boone. Anita Malinkrodt, the popular town historian, noted author, and retired history professor, will be our guide. We will dine and enjoy a final night of local B&B accommodations.  

Day 8: In the morning, we will hop on our bikes, and enjoy hitting the trail one last time together. During the short 25 miles to the end of the Katy Trail, we will have the opportunity to stop and learn about Daniel Boone, who lived the last 20 years of his life in the area through which we will be travelling. We should arrive back in St. Charles by mid-afternoon.

Getting There

The starting and ending point for this outing is the Katy Trail depot in St. Charles, located on the outskirts of St. Louis, Missouri. Vehicle parking is free and unrestricted. Lambert International Airport in St. Louis is located only a few miles by interstate from the starting point. All airlines will ship properly boxed bicycles, although often there is a fee for this service. St. Louis is also a busy rail hub with extensive daily regional and transcontinental service provided by Amtrak. Most trains allow assembled or boxed bicycles to be carried aboard for a fee.

The leader will furnish roster information so participants may contact each other. Detailed departure bulletins—including directions to the starting point—will also be sent prior to meeting in Missouri. Ultimately, it is the sole responsibility of each participant to arrive at the starting point at the specified time.

Please do not make travel arrangements until the leader has confirmed you as a trip member.

Accommodations and Food

We will all be sharing the accommodations at bed-and-breakfasts. The configuration of space, rooms, and beds at some of these rural lodgings is highly variable, and since the make-up of the group is unpredictable until registration is complete, we may have to be flexible! Leader approval may be subject to accommodation restrictions. Breakfasts will be provided every morning by our hosts. All lunches, tours, and some dinners are included in the trip price. Most dinners and beverages are the responsibility of each participant.

Trip Difficulty

Most cyclists will find the difficulty of this outing to be moderate. The longest day will be 43 miles. The Katy Trail is clearly marked and has a durable, finely crushed limestone surface. The trail is not hilly, as the grade seldom exceeds five percent. Although the vast majority of our travel is off-road on the Katy Trail, on occasion we have to negotiate short sections on rural highways and city streets.

Participants should note that the leaders are committed to the historical and cultural aspects of this outing.

This is a self-contained tour. There will be no support vehicle. However, there are local shuttle services that specialize in picking up injured or stranded cyclists. Participants will need to carry only their clothing and personal items along with them on their bicycles.

Those who apply for this outing should be self-confident in their abilities. A regular fitness program is recommended for all participants. The minimum age for trip acceptance is 16.

Equipment and Clothing

Participants will need a bicycle and bike packs (panniers) to carry their gear on the Katy Trail. Bicycles must be mechanically sound and in very reliable condition. Rental bikes can be arranged at a moderate price and will be delivered and retrieved at the trailhead. Boxed bicycles can also be shipped via U.P.S. to the starting point, or transported by participants (see "Getting There," above). Bulletins explaining all equipment requirements will be sent to registered participants.

References

Books:

• Dufur, Brett, The Complete Katy Trail Guidebook.

• Beatte, Brian, and Brett Dufur, The River Companion: A Nature Guide.

Websites:

• Lewis and Clark: www.lewisandclark.net

• Katy Trail site: www.katytrailstatepark.com

• Sierra Club's Ozark chapter: missouri.sierraclub.org/

Conservation

The Missouri River has been repeatedly named as "America's Most Threatened River" by the Organization of American Rivers. Pollution, dam operations, channelization for barge traffic, and disputes over seasonal rises are just a few of the problems the river faces. On a positive note, there are active plans to purchase the remainder of the rail bed to complete the Katy Trail all the way to Kansas City.

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and will operate under a permit from Katy Trail State Park.