Katy Trail and Trans Am

[StuUK]

Someone advised me that a diversion off of the Trans Am route onto the Katy Trail is a good thing to do.

Have other people done this, how does it compare to the section of Trans Am that you'll miss and what mileage will be added by connecting up to this route?

I'm tinkering on Google Earth to try and answer my own questions, but any first hand knowledge is always a bonus.

Cheers

Stu

www.midlifecyclist.me.uk

[calldmr]

Stu,

I am also interested in transitioning from the Trans Am route to the Katy Trail on my proposed bike trip this summer. Would you be so kind as to let me know what you discover? Thanks, don


Don Rosenthal
calldmr@hotmail.com
415-889-5208

[staehpj1]

Different strokes, but I thought the roads AC picked were really nice and wouldn't go out of my way to hit they Katy.  That said, I should qualify by saying that I am just generally averse to bike trails in general and have not ridden the Katy Trail.

Looking at the map, it shouldn't be hard to reroute to the Katy if you choose to.  I wouldn't though.

On the eastern end it should be easy to connect to the TA at Murphysboro.  On the western end it is pretty easy to just pick secondary roads in western Missouri and Eastern Kansas.

[John Nelson]

I suspect that someday, the ACA may add the Katy as an alternative route. They seem to do this (i.e., map out alternative routes) after sufficient time and interest. It looks like they did this between Chester and Murphysboro on the TransAm.

[DavePM]

Stu,

I live in the St. Charles, Mo, area and have ridden on the KATY often.  I have done end to end  and think it is a great ride.  I have also done St. Louis to Memphis and the first day was from the Arch in downtown St. Louis to Chester, Ill, where the TransAm route also goes.  This ride (Arch to Chester's city park) is about 75 miles and a great ride.  It is basically all flat if you follow the MRT (Mississippi River Trail - each state bordering the Mississippi has their own portion of the MRT, on roads and can be googled to get info and I would suggest using the Mo. portion only to get out of the city and then use the Ill portion for the main part of the ride).  Crossing the Mississippi in south St. Louis county on the Jefferson Barracks Bridge (I 255) is a good crossing, wide shoulders and you access the MRT right after the bridge.

On the western end of the KATY, in Clinton, the community center about a quarter mile away from the trail lets you camp behind their building and use their indoor facilities - restroom, showers.

I guess you would add miles on either end getting to the KATY or back to the TransAM but on the eastern end it is, again, about 75.

Need any more info on the KATY, let me know and I may be able to help you.

[staehpj1]

If you go to the crazy guy on a bike site and search for "TransAmerica Katy" you will get a bunch of hits for journals.

[DU]

The Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation website might helpful. Here is a link to their map page.

http://mobikefed.org/momaps.php#statewide

[litespeed]

I've bicycle toured most all of the Katy Trail (from Clinton to Dutzow) and heartily recommend it. It goes past small towns and along the Missouri River. Not wildly scenic except for the bluffs along the river but very pleasant and peaceful. It's not paved but is packed hard enough that any tires over 25mm should be fine.

Be sure to get The Complete Katy Trail Guidebook by Brett Dufur. You'll want the latest edition which I believe is the 9th.

[MrBent]

Another vote for the Katy!  It is unique for its history and the fact that it is the longest such trail in the USA--if not North America (Route Verte?).  It's nice to have a stretch that long where cars simply are not an issue--period.  Great camping and small towns.  Another bonus--unexpected by me--is that much of the route is fantastically shaded.  At times you're riding through a green tunnel--very cool.  I really enjoyed it.  The crushed limestone gets old and a bit dirty after awhile, but you'll be off it in a few days.

Scott

[Gus Riley]

I've put the Katy Trail on my route itinerary.  I have no wish to experience the infamous Missouri road rage through the Ozarks.

By my calculations by going the Katy route, I may actually save two days over sticking to the TransAm route.  

The only sticky point is getting through St. Louis.  

[John Nelson]

I loved the Ozarks on the TransAm. It's hilly, but beautiful. The route runs right through the Ozarks National Scenic Riverway. Why give that up? Generalizations about what kind of people and drivers you'll find on the TransAm are not indicative of any individual's experience. I found Missouri drivers pleasant and Missouri people charming.

If you really need to save time or distance on the TransAm, there are probably 100 obvious shortcuts. But before taking shortcuts, you have to ask yourself why you're out there in the first place.

[Gus Riley]

....But before taking shortcuts, you have to ask yourself why you're out there in the first place.

I probably could have done without that part of your comment.  After 1,000 miles into a ride, I don't think I need to ask why I'm there in the first place.  

The route through the Ozarks is beautiful, yes, the road is also mostly shoulder less, it is hilly, narrow, curvy, hot and humid, and has a lot of traffic in spots.  It is also a vacation conduit for RVs, Fifth wheels, and all kinds of other vehicles to include large commercial.  

To each his own, as far as I know there is no big booby prize for riding the entire TransAm Trail, if I ride coast to coast, that is what it is, even if there is a diversion. From what I understand the ride is what each of us make of it.  
  

[staehpj1]

I've put the Katy Trail on my route itinerary.  I have no wish to experience the infamous Missouri road rage through the Ozarks.

Your reference to " infamous Missouri road rage" is not at all in line with our experiences there.  We found the people of Missouri very nice and the drivers no worse than anywhere else.  There were a couple spots where the traffic was unpleasant, but that was only a couple for short sections.  Those sections were where there was a steep grade with rafting company buses buzzing by.  I suspect that it would not have been a problem on a weekday and it wasn't that bad even on the weekend.  It definitely was not bad enough that I would route around it.

If you want to ride the Katy to ride the Katy I'd say go for it, but I thought the part of the TA you will miss was quite nice.

[Gus Riley]

I've put the Katy Trail on my route itinerary.  I have no wish to experience the infamous Missouri road rage through the Ozarks.

Your reference to " infamous Missouri road rage" is not at all in line with our experiences there.  We found the people of Missouri very nice and the drivers no worse than anywhere else.  There were a couple spots where the traffic was unpleasant, but that was only a couple for short sections.  Those sections were where there was a steep grade with rafting company buses buzzing by.  I suspect that it would not have been a problem on a weekday and it wasn't that bad even on the weekend.  It definitely was not bad enough that I would route around it.

If you want to ride the Katy to ride the Katy I'd say go for it, but I thought the part of the TA you will miss was quite nice.

You all have almost got me rerouting through the Ozarks!  The Katy is also something to see.  As is St. Louis and a Cards game while passing through. 

[John Nelson]

Yes, I'd like to take the Katy some day too. I hear it is great.