From the time I picked up “Bruce” the Brompton (my folding bike) at REI last year, I’ve been wanting to take him on a multi-day rail trail expedition, specifically this hyped up place in Missouri called the “Katy Trail”! This crushed limestone trail (pretty much flat with a gentle incline westbound) takes you through beautiful farmland, across bridges, through forests, and along stretches of the Missouri River. It’s actually pretty perfect for a solo bike trip. I didn’t have enough time off work to do the entire 240 miles, so I took Amtrak to begin my journey in Hermann and rode 130 miles in three days, finishing in Sedalia.
The trail is actually really beautiful, snaking through forests, next to farmland, and sometimes right along the river. The surface wasn’t too chunky for the commuter style tires on my Brompton (I was worried at first, when I found out it wasn’t paved) and I was able to ride along at a decent clip! I made 50 miles my first day and 40 miles each on days two and three. I was definitely tired after each day, but it was completely doable!!
Here’s the route I took:
Hermann to Jefferson City 50 miles
Jefferson City to Katy Roundhouse (RV and camping) 40 miles
Katy Roundhouse to Sedalia 40 miles
I flew into St. Louis and took Amtrak to Hermann (folding bikes are considered one checked bag on Amtrak), then rode my route and took Amtrak again, this time from Sedalia back to St. Louis for my flight home! It worked out REALLY well!! 🙂 My weather in October was really lovely, not too cold at night, but just the right warmth during the day for riding! I was able to carry enough snacks in my bike bags to get me through to the next town with more food options.
Jefferson City is really cute, with hotel options and lots of yummy food. I had pizza and salad at Pizza Underground (excellent)!
I spent the first night in my tent at Hermann City Park RV Campground ($15 cash, no reservation needed) and my third night in my tent at Katy Roundhouse ($10 cash, I filled out the reservation form on their website just to be safe, but there were plenty of spots available). I stayed at the Baymont by Wyndham in Jefferson City on night two, with no complaints.
All in all, a fantastic little trip with great weather, scenery, and exercise!! I loved it!!
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