Yes! I've rode that trail from the beginning in St. Charles to HWY 19 in Herman. That was a 113 mile round trip. I used to ride it all the time when I was in better shape and had a reliable bike.

When do you plan to do this ride? HA! I see it's June. Too bad... I can't get vacation in June. Oh well.  

225 mi in 5 days.. I might still be able to do that.. I'll have to look this up and see if it's offered any other time cause I don't know doodle about spending the night on the trail. I've only done day trips and they don't allow you to park overnight at Weldon Spring. Unfortunate though is I can't ride there by bike cause of the Missouri river and I'm on the wrong side. Otherwise I would ride the 18 mile to the trail and just camp somewhere.

Actually I thought it was only 188 mi to Sedalia. They must have expanded it.

Wow, BB, I hope that works out for you & hubby.  I don't know anything about biking or the trails.

Please keep us updated!!!

It's been 7 or 8 years since I've traveled the trail but I'll give you what I remember, at least for the first day from St. Charles to Herman. At one time I used to do St Charles to about Dutzow or Marthasville every Friday. I made a time trail of it. I actually parked at Weldon Spring, which is the 3rd stop, ride to the beginning, and go out as far as I wanted, returning to Weldon spring to go home.

The trail was well packed in two lanes about 18 in. wide. There were loose pieces of cravel in the center but easilly negotiated The outside was unusable for my 18mm tires. To pass, I usually used the left 'track'.

The first part of the trail has some residential area near it and gets rather crowded. Maybe a Monday won't be as bad or maybe the trail mayu be closed to the public for this ride. But 300 riders to me is to many. I'd get at the beginning or the end. Passing is difficult. There's one place you have to cross a road with poor visibilty. You pretty much have to stop. I could see a bottleneck occurring there. I thinks it's about 10 12 miles into the ride. The trip from a point west of Weldon Spring to Augusta has a slight incline. If you have the chance, Augusta is a cute wine town. Just past Weldion Spring was a little picnic area overlooking the river.

Past Augusta, the crowds thin, (as do the drunken riders on weekends from Augusta). The trail is stil in good shape. There is a litle store in Dutzow where you can buy Gatorade or other useful things. There is even a bilke shop along the way in casy you need a tube or tire> I forget exactly where he was or even still there, but I'm pretty sure it's past Dutzow.

In Marthasville you may experience some unfriendly landowners. Don't stop near there for a drink. I've even encountered dogs that I had to outrun. Maybe with 300 riders, these dogs may be spooked, but I usually rode alone and the trail gets pretty deserted past Marthasville. This is where I usually turned around and was satisfied with a nice 50 mile or time trial

On the days I wanted more, I rode on. Past Marthasville, I remember grass growing between the two 'tracks' as I called them. There are plenty of trees, cliffs and a run along the river for yout to enjoy. The trail is REALLY deserted here. I knew if I had a major breakdown in here, I was toast. As you get closer to Herman, I remember areas with a lot of sand which was NOT GOOD for those riding on 18mm tires and no knobby tread.  

To get into Herman, one had to cross the ricketty 19 bridge over the river, which I never had the guts to try. Eight foot lanes, cars at 60MPH, no shoulder, and a 40 foot drop always got the best of me. I rode to the bridge a couple times but never crossed it. Back then, if riders were staying at one certain place in Herman, They could call ahead and the place provided an escort across the bridge. My guess is they will provide this or maybe a new bridge has been built since then.

In Herman, having driven there once, is VERY hilly. This may be the hardest portion of your ride. Some of these grades can get to 20 degrees. You WILL be going uphill from the river.

I recommend you try the KATY trail at least once while you can. I always enjoyed the experience. Say, If I can get something to work, I have some days I can take in early April and I may try the trail again to see what it's like. With you bringing this topic, I find I really miss those days riding out there.  


--------Edit:
I know nothing about Clinton. This must be a recent expansion of the trail. There was a time when I was my late 30's that I had this wild hair to ride the whole trail (188 mi at that time) in one day on the first weekend of July, (maximum daylight). They had a train ride you could take to Sedailia, spend the night, and ride the next morning for those who wanted to traverse the whole thing (but over several days.)

Then I would have my wife pick me up at the end.... Oh well, I never did it.. 

I'm sorry if you misunderstood. The ROADS in Herman are steep grades and you wrote you may be riding them. The actual trail is railbed. The part between Marthasville and Herman was (at least 7 years ago) rarely used and had those sandy areas and the grass growing in it. The sand was from floods. I think the maximum grade out here on the trail is only 2%.

At least you won't have to deal with the drunks in Augusta tyring to get back to Ct. Charles, which is a greatly expanding affluent area, on a Monday morning.  You really should try this. I hope you can make it. If circumstances were different, I'd go myself.

I think 32mm knobby trail tires would do the trick.

KATY is actually a state park about 15 or so feet wide and 188 (or I guess 220) miles long. It's subject to State Park regulations and patrolled by park rangers on mountain bikes. If you gp beyond the 15 or so feet, you are on private property. I know some idiots up near ST. Charles forget this and trash things, especially the drunks riding from Augusta and give the trail bad publicity. I'm sure your sponsered ride will be well behaved but I thought I should include to make sure you are aware of this small park boundry in case you see others misbehaving.

Hey! Thanks for making me aware of this ride!

Do you know if you have to cross the hwy19 bridge to get to Herman from McKitteric?

YAY, BB!

We will be sure to take pictures and share our experiences on the Katy Trail!