Katy Trail Across Missouri

Missouri River Valley, Clinton to St Charles · United States

Easy5 daysNorth America~£600 est.

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Overview

America's longest rails-to-trails route runs 386km across Missouri on the old Missouri–Kansas–Texas railbed, from Clinton in the west to Machens near St Louis. It is flat, crushed-limestone easy riding, but the scenery undersells itself: for long stretches between Rocheport and Jefferson City you pedal a corridor pinched between towering river bluffs and the wide brown Missouri, following the exact line Lewis and Clark mapped in 1804. The rhythm is small-town America at 20km/h — Sedalia's restored depot, the 1893 Rocheport tunnel, Cooper's Landing's Thai food shack on the riverbank, and a ferry-free detour across the river to Hermann, a German wine town that takes its Rieslings seriously. B&Bs in trail towns book out during October's colour season and June's Katy Trail Ride, so reserve ahead; camping is patchier than you would expect. Start from Clinton (90 minutes from Kansas City) and finish in St Charles for the best transport links. Five days is comfortable at 75–80km a day. Budget around £600 for B&Bs, café lunches and a glass of Norton in Hermann. Spring and autumn are ideal; July and August are humid and buggy.