United States·May - September
Ride America’s longest continuous rail to trail bike path with the #1 Tour on the Katy.
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Ride this iconic Rails-to-Trails Tour with the #1 Tour on the Katy Trail. Let Crossroads Bike Tours pamper and surprise you with their experience and knowledge of this trail. Our hotels are first class and the extras we provide brings out the "awesome" from our guests. We meet in St. Charles and shuttle you to our starting point in Clinton, MO. Over the next 6 days you will ride across the state of Missouri experiencing the hospitality and beauty of the "Show Me" State. Enjoy rural Missouri wildlife, winery towns, the 1st and current capital cities and the views along the Missouri River. Your tour includes breakfast and lunch on the trail and dinner reservations (guests pay) at our nightly stops. Our tour guides riding with the group to handle any issues and provide trail history and local information. The Support and Gear vehicle is stationed throughout the ride to provide drinks, snacks and make bike adjustments. Your luggage is moved from lodging to lodging each day. Also provided is a Katy bike jersey, Katy patch, luggage tag, wine tour, wine tasting as well as beverages at the end of the riding day. We handle everything except for the riding. Be ready to experience the Katy like no other tour, the extras we provide happen everyday. Trip Length Riding: 6 days Nights Lodging: 5 nights Daily Mileage: 27-50 miles Total Mileage: 235 Minimum Age: 21 Tour Rating: Active Check in Location: St. Charles, MO Trail Type: Rail-to-Trail
Your hosts for the tour will be Luke Harris, your Director of Fun and his two best friends, Dennis Scherschel and Mark Hofeditz. Us three guys will be riding with the group, moving your luggage, securing your bikes each night and handling the support stops along the trails. We look forward to meeting everyone.
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DAY 1
Travel Day: Shuttle from St. Charles to Clinton, then ride 36 miles to Sedalia
Meet the shuttle van at 7:00am in St. Charles near the eastern end of the Katy Trail. Overnight parking is available at the KATY parking lot and is free for your entire ride. The St. Charles trailhead is a 20-minute drive or taxi/uber from St. Louis Airport (STL). We will load up our tour into the shuttle and drive directly to the KATY Trailhead in Clinton (3.5 – 4 hours). Begin your ride on the KATY trail and head to Sedalia – 36 miles. Sedalia is home of the State Fair as well as Scott Joplin. Sedalia has a nice KATY Trail Depot museum that is worth your time for a visit. Lunch provided by Crossroads as well as SAG stops and sweep on the trail.
DAY 2
Cycling Day: 37 miles-Sedalia to Boonville
We will begin our day at the KATY Trail Depot Museum in Sedalia or the Scott Joplin Museum before departing Sedalia. Your destination on the trail is Boonville, named for Daniel Boone’s Children. Boonville is home to one of Missouri’s Casinos or you can walk the quaint streets and visit their shops. Lunch in Pilot Grove which Crossroads pays and we also haveSAG stops and sweep on the trail.
DAY 3
Cycling Day: 50 miles-Boonville to Jefferson City
Today is the longest section of our tour on the Katy Trail, 50 miles to Jefferson City. We visit Rocheport and the only tunnel on the Katy Trail. In the morning you will cycle beneath towering limestone bluffs some of the highest on the trail. The Missouri River can be seen frequently during the day as well as many small bridges. Our destination is N. Jefferson trailhead across the river from Jefferson City. Follow the path across the Missouri on the safe bike bridge with awesome views of the river and capital building. Lunch is a picnic on the trail and we have several SAG stops and as always, our sweep is there to help ensure all riders are taken care of for the day.
DAY 4
Cycling Day - 47 miles Jefferson City to Hermann
We get up early today to get to Herrmann in early after noon. We have breakfast then begin your tour with a breath taking view of the Missouri River and Capital from the trail bridge. Continue on the trail and view the farms and wineries as you enter the “Rhineland Region”, settled by Germans in the early 1800’s finding fertile soil and wild grapes. Spend the night in Hermann, which is home to four outstanding wineries, two brewing companies and one distilling company. Picnic Lunch again today and several SAG stops to ensure everyone is hydrated and has plenty of energy. Our sweep is always ready to handle any issues that arises on the trail. We have a wine tour at the oldest winery in Missouri along with a wine tasting.
DAY 5
Cycling Day - 37 miles Hermann to Augusta
Later start today because our mileage is less. We continue riding through farm and wine country to Marthasville, Daniel Boone’s last home and buried site and lunch. Then on to Augusta (pop. 257) with its 5 wineries, antiques shops, glass studio and a wood shop awaiting you in this beautiful town. One SAG stop today and the sweep is there for your needs. There are 2 wineries in walking distance of our B&B's as well as a brewery in town. There is plenty of places to relax and see a beautiful view of Augusta.
DAY 6
Cycling Day - 27 miles - Augusta to St. Charles
Final day’s ride from farmland to urban environment as you move closer to historic Old St. Charles, a trading post town. We get on the trail around 9:00am and ride back to St. Charles. Two SAG stops help make the transition back to the big city. In St. Charles we will have lunch at Schlafly's Bankside Brewery for our final lunch and goodbyes. If you have time visit Missouri’s First State Capital building and many of other original buildings on Main St. A final lunch at Trail Head Brewery concludes your journey on the Katy!
Lodging w/ breakfast
Shuttle to Start of Tour
Detailed map with current conditions
Luggage Tags
Suggested Packing List
Guide riding with last guest to ensure safety
Support & Gear Van stationed throughout the tour
Luggage Transfers
Lunch provided
Dinner suggestions and transportation
Katy themed bike Jersey and Patch
Wine Tour
Beverages after the ride
Wine Tastings
Queen bed with 2 people in room
2 beds in one room for 2 people
1 person in room
This trail has a crushed rock surface which can be soft after a rain but it is smooth. We are riding 27-49 miles per day for 6 days in a row. The length of ride and endurance makes this a demanding, rigorous tour. Since this is a Rail-Trail, there are no steep hills to climb, but the longer miles and the softer surface of the trail will appeal to stronger, more experienced riders.
Touring bikes, road bikes with larger tires, mountain bikes Suggested tire size for this tour: at least 1.25 inches (32mm) or larger, due to the softer trail surface. Please do not bring a bike with skinny tires to ride this trail. You will not enjoy it as much!
If you are flying, you fly in and out of the St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL), depart no earlier than 4:00pm. If you are driving, meet us at the trailhead in St. Charles, we will provide you with directions to the meeting place. You can leave your car at the trailhead parking – free parking for the entire ride.
