Katy Trail

Katy Trail tours are offered between April and October, however, May, September, and October are the peak months for riding the trail. (For those with allergies or breathing concerns: the trail runs through farm fields for much of its length and plowing during the fall months can kick up dust and pollen onto the trail.)

Several of the towns along the Katy are very popular with wine lovers and have Oktoberfest events almost every weekend in the fall. For those reasons, we recommend booking a September or October trip at least 6-9 months in advance, if not earlier, to find accommodations.

*We do allow trips to be booked for the summer months, however, central Missouri can be extremely hot (100+ degrees) from mid-June to early September. The heat combined with the lack of shade along portions of the trail can make travelling difficult. We do not advise booking a Katy trip in summer if you have any issues with heat tolerance.

Bike rentals can be reserved in St Charles through Bike Stop Cafe and Katy Bike Rental. A limited number of e-bikes also are available.

Our Katy Trail tours will start and end in historic St. Charles, just across the river from St. Louis, Missouri. There are several hotels in the St. Charles area; we work with the Country Inn and Suites which is located right next to the trailhead and shuttle pick-up area.

There is free, outdoor parking in St Charles for those driving to the trail.

Taxis, shuttles, and Uber options are available for riders flying into and out of the St Louis Airport.

The Katy Trail is crushed gravel and well-maintained by Missouri State Parks. There are trailheads and bathrooms along the route.

The Katy Trail sees relatively frequent recreational use but does not run through a highly populated area. There can be long distances – 30 or more miles – between towns along the trail.

Where food is scarce riders will be advised to purchase a meal in advance.

Cell service is reasonably strong along the majority of trail, with the exception of the area around Hermann.

The Katy Trail has a crushed gravel surface and hybrid/touring/road bikes are all acceptable. Mostly the trail drains well across its entirety. Bikes should have tires with tread and widths of 32 mm or wider for the most comfortable experience.

Tandems, trikes, recumbents and other non-standard frames are also suitable for the trail.