2012 Katy Trail Ride

at Katy Trail State Park

Registration for the 2012 Katy Trail Ride is full. Registration for the 2013 ride will open on March 1, 2013.

The 12th annual Katy Trail Ride, June 18-22, allows bicyclists to experience Katy Trail State Park from St. Charles to Clinton. Missouri State Parks and Missouri State Parks Foundation invite you to join them on this scenic five-day ride on the nation's longest developed and most popular rail trail.

This year's ride covers approximately 230 miles of Katy Trail and features great food and many fun activities. Hot showers are available at each overnight stop, enhancing comfortable campsite settings. Participation is limited to 300 people so register early to ensure your place on this scenic ride. Registrations will be accepted until May 1 or until the 300 maximum limit is reached.

Full tour riders receive:
  • Breakfast and dinner daily
  • Outdoor camping spaces each night -- Camping locations:
    • Sunday - Frontier Park - St. Charles
    • Monday - Hermann City Park
    • Tuesday - Hartsburg
    • Wednesday - Pilot Grove City Park
    • Thursday - Liberty Park - Sedalia
  • Hot shower facilities daily
  • Gear shuttle
  • Detailed route map
  • SAG support
  • Katy Trail Ride T-shirt
  • Katy Trail Ride water bottle
Additional Information
Route Description and Map
Meals
Check-In
Packet Pickup
Correspondence
Reservation Modification Fee
Refunds
SAG (Support and Gear)
Supply Shuttle
Rules and Regulations
Plan Ahead (training)
Contact Us
Other Ways to Participate
Optional Items
Pre-ride to Machens
Advance/Return Transportation
Hotel Shuttle
T-shirts
Katy Trail Jersey
Other Available Services


Route Description and Map - Click here to view 2012 map
Day 0
Sunday, June 19
Approximately 25 miles
Optional Ride to Machens

Day 1
Monday, June 18
Approximately  64  miles
St. Charles to Hermann

Day 2
Tuesday, June 19
Approximately 56  miles
Hermann to Hartsburg

Day 3
Wednesday, June 20
Approximately 50 miles
Hartsburg to Pilot Grove

Day 4
Thursday, June 21
Approximately 25 miles
Pilot Grove to Sedalia

Day 5
Friday, June 22
Approximately 39 miles
Sedalia to Clinton

Meals

Every participant will receive breakfast and dinner Monday through Thursday and receive breakfast and lunch on Friday. Lunch and snacks can be purchased in the towns along the route. Typical breakfast foods may include pancakes, French toast, eggs, bacon, cereal, rolls, fruit, coffee, milk and orange juice. Typical dinners consist of a meat, pasta or vegetarian entree, salad, vegetables, bread and dessert.

Check-In - Advance Shuttle Riders

Check-in for advance shuttle riders will take place in Clinton from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and in Columbia from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, June 17.

Packet Pickup

Packet Pickup will be at the ride information booth in Frontier Park between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Sunday, June 17 and between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. on Monday, June 18. Registration packets can be picked up at this time. The packet will contain your official rider tag, map booklet, Missouri road map, T-shirt, water bottle, etc.<\p>

Reservation Modification Fee

Any change or addition made to a reservation after it has been processed is subject to a $10 charge. The modification fee also applies to requests for refunds for optional services when not included as part of a full refund.

Refunds

Written cancellations postmarked by May 15, 2012, will receive a refund, minus a $50 cancellation fee. No refunds, for any reason, will be made for cancellations or no-shows occurring after May 15, 2012. Cancellations can be sent to katytrailride@dnr.mo.gov or Missouri State Parks Foundation, P.O. Box 104313, Jefferson City, MO 65110.

Correspondence

Email will be used for all correspondence.

Optional Pre-ride to Machens

A pre-ride is being offered on Sunday, June 17, for those interested in riding to the trail's start at Machens. The pre-ride will depart from the Ride Information Booth at Frontier Park in St. Charles at 3:30 p.m. and will return no later than 6:30 p.m. A SAG stop will provide water at the Machens Trailhead. Round-trip mileage is approximately 25 miles.

Advance/Return Transportation

For an additional $60, you (plus your bicycle and baggage) can be transported on a comfortable air-conditioned motor coach from Clinton to St. Charles on Sunday, June 17, or after the ride on Friday, June 22. Round-trip transportation from Columbia to St. Charles on June 17 and from Clinton to Columbia on June 22 is available for $100.

Hotel Shuttle

Hotel shuttle service is available for those who choose not to camp. (a list of participating lodging faciities will be provided after registration.) The shuttle will take participants to and from the overnight camping location at the following times (Exact shuttle times vary depending on the distance between the camping and lodging locations. Shuttle times will be posted at the information booth daily.):

-- From camping location to hotel in early afternoon
-- From hotel back to camping location for dinner and riders’ meeting
-- From camping location to hotel after riders’ meeting
-- From hotel to camping location for breakfast

This shuttle service is $75 for the entire ride or $20 per day if you would like to register only on selected nights. This price is only for those who preregister. Registration for this service at the event will be $25 per day. Preregistration is recommended to ensure availability.

T-Shirts

All full-tour participants will receive a 2012 Katy Trail Ride T-shirt as part of their registration. Additional T-shirts may be ordered separately for $12 each.

Support and Gear

SAG stops will be located approximately every 10 miles along the route to provide water, fruit and moral support. Because of the length of the route, logistics of the Katy Trail and any unforeseen weather conditions, the SAG may not be accessible at all times.

Supply Shuttle

Trucks will transport rider’s luggage and equipment along the route. Each rider is allowed no more than two bags. There is a weight limit of 50 pounds per bag. Nothing may be attached to the outside of your bags. Everything but your helmet must fit into these two bags. More details will be sent in the confirmation packet, which will be sent in your registration confirmation email.

Rules and Regulations

Helmets: All riders are REQUIRED to wear helmets.

Minors: An adult (preferably a parent or legal guardian) must accompany participants under the age of 18. No bicycle trailers hauling children will be allowed unless accompanied by private SAG support.

Overnight Camping: Campsite locations in St. Charles, Hermann, Hartsburg, Pilot Grove and Sedalia have been predetermined. Participants must obey all of the rules of these facilities.

Checkpoints: Checkpoints will be located at the information booth at each overnight stop. Each rider is required to sign in at the end of each day’s ride. Volunteers will be stationed at each checkpoint to assist riders throughout the evening.

Plan Ahead

2012 Katy Trail Ride is geared toward the intermediate cyclist. Good physical conditioning will make the ride much more enjoyable. The ride will cover 230 miles in five days with daily mileage ranging from 25 to 64 miles and can be very strenuous. All riders will be expected to complete the ride each day except for true emergencies. Before the ride begins, ride as many miles as possible and ride as often as your schedule allows. Long rides of 40-50 miles are important, as are a series of back to back rides. You should experience cycling in all types of weather and on similar surface terrain as the Katy Trail. June weather in Missouri is unpredictable. It may be hot (in the 90s), humid, windy, rainy or cool at night. Weather conditions can make even the shortest days more challenging. The surface of the Katy Trail is packed crushed limestone. Mountain bicycle and hybrid bicycle tires are best suited for the trail.

Katy Trail State Park Jersey

A Katy Trail State Park jersey is being developed and will be available for the 2012 Katy Trail Ride. Ride participants can preorder this jersey for a discounted rate of $60. The jersey will be available during the ride and on the website for $65.

Other Ways to Participate

Day Rider - $60/day
Day trips are available to cyclists who would like to participate in the 2012 Katy Trail Ride, but don’t have five days to spare. You may register to ride any of the days of the ride. Day riders receive breakfast, dinner and camping space for each day registered as well as SAG support, a detailed route book and water bottle. Check in at the information booth between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. the night before, or between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. the day of your ride.

Non-Rider - $50/day
Anyone accompanying a cyclist on the trip but who does not wish to ride their bike to get from stop to stop can register as a non-rider. Non-riders provide their own transportation and are not supported during the days’ ride. Non-riders receive breakfast, dinner and camping space for each day registered. Check in at the information booth between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. the night before or between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. the first day you are participating.

Other Available Services

(Please note that these services are provided at an additional cost and are not included in the 2012 Katy Trail Ride registration fees. These services are provided by third-party vendors; interested participants will work directly with the vendor.)

Bike service and repair: Available in-route and at the overnight camping location daily.

Massage therapy: Available at the overnight camping location daily.

Tent service: Contact www.PadresCycleInn.com or call 573-721-4400.

Contact Us

Please email katytrailride@dnr.mo.gov if you have questions or comments about the 2012 Katy Trail Ride.

Sponsored By:

The Katy Trail Ride is sponsored by Missouri State Parks and the Missouri State Parks Foundation. The Missouri State Parks Foundation Inc. is a Missouri not-for-profit corporation dedicated to improving the facilities, lands, programs and activities of Missouri state parks and state historic sites. The foundation seeks to direct private, business and other nonprofit assets to enhance the mission of the Missouri state park system.