Katy Trail Bike Trip
Katy Trail, Missouri
August 1- 8, 2026
Co-Trip Leaders: John South and TBD
Type of Trip: Biking/Lodging
Trip Cost/Deposit: $1100/$550
Cancellation Date and full payment: July 1, 2026
Wilderness Level: 2
Trip Difficulty: Moderate, 200 miles total, longest day is 39 miles,10-12 mph, moderate grades, mostly trails, paved or hard pack gravel
Policy on Fitness Self-Assessment
Level 2: Primarily applies to trips in which we carry only day packs. In one day, we can hike up to 9 miles and 4500 feet of elevation gain on maintained trails, or up to 7 miles and 2000 feet of elevation gain on more rugged, less-maintained trails. For a Level 2 trip you should be comfortable hiking 6-8 miles in a day in hilly or mountainous terrain with a light day pack. If a backpacking trip has a Level 2 rating, it means the distances are 2-4 miles with little elevation gain/loss.
Level 3: Applies to backpacking trips in which we hike with 25-35 pound backpacks. In one day, we can hike up to 7 miles and 3000 feet of elevation gain on maintained trails, or up to 5 miles and 2000 feet of elevation gain on more rugged trails. For a Level 3 trip you should be comfortable hiking 6-8 miles in a day in hilly or mountainous terrain with a 25-pound backpack.
Group Size: 8/7 Maximum/Minimum
Adults. Youth with leader approval OK
The Katy Trail is an iconic trail reaching across most of Missouri following the Missouri River. It was added to the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Hall of Fame in 2008. The trail meanders for 235 miles through small towns with rich history. It starts in Clinton, Mo and ends east of St Charles at Blackwalnut, Mo. To limit daily mileage and access available hotels, 36 miles will be cut for a total of 200 trip miles. There will be time to relax in the afternoon and evening to visit local sites. Several wineries are optional to visit.
We will utilize two vehicles to shuttle personal gear from hotel to hotel. 4 rooms will be reserved each night with 2 people to a room. Some of the smaller establishments may have only one queen or king bed to a room for two people. Most breakfasts will be provided by the hotel. Lunch on the trail and dinner in the evening will be at your expense. Meals while traveling are at your expense. Trip costs cover vehicle use and hotel expenses. Note- This trip is possible using one vehicle, one leader and reserving 2 rooms each night for 5 people. Trip costs will be updated and reviewed by the attendees.
Questions may be submitted to ciwcinfo@gmail.com.
All trip participants must fill out and submit a
CIWC Medical Form and Liability Release.
Effective on all trips, there will be a $50 non refundable registration fee. This fee will be assessed to those who sign up for a trip, get on the roster and then later cancel. Even cancelling before the cancel date. Those who never make the active roster (i.e. those who stay on the waitlist) will NOT be charged the $50 cancellation fee.
