Hidden Jewel Offers Secluded Retreat
by Dale Garrison

 

Less than two hours from Kansas City, a nationally acclaimed outdoor opportunity often goes overlooked by area residents.

 

Winding through rolling hills, woods and farmland, the 225-mile Katy Trail is recognized for everything from a short walk to a cross-state tour. Less obvious are the outstanding bed and breakfasts, restaurants, wineries and other features that can make a Katy Trail outing unique.

Begun in 1991, the former Missouri, Kansas and Texas railroad is one of the longest “rails to trails” in the country. Now a Missouri state park, the trail offers a rural, even secluded setting that feels far from civilization. At convenient intervals, small villages have found new economic life providing food, entertainment and hospitality.

Rocheport is a good example. Just off I-70 near Columbia, the trail here features a tunnel and a long stretch flanked by 200-foot limestone bluffs and the surging Missouri River.

Like many trailside towns and villages that were once nearly empty, Rocheport blossomed because of trail visitors.
“Rocheport is a wonderful community,” says Mayor Brett Dufur, who authored the original Katy Trail Guidebook and owns
a bed and breakfast overlooking the trail along with a canoeing guide service. “You can do a lot in a really small area. There’s even a great little general store that has live music several times a week.”

Rocheport’s compact size means several bed and breakfast inns, restaurants and the trail are all within walking distance. One café even rents bikes on the trailside. “You can come here for the weekend and park your car for the entire visit,” Dufur said. “You’re seeing one of our country’s epic rivers, maybe paddling it. You’re expanding your taste buds. You can feel like an explorer and be pampered all at the same time.”

Even nearer to Kansas City are the Booneville and Sedalia sections of the Katy Trail, where wooded hills alternate with rolling farmland. Several restored bridges span tree-lined streams.

Both of these larger towns make excellent trail base “camps.” Booneville is home to a newly restored hotel and some of the best views of the river valley anywhere. Sedalia has a restored train station and restaurants ranging from authentic Mexican to an Irish pub and another in a train car. Like eateries all along the Katy, they are hard to beat for post-ride relaxation.

Kim Phillips and her husband, Mark, operate the Sedalia House Bed and Breakfast just outside of Sedalia. Like many B&Bs along the trail, this historic mansion serves diverse clientele, but offers a growing list of trail services such as bike shuttles that help groups without cars.

“Bicyclists have their own needs,” Phillips explained. “We’re glad to pick them up after a day of riding. They really appreciate that.” Phillips also will take riders into town to eat or help make other arrangements that go beyond breakfast.

A surprising number of these bikers include “through riders” who pedal from one end of the trail in St. Charles to the other, currently at Clinton. Phillips expects that to increase when a proposed Kansas City extension is completed.

“A lot of riders will take the train from St. Charles to Sedalia then ride the Katy back” she said, noting Amtrak allows bikes on passenger trains. “Out of our Katy riders, up to half take the train because they don’t have to drive. It’s very affordable.”

Other visitors enjoy simply walking a short stretch of the trail. Sections near Pilot Grove or New Franklin include lots of wildlife and small towns that are some of this region’s best features. For a weekend or a week, the Katy Trail is worth a look.

For more information, visit Internet sites bikekaty trail.com and www.mostateparks.com/katytrail.

 

Return to Ingram's Lifestyle