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St. Charles, MO: Katy Trail (Black Walnut to Machens)
Sample a 7-mile stretch of the Katy Trail, an old Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad corridor, on this easy-going ride outside St. Charles.
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| Author: | Bicycling Magazine |
| Activity: | Bicycling |
| State: | Missouri (MO) |
| Distance: | 14.57 mi |
| Difficulty: | 5 / 10 |
| Rating: | Unrated |
An abandoned rail corridor previously used by the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad, the Katy Trail spans the length of the state (from Machens to Sedalia) and provides 225 miles of scenic trails for cyclists, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts. This 7-mile stretch of trail from Machens to St. Charles, though not yet linked to the rest of the Katy Trail, is completed and ready to ride, offering solitude and escape into the state's past.
To ride this section of the trail, park your car at the Black Walnut trailhead and pedal south beneath thick canopy. Next, turn around at the Missouri River and ride north past the trailhead to the old Machens depot. (There are bathrooms here now, but no access to this point via motor vehicles.) Mountain bikes or hybrids with thicker tires are necessary to ride the gravel trail.
Info: Katy Trail State Park
-Mapped by John Pokorny
TO TRAILHEAD: This ride starts at the Black Walnut Trailhead. From I-70, take exit 224 and merge onto MO 370. Take exit 7 and turn left on MO 94. Continue onto H and follow for 8.7 mi. before turning right at Music Ferry Rd.
| Position Format: | Datum: |
Tracks
St. Charles, MO: Katy Trail at Black Walnut
| Distance: 14.57 mi | Points: 53 |
Points of Interest
Black Walnut Trailhead
Location: 38.873778, -90.371218Leave your car in the lot at the Black Walnut Trailhead on Black Walnut Road and Music Ferry Road. Then, head south along the gravelly trail. Mountain bikes and hybrids are ideal on this somewhat coarse path. © John Pokorny
Canopy
Location: 38.871648, -90.373010In typical Katy Trail fashion, this stretch of path slices through a hallway of lush, green woods. © John Pokorny
End of the Line
Location: 38.835057, -90.430245Turn around upon reaching the end of the trail, where gravel yields to high grasses. This section of trail is currently under development, but will link to the Katy Trail section in St. Charles when completed. On the return route, continue past the trailhead and ride northeast. © John Pokorny
Machens
Location: 38.903249, -90.331703The trail here ends at Machens. There is no motor-vehicle access to this point, but there are restrooms for trail users. Turn around and return to the trailhead. © John Pokorny
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