Interstate Adventures

Our stopover in Hermann positioned us right on the 240-mile Katy Trail that spans the entire width of Missouri. This is the longest continuous rail trail in the U.S. This is not my average afternoon ride in Topsfield, Massachusetts with road crossings that slow me down—and give me a chance to catch my breath. It is big. Missouri is 6.6 times larger than my home state of Massachusetts. It is humbling to ride only a tiny fraction of it. It was even more humbling since it was our first ride of the season coupled with a strong headwind on the way out. 

We started at our campground and rode to the trailhead, about three miles. The crushed gravel trail had only a few road crossings and we saw only a few people for the 30-mile ride. We packed too light for the effort. We were glad to have the Loutre Market near the trail head to rehydrate and refuel after the exhausting yet satisfying ride. 

If you go: 

The Katy Trail is about a three mile ride from Hermann downtown. The route is on a wide, single lane road with a generous shoulder. The speed limit is 35-40 mph in town, but out of town, trucks and cars pass by at 55-60 mph.

The Hermann City Park Campground where we stayed is walking distance to Stonehill Winery and the charming downtown. It felt safe, with police patrolling the park regularly. It was quiet overnight which was ideal for sleeping. 

If you are looking to launch from a hotel with shuttle service, The Mercantile is located in the nearby town of McKittrick. You can gain more direct access to the trail and arrange for pickup and drop-off so you can cover more of the trail.