Katy Trail State Park
A nearly flat ribbon of crushed limestone tracing railroad history and the Missouri River past bluffs, farms, wineries, and welcoming river towns.
Artwork inspired by George Caleb Bingham
Katy Trail State Park turns roughly 240 miles of the former Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad into a nearly level route across Missouri. The old rail grade keeps climbs gentle, while crushed limestone gives the path a quieter, more rural character than pavement. Mileposts and surviving railroad towns make the journey feel like travel through a long, linear history lesson.
Its most memorable stretches run beside the Missouri River beneath limestone bluffs, through floodplain woods, farmland, vineyards, and small towns that once depended on rail and river traffic. Rocheport is an especially rewarding introduction: The nearby tunnel, bluff walls, and route toward McBaine deliver a strong sample without requiring an all-day ride.
- Distance
- About 240 miles
- Difficulty
- Easy, mostly flat
- Surface
- Crushed limestone
Quick guide
- Best sampler
- Rocheport → McBaine
- Open
- Sunrise to sunset · year-round
Plan a Katy Trail outing
- Start here
- Begin at rocheport Trailhead at mile 178.3 with paved level parking, accessible restroom, water, and an information depot.
- Best short ride
- Ride east from Rocheport toward McBaine for river views, limestone bluffs, Rocheport Tunnel, and an easy out-and-back distance you control.
- Bring
- Carry water, tube or repair kit, sun protection, and a downloaded trail map.
- Surface
- Check packed crushed limestone.
Good to know
Hybrid, gravel, and touring bikes are happiest here. Skinny road tires can feel twitchy when the limestone is loose or wet.
Notice these
- Longest developed rail-trail in the U.S.
- Missouri River scenery
- Historic railroad towns
- Mostly accessible grades