Katy Trail

The Katy Trail is the longest continuous rail-trail in the United States at 240 miles — running from Clinton in west Missouri to Machens just east of St. Charles in the St. Louis suburbs, following the abandoned right-of-way of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas (MKT) Railroad along the Missouri River for most of its length. The crushed-limestone surface stays cyclable in all but the worst rain, and 26 designated trailheads punctuate the route with restrooms, water, and information kiosks. RV-accessible parking lots exist at virtually every trailhead. Missouri State Parks operates the trail but doesn't run camping infrastructure along the corridor — most cyclists stage at adjacent state parks (Graham Cave for the central section, Babler near St. Louis end). The trail's signature engineering is the limestone-bluff section between Rocheport and McBaine where the Missouri River carved through the dolomite — the trail tunnels through bluff outcroppings and runs at the foot of 200-ft cliffs for 20 continuous miles.