Explore the best rated trails in Weaubleau, MO, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Katy Trail State Park and Rock Island Trail State Park . With more than 6 trails covering 334 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
This is a very nice trail with some challenging portions. Like most rail trails I would recommend using a bicycle with wide tires, 35mm up. The paved portions between Springfield and Willard and the section between the Bolivar Trailhead and the La Gemme Petite Prairie area are fine for road bikes.
Best Time to ride: I would say fall is the best. However, as this trail has plentiful tree cover it is not that bad in the summer.
Best Stops: Willard is absolutely wonderful. Great pizza place right across from the trailhead. The HOBO HAVEN Stop I thought was pretty cool.
Scenery: Missouri at its best. Forests, prairies, rolling hills, rivers, cattle ranches, lush meadows and grasslands. This trail crosses 16 bridges which are really cool.
Challenges: The north end of the trail, past the small village of Wishart, has had some washouts and the repairs are rough gravel and at times loose gravel. This portion of the trail up to the asphalt portion is kinda rough so take your time and keep your eye on the trail surface. The next big challenge is in Bolivar where the trail is interrupted by a 4 lane freeway. Please don't try and cross this. It is dangerous and the median is very wet and muddy. I have mapped a SAFE detour that avoids the non-bicycle-friendly portion of West Aldrich Road. You can view it here on Ride with GPS: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52840487 . The Trail Link trail guide says they have a detour, " see below", but there is nothing there. This detour uses roads with nice shoulders and quiet residential streets.
If you are staying in Bolivar, I stayed at the Best Western Plus and wholeheartedly recommend it. Cyclist-friendly folks and a nice hotel with a great restaurant next door.
Summary: This is one of the most scenic rail trails in Missouri and well worth a visit.
This Art installation is on the Katy trail just west of Matson. They are spectacular!
Stopped by and rode part of this trail while on a trip to Florida. What an awesome trail. Most of our trails in Florida are paved so I was a little hesitant of the gravel but it was no problem. Huge rock bluffs, the river, wineries breweries and eating establishments, it’s awesome, who could ask for more. Rode 23 miles from Defiance to Marthasville for lunch and back. We’ll be back to do more in the future!!
If you appreciate multi-day riding, site seeing, camping or “glamping” (BnBs, Hotels…etc.) the Katy Trail is one that doesn’t disappoint. Less than 3000’ feet of elevation, with the largest gradient being about 2%, this is a flat, fast, and easy to pedal trail with crushed hard packed stone comprising over 95% of the trail surface. Road bikes with larger tires (35-40mm) tires can be used on this trail. Lots of great place to stop, eat, and see along this historic byway. If you haven’t done the Katy, add it to your list!
We rode from KC Sport Complex to Windsor as the first leg of our Katy Trail ride at the end of April. The 14 mile stretch from the stadium to the end of the first segment in Lee's Summit is the most groomed. You should absolutely stop at Crane Brewing about 4 miles south of the stadium for the first beer of the ride. If you have the ability to be shuttled across the break from Lee's Summit to Pleasant Hill (or just north to Pleasant Hill Lake), do so, otherwise you are riding on busy streets with little or no shoulder. The small portion of the MOPAC trail is very well groomed. The Medford trailhead is great with water, shade, and a toilet. Definitely stop at the store in Chilhowee. Trailhead in Leeton had water, shade, and toilet (though the toilet had been vandalized with a lot of graffiti).
The biggest issue of the ride was the trail condition. Rain from the previous week had flooded portions of the trail south of Medford. The material being used to replace the washout is very, very soft. Couple that with some rain the previous day and the last half of the trail was like riding through peanut butter. We were making about 2/3 the distance per hour we anticipated and the constant churn to keep moving was exhausting.
Overall it was a good ride, but the conditions did put a damper on things for a while and could definitely turn a fun family ride into a slog.
10/2020. I parked at the Lee's Summit Amtrak station and started on the Rock Island trail. It's an easy grade, mostly straight, crushed limestone trail and you can see miles ahead which I find less than entertaining. Camping at the Roundhouse in Rockwood was my highlight and the scenery changed to rocky walls lining the trail. Pretty area. The west half has frequent water and toilets, then the water just stops. The tiny towns don't advertise at the trail heads so there's a lot to be missed unless you do a lot of planning. There are sections without cell service, so finding food, detours, and camping/lodging can be tricky. Town signs indicate camping is available ....somewhere.... with no further directions.
Love riding the Katy, can't wait to do it again.
Would be great if it wasn't for the dogs and their owners. I carry an air horn on the bike, they didn't like that at all.
I originally liked this trail once I followed it out of Ritter Springs, (which has questionable hours) and to the east. I enjoyed the trail with the wide open landscapes and fun bell you could ring. Then I reached a part where I had to go through the creek. I found this impossible due to the depth of the water.
From the frequent times I've used this trail, it's been well-maintained and relatively clean. Connections from this Greenway to other trails are marked with signs going onto Battlefield Rd. Will be nice once the extension opens to Wilsons Creek Battlefield.
Rode out from bolivar. Out about 8 miles a dog chased me hard. On the way back same fellow. Would love to ride to springfield spend the night and ride back. But agreasive dog and no place to overnight park makes this a nogo for me
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