JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri State Parks and Missouri State Park Foundation announced this year’s Katy Trail Ride in June is canceled due to flooding.
The five-day, 240-mile ride annual ride, which takes travelers through many of Missouri's rural communities, along open fields and between the Missouri River and its bordering bluffs, usually draws some 350 bicyclists from across the nation and overseas. As of May 31, nearly 100 miles of Katy Trail State Park are closed due to flooding from Boonville east to St. Charles.
While the Missouri River is forecasted to crest at near record levels early next week, it will take days to weeks for it recede from some parts of the trail. After it recedes, Missouri State Parks staff will assess the damage to the trail and form a plan to begin rebuilding the trail. Based on the damage encountered from the 1993 Missouri River flood, staff anticipates scour holes, washouts, bridge damage, downed trees, debris, silt accumulation and inconsistent trail surfacing.
Missouri State Parks said it is committed to reopening the trail as soon as possible and to hosting the 20th annual Katy Ride in June 2020, in time to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Katy Trail State Park.
