Flooding closes Katy Trail section west of Rocheport indefinitely--here is a BETTER, more scenic, low-traffic Katy Trail detour for that section - MoBikeFed

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The Summer 2019 floods severely damaged a bridge west of Rocheport and the Rocheport Tunnel.

Upshot is, a four-mile section of the Katy Trail west of Moniteau Creek (which is just on the west side of Rocheport, near the Rocheport Tunnel) is closed indefinitely.

The recommended detour is to take 240 north out of Rocheport, then Hwy 40 west to Salt Creek, where you can re-join the Katy Trail.

That is a feasible bypass--but Hwy 40 has no shoulders and is growing ever-busier. The route includes a big, slow climb up the Missouri River Bluffs.

So is there a better route? If you don't mind riding on some gravel roads and seeing some AMAZING scenery and area history, the answer is a resounding yes.

The alternate route takes you through Diana Bend Conservation area (side trip to the Moniteau Bluffs overview possible) and the amazing Davisdale Conservation area.

When we rode the route to check it out in Fall 2019, we saw exactly one motor vehicle on the entire route.

It's worth a look--and passes right by some beautiful camp sites, too.

Check it out:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30955310

The route does have about 560 feet more climbing than the Hwy 40 option, but it is only about 1/10th mile longer.

The first 2/3 of a mile north from Rocheport is on a paved minor state highway; the remainder is on low traffic, scenic county gravel roads. The surface on the county gravel roads is generally just slightly lower-quality than the soft-surface Katy Trail.

If you would like to compare with the State Parks recommended detour on Hwy 40, here is that detour:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30955310

Link: 

Flooding closes Katy Trail section west of Rocheport indefinitely--here is a BETTER, more scenic, low-traffic Katy Trail detour for that section - MoBikeFed