Windsor to Green Ridge - Katy Trail State Park

The Katy Trail State Park between Windsor and Green Ridge passes through forest and prairie as the trail reaches its highest point along the former railway. The trail mileage chart notes the distance between trailheads as 8.8 miles, but it is actually only 8.6 miles.

Heading northeast from Windsor, the trail immediately enters a shaded woodland. After ½ mile, the trail passes over the former Rock Island Railroad which is now the Rock Island Spur of the Katy Trail State Park. During our visit in October 2017, the spur was open as far as Pleasant Hill, over 46 miles west of Windsor. Unfortunately, we did not have time to explore any of the Rock Island Spur.

After 2¼ miles, the trail enters a prairie restoration area that stretches for 3.6 miles. Along this section, there are very few trees and little to no shade. The restoration area is only 100 feet wide, the width of the right-of-way, but that seems to be wide enough for the tallgrass prairie to regenerate on the Osage Plains. The highest point on the trail is located along this stretch of prairie.

The climb from Windsor to the high point is only about 65 feet in 5.3 miles, but the surface of the trail changes from packed gravel to packed sand about three miles east of Windsor at Missouri route B. The packed sand surface obviously gives easily when it is damp and then solidifies with embedded ruts. From there to the summit, it felt like we were biking with flat or under-inflated tires. This short stretch of trail was the only part we biked that wasn't in excellent condition and it was still better than many rail trails we've ridden.

The next 2.4 miles of trail is lined with trees and large shrubs that provide ample shade. The final 0.4 miles into Green Ridge is through an open lawn of short-trimmed grass with no shade.

Windsor Trailhead

Sign at the bridge over the Rock Island Spur

Rock Island Spur looking east

Rock Island Spur looking west

Plate Girder Bridge

Looking across the Rock Island Spur back toward Windsor

Entering the Prairie Restoration Area

Osage Plains

Row crops

Prairie grasses at Bryson

More of the Osage Plains

Moon over the plains

Bench at High Point

Wayside exhibit

Downhill from here

Riding in a prairie "gully"

Back to the woods and a green tunnel

Green Ridge Trailhead

History

Prairie Chickens endangered in Missouri

Entry to the park is free. The trail is open from sunrise to sunset for walking and bicycling. Equestrian use is also permitted from Clinton to Sedalia.

The Katy Trail State Park website is https://mostateparks.com/park/katy-trail-state-park.