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Reply to Swimming near the trail?
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Lynne from Seattle on 7/8/2005 10:02:02 AM:
My husband and I (kids at Grandmas!) would like to explore the trail and nearby points Sunday - Thursday next week (7/10-14). We have our mountain bikes, camping gear and inner tubes (for floating) and a van, but failed to bring racks and panniers. My husband, who grew up in the midwest, thinks I'm nuts to want to bike in Missouri in July, but this is the time we have! Seems like outdoor swiming opportunities would help. I see there's public camping and swimming pool in Pilot Grove. Any motels with pleasant outdoor pools? Any swimming/tubing recommendations along/near the trail - or elsewhere? We don't have to stick to the KT (though this board might...) Or general tips for how Seattlites might survive Missouri in July? Shade? Beer? Thanks!

 
Trek Biker from St. Joseph, MO on 7/9/2005 12:38:27 PM:
I'm not aware of any outdoor swimming/tubing opportunities along the trail. I would not consider swimming or tubing in the Missouri river.

The Katy is good for hiking and cycling.....a good place to get away from the hustle and bustle. A good place to enjoy each other while cycling in the great outdoors.

If you don't mind a drive further south in Missouri, I'd check out tubing on the Niangua River (pretty lazy float here) that flows next to Bennett Springs State Park west of Lebanon or the Current River (a bit more aggressive on this one)that flows next to Montauk State Park just south of Rolla/Salem. Johnson's Shut-ins is a pretty good place to get wet too.

Check out Missouri State Parks at http://www.mostateparks.com/

Enjoy!



 
ET from columbia, MO on 7/9/2005 2:02:38 PM:
Besides the very pleasant little pool at Pilot Grove, there is a public swim area on the Columbia Spur, at about the 3.5 mile marker. It's called Twin Lakes and features lake swimming plus a pool-type area with slides and sprayers for small children. Coming from the State trail, you will see a spur going off to the left around one lake, which is for fishing. Follow it around to the swim area. We also saw local people swimming (well, more like standing in the water drinking beer) under the Lamine River, near Clifton City. It wouldn't appeal most of the time, but if you are on the trail on a July afternoon, I would think it would look pretty good.

 
Thomas Hobbs from Webster Groves MO on 7/9/2005 5:05:30 PM:
Please be aware that Missouri heat can be oppresive due to the humidity and as an additional hazard, thunderstorms in July can pop up quite rapidly and go severe especially in central Missouri. Lots of storms will start near Washington and Hermann and New Haven and cross into Saint Charles County and move to the northeast towards I-70 and then near Troy and Bowling Green near Hwy 79 and 61. I do not think the Missouri River should be used as a cooling swim at any time due to rapid currents at most access points along the trail

 
Lynne from Seattle on 7/10/2005 9:59:54 AM:
Thanks for your responses - we will check out the recommmendations and check back for more!

 
Sarah from Denver CO on 7/10/2005 8:49:46 PM:
It will be plenty hot, unless you get lucky. We biked the trail in June and wished we gone in the fall. However, we did find if we got a really early start (6:30 AM) it was bearable. We took six days, so were usually finished with the day's cycling by noon. We thought it might be possible to stop for lunch after the early start, rest for a few hours, then cycle again in the evening. Six days was more than we needed--figured we could do it easily in five or even four.