McKittrick to Portland

McKittrick to Portland. Points of Interest. , The McKittrick-Portland segment is 15.10 miles long. After leaving McKittrick, the trail goes under Highway 19 and crosses the Loutre River. Hermann is visible across the river valley from around milepost 102. Deutschheim State Historic Site as well as an Amtrak station are located in Hermann. There is a dedicated pedestrian/bicycle lane across the west side of the Highway 19 bridge.

At Rhineland, Katy Trail State Park briefly leaves the former railroad right of way. This area reminded German immigrants of their home country's Rhine River valley. Two picturesque churches can be seen near the trail here: St. Marcus and the Church of the Risen Savior. Most of Rhineland was relocated to the hill above after the 1993 flood.

Excellent views of the Missouri River resume after Bluffton, named for its location against high river bluffs. Grand Bluffs Conservation Area, featuring a trail to a river overlook, is on top of these bluffs. A historical marker is located half a mile past Bluffton at milepost 111.4. The marker tells the story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition as it passed this stretch of the river in May of 1804.

Bottomland forest, islands and channels of the Tate Island Conservation Area-which is accessible only by boat-can be seen to the left of the Katy Trail between mileposts 112 and 114.5. Another historical marker stands near Little Tavern Creek at milepost 113.6. The bluffs around Bluffton, rising 200 feet or more, are some of the highest on the trail., [Captions:] , Milepost 101 , Many of the place names along the lower Missouri River are French, including the Loutre (Otter) River, shown here from the 1897 railroad bridge., Milepost 101.9 , Hermann, across the Missouri River, is just visible from the Katy Trail., Milepost 104.3 , St. Marcus was built in 1891 by German immigrants. Rhineland was founded five years later, after the arrival of the Katy railroad., Milepost 111.7 , View of the Missouri River show large exposed sandbars at low water levels., Milepost 113.6 , Historical markers at Little Tavern Creek and near Bluffton tell the story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in this area., Milepost 113.7 , Away from the river bottom, rolling pasture and woods make up the local landscape.