McBaine to Rocheport

McBaine to Rocheport. . Traveling west in Katy Trail State Park, the next trailhead is Rocheport, 8.8 miles away. After the Perche Creek crossing, an 8.8-mile spur trail on the right – the MKT Nature and Fitness Trail – leads to Columbia. Trail users continuing to Rocheport pass through a Missouri River bottomland and the town of Huntsdale at milepost 171.7. , The rest of the trip to Rocheport goes between the towering Manitou Bluffs to the right and the Missouri River to the left. Benches dot this section of trail, offering visitors a chance to relax or enjoy the birds, other animals and plants. Watch for bald eagles in the winter. , Around milepost 174.4. Torbett Spring exits from Lewis and Clark Cave on the bluff side of the trail. Please don't enter this cave – it is on private property and is home to endangered bats. While here, look up and to the left of the cave. Partway up the bluff are the remains of Native American pictographs. , Some of the plants found along this stretch include trumpet creeper, touch-me-not, poison ivy, bittersweet, ironweed, poke and blackberries. During summer, listen for indigo buntings and watch for hummingbirds visiting the trumpet creeper flowers growing along the bluffs. , [Captiuons] , . A variety of wildflowers can be seen along the trail, including (back to front) trumpet creeper, touch-me-not and passion flower. , . Milepost 172.9 The Lewis and Clark Expedition camped a short distance upriver from here on June 6, 1804. , . Milepost 174.4 Remains of Native American pictographs are still visible on the limestone bluff. , . Milepost 177.5 The railroad's former explosives storage bunker is built into a bluff shelter, now on private property. , . Milepost 177.9 A monument to Edward D. “Ted” Jones commemorates his contributions to Katy Trail State Park.