Portland to McKittrick

Portland to McKittrick. . The Portland-McKittrick segment is 15.1 miles long. Bottomland forest, islands and channels of Tate Island Conservation Area – which is accessible only by boat – can be seen to the right of the Katy Trail between mileposts 114.5 and 112. A Lewis and Clark historical marker is located at Little Tavern Creek at milepost 113.6. , Excellent views of the Missouri River continue at milepost 111.9, and half a mile beyond is another Lewis and Clark historical marker. After half a mile more, trail users reach Bluffton. The bluffs around Bluffton, rising 200 feet or more, are some of the highest on the trail. Grand Bluffs Conservation Area is located atop these bluffs. , 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 are located near the trail here: Church of the Risen Savior and St. Marcus. Most of Rhineland was relocated to the hill above after the 1993 flood. , Approaching McKittrick around milepost 102, look across the river valley toward Hermann. 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. Just before McKittrick, the trail crosses the Loutre River. , [Map captiions] , . Milepost 113.7 Away from the river bottom, rolling pasture and woods make up the local landscape. DNR file photo , . 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. DNR file photo , . Milepost 101.9 Hermann, across the Missouri River, is just visible from the Katy Trail. DNR file photo , . [Remainder is damaged and unreadable]