Scenic Wonders Along the Katy and Rock Island Trails

October 15, 2024

Missouri is a state of contrasts, where east meets west, north meets south, eastern hardwood forests meet western plains. Two of Missouri’s most talented photographers, Dennis Coello and Notley Hawkins, have captured these contrasts in their stunning photography along the Katy and Rock Island Trails. See a sample of their stunning photography here.

*A bird’s-eye view of Easley, MO. • Notley Hawkins*

The new book Trails Across Missouri, by Dan Burkhardt and published by Missouri Life and the nonprofit Magnificent Missouri, explores hundreds of miles of the heart of Missouri, as seen through the lenses of two of Missouri’s most talented photographers, Dennis Coello and Notley Hawkins. You’ve probably heard the story about a journey that begins in Kansas and ends in a fanciful place to the east. That adventure followed a path that passed through a bucolic countryside ﬁlled with hayﬁelds, wide rivers, deep woods, and steep cliffs. Along the way you met a collection of colorful characters—all you had to do was follow the yellow brick road. And that’s just what these two photographers did.

*The Katy Bridge in Boonville, MO. • Notley Hawkins*

This book takes you on a journey from very close to Kansas to a city in the east. While crushed limestone is not yellow bricks, our destination does not include witches and ﬂying monkeys! Rather, this book issues you a big welcome to the Katy and Rock Island Trails—a path across Missouri that is unique in America. These trails cross almost the entire state from the ﬂat plains that extend east from Kansas, through the Missouri River valley. The trail ends in a place not far from where America’s two greatest rivers, the Missouri and the Mississippi meet—near a fanciful structure in its own right— the Gateway Arch.

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*A family of cyclists ride a tandem bicycle. • Dennis Coello*

On the Katy and Rock Island Trails, the length of the trip is up to you. You don’t have to make the entire journey, just pick the part that ﬁts your slippers—or cycling shoes and walking boots. Your adventure starts here! And by the way, the book makes a great memento gift to anyone who has ridden all or adores parts of the trail. It also could inspire your own journey following the crushed limestone road with your own best friends.

Order the Trail Across Missouri book here. Order the October 2024 issue of Missouri Life showing a bigger sample of photography from this article.