Greenbriar Extension Completed

My last post was about the construction of the Greenbriar extension which I found out about by accident when work had just started in 2012.  For that last post you have a visual tour that runs roughly from north to south.  This tour runs from south to north, in the opposite direction, on the completed extension.
 
The Katy Trail itself runs a little over 264 miles across Missouri from Clinton in the west to Machens Missouri in the East.  Columbia's own MKT trail connects to the Katy trail, and the MU Recreation Trail connects to that. The Greenbriar extension connects the south west section of Columbia to the MU Recreation trail.  More specifically, it connects to the  Hinkson Creek Trail section of the MU Recreation Trail.  Sounds confusing?  It is.  The trail system is complex until you get to know it.

The extension starts on the south side at the corner of Greenbriar Drive and Green Meadows Circle. Not Green Meadows Street, the longer street everyone is familiar with that runs east and west past the Beth Shalom synagogue, but is a little semi-circular street behind the better known thoroughfare.  You take Greenbriar Drive heading north, to get to the Greenbriar extension. The pictures for the following tour were taken on a bicycle ride about an hour ago.  I am on this section of the trail you are looking at (walking, running or bicycling) at least three times a week.  Even during the winter when it is ice and snow covered.  The Greenbriar extension is centrally located so  you can access both sides of Columbia, and the down town/Mizzou campus area, with relative ease.

This is where the extension starts on Green Meadows Court about one mile from my house.

 It is pretty much down hill all the way until you get to the extension that opens up between two house just before Greenbriar ends at a cul de sac.You make a right onto the extension.

Now it gets a little steep, but the trail is beutifully done.   Watch out for the blind corners - you really can't see anyone coming up on you from any direction on this first switchback!

This is the view looking down from where I took the first photograph.

Here is pretty much the same view from a different angle.

I have just ridden past the bridge, seen in the last two pictures.

Here is another switchback that was just hidden from view in the last picture. Still riding down the hill. The visibility on this switchback is not a problem.

Onto the level area.  This particular part of the trail is always lush and green.

There is some whimsical bicycle art along this stretch.  I will show you one, and leave it up to you to spot t he rest of them. Make sure to look up, to the left, and to the right.

The whole extension is a bit more than a quarter mile.  Here it ends at the Mizzou trail which connects to the Katy Trail further down the road. The MIzzou tennis courts are just out of sight in this view, partially obscured by the trees in the right hand corner of the picture,  but about another two hundred yards north.

This sign is visible from the last picture but now I am at the end of the extension ready to ride back up. So, I am heading back from where I came from in the other direction. I wanted to show you the sign because it has the directions, and distances.

As I said in my last post, the trail system in Columbia keeps getting better and better.

It seems that Google Maps now provides most of the trail details.  You can follow Greenbriar on the map until you get to the extension, and then follow the extension to the rest of the trails.


View Larger Map

Greenbriar Extension to the Columbia Trail Network

The trail system here in Columbia, for walking and bicycling,  is incredible and getting better.

The Katy Trail runs a little over 264 miles across Missouri from Clinton in the west to Machens Missouri in the East.  Columbia's own MKT trail connects to the Katy trail, and the MU Recreation Trail connects to that.  Various neighbourhood extensions, official and otherwise, are either a reality or in the planning stages.  The latest is the Greenbrier Extension which will connect the south west section section of Columbia to the MU Recreation trail.  More specifically, it will connect to the Hinkson Creek Trail section of the MU Recreation Trail.  Sounds confusing?  It is.  The trail system is complex until you get to know it which I am in the process of doing.  For me personally it is a great news since that the trailhead will now be extended to exactly 1.2 miles from my house. I have already measured it.

The pictures are basically in chronological order walking in from Epple Field onto the Hinkson Creek Trail.

Below you can see the entry of the new trail extension to the left of the already existing trail.  Just beyond the gravel pile.

The last hundred yards includes a pretty steep switchback.  This is where construction was underway when I visited.  

The rest of the pictures are walking out.

Back on the Hinkson Creek Trail heading pack toward Epple Field where I parked. 

I stumbled on the Greenbriar extension just a day or so after construction had started.  It was a mere trail maybe not even fifty yards, cleared in the woods.  The following pictures show what it looks like now.  After taking these pictures I drove to the end of Greenbriar and was able to find the entrance so essentially the trail has been cut, and is now in the final stages. 

Hartsburg Pumpkin Festival

I had been taking my kids to the Hartsburg Pumpkin Festival for years starting out when it was a lot smaller.  After a bit of a hiatus I went back this year with the two youngest. They love it. The event lasts two days, and according to the web site is almost always the second full week in October.   

Less than 15 minutes away from Columbia (when the festival is not going on) is the little river town Hartsburg, Missouri.   To get there from Columbia you head north on 63 North and a bit past Ashland make a right onto State Highway A then descend down onto the Missouri River bottom.  As a historical note The Great Flood of 1993 flooded the river bottom area where Hartsburg is located.

 This event seems to get bigger every  year and as you can see from the pictures it takes awhile to make your way down to the town.

The view of the corn field as we stepped out of the van.

Taking the shuttle into town.

A good many people bicycle in since the Katy Trail runs right through Hartsburg.

The Katy Trail runs through Hartsburg.

Tractors pulled the tram and here we are about to get on again for the ride out to our van.

Coming full circle back to our van for the trip home.

Be patient.  Count on it taking you an hour on Missouri Highway A after you turn off of Highway 63 North.  At some point on Highway A the traffic will back up and be bumper-to-bumper.  Relax and enjoy the scenery.  Then I suggest that after you get off the tram you just stroll all the way back to the downtown area.  Get something to drink, and then plan what you want to see, buy, and where you want to eat.

This event really has grown to the point where it needs two things.  It needs a better way of getting traffic through town and more places for people to sit.