Cooper's Landing: Where the River Brings People Together
Paddle Sports Lifestyle: Finding Your Epic Adventure Through Kayaking and Paddling, MR340 and BeyondShow Notes
Every stretch of the Missouri River has a story. Some are about commerce. Some are about exploration. This one is about community. In this episode, we paddle into one of the most beloved stops along the entire MR340 route: Cooper's Landing. Long before it became a gathering place for paddlers, cyclists, campers, and live music, this bend in the river was home to the forgotten town of Nashville, Missouri. We'll explore how the Great Flood of 1844 erased an entire community, why people never stopped returning to this special place, and how Cooper's Landing has become one of the river's most iconic destinations.
ENTERTAINMENT, ATTRACTIONS, DINING & RESOURCES
Coopers Landing (reserve a campsite or check out the music schedule)
Places to eat in Hartsburg:
Hartsburg Grand – This would be my first recommendation. Housed in a beautifully restored 1897 historic building, it serves hearty American comfort food, burgers, sandwiches, steaks, and drinks in a relaxed atmosphere. It's become a popular stop for Katy Trail cyclists looking to refuel and soak up some small-town hospitality.
The Burg – A casual local favorite known for handmade burgers, weekly specials, outdoor seating, and live music on many Saturdays. It's just the kind of laid-back place where you'll likely end up chatting with locals or fellow cyclists.
Hartsburg Hitching Post – More of a classic small-town bar and grill. Think cold beer, pizza, burgers, and friendly conversation. If you're looking for an authentic local hangout after a day on the trail, this is it.
PLACES TO STAY NEAR THE KATY TRAIL: I'm saving this link here for myself so I can find it later! It's the cutest caboose you can stay in near Hartsburg
THINGS TO DO:
The Nature Conservancy
Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area
Boat Henge
Eagle Bluffs Overlook Trail
OFFICIAL 2026 MR340 Food Vendors in This Area:
Huntsdale - Hosted by The Nature Conservancy of Missouri. Snacks provided. Cooper's Landing (Paddlestop)
******** 2026 Barge Report https://mr340.org/news/2026-race-barge-report/
2026 Food - (scroll down the page) https://mr340.org/resources/race-course/
More from Paddle Sports Lifestyle: Finding Your Epic Adventure Through Kayaking and Paddling, MR340 and Beyond
The final stretch of the Missouri River 340 tells a story of reinvention. In this episode, we explore the fascinating history of Klondike Park, where ancient silica sand fueled America's glass industry before becoming a beloved outdoor destination. We'll visit Weldon Spring, one of the nation's largest environmental cleanup success stories, and finish in historic St. Charles - a town that has welcomed explorers, immigrants, cyclists, and MR340 paddlers.
The Missouri River has always attracted dreamers. In this episode, we travel through Hermann, New Haven, and Washington to meet the immigrants, entrepreneurs, and visionaries who saw opportunity where others saw uncertainty. Discover how one travel writer inspired thousands of Germans to settle in Missouri, how Hermann's vineyards helped save the French wine industry, why New Haven continues to embrace life on the river, and how a simple woodworking project became the world's most famous corncob pipe. These are the stories of the people whose dreams came to life along the Missouri and whose legacies are still alive today.
After hundreds of miles on the Missouri River, we arrive at Jefferson City, the capital of Missouri. But Jefferson City wasn't a bustling river town that naturally grew into the state's political center. It was intentionally created to become Missouri's capital. We'll also visit the infamous Missouri State Penitentiary, discover the story behind Carl R. Noren Access, and make brief stops in the river communities of Mokane and Chamois before continuing downstream.
Towering limestone bluffs. The only railroad tunnel on the Katy Trail. Seasonal waterfalls cascading down ancient rock faces. A bluff-top winery overlooking the Missouri River. Rocheport is more than just another town along the MR340 course; it's one of the most scenic places on the entire river. In this episode we explore how a natural harbor at the mouth of Moniteau Creek helped transform Rocheport into one of Missouri's busiest river ports, why Lewis and Clark stopped here, and how railroad engineers created the Rocheport Tunnel. Whether you're preparing for the MR340, planning a Katy Trail adventure, or simply curious about Missouri's river history, Rocheport is worth a visit, or even a long weekend.
Discover the story of Boone's Lick Country, visit the preserved village of Arrow Rock, untangle the history of Franklin, New Franklin, and Franklin Island, and see how Boonville became the place where Missouri's river, railroad, and frontier stories all came together. The episode also traces the transformation of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad into today's Katy Trail, where cyclists now follow the same river corridor once traveled by explorers, steamboats, settlers... now MR340 paddlers.