St. Louis, MO: Taum Sauk Mountain

This rugged 11.2-mile out-and-back on the Ozark Trail winds through the volcanic uplift of the St. Francois range to Missouri's highest peak and tallest waterfall.

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Author:	Backpacker Magazine
Date:	30 Nov 2005 5:48:24 AM
Activity:	Hiking ActivitySearchHiking
State:	Missouri (MO)
Distance:	5.57 mi (Change units)
Survey Elevation:	Total Gain: 1474 ft Total Loss: 792 ft Net Change: 682 ft
Difficulty:	5 / 10
Tags:	out-and-back, Missouri, Ozark Trail, St. Louis, State Highpoint, Waterfall Hikes, Ironton
Rating:	2 rating(s) Rate it

TO TRAILHEAD: I-55 S to US 67 S; turn R onto MO 72 toward Roselle, then L onto MO 21. Trailhead is on R in 5.5 mi.

Position Format:	Datum:

Tracks

TST01

Distance: 5.57 mi	Points: 657	Calories: none
Total Time: none	Speed: 0.0 mph	Pace: 0:00 / mi
Active Time: none	Speed: 0.0 mph	Pace: 0:00 / mi

Taum Sauk Mountain

Points of Interest

TST009

Location: 37.571068, -90.730103
Trail splits: Continue straight onto the Mina Sauk Falls loop

TST010

Location: 37.571167, -90.729553
Turn L to parking area, then veer R to high point

TST011

Location: 37.571068, -90.729202
Taum Sauk, at 1,772 feet, is the highest point in Missouri; peak is marked by a boulder and a granite plaque

TST007

Location: 37.564747, -90.715454
Continue climbing NW; more than 200 million years ago, the peaks in this mountain range were once islands in a shallow sea

TST004

Location: 37.560596, -90.694023
Trail fl attens; head N

Ozark Trail trailhead

Location: 37.548534, -90.679970
Ozark Trail trailhead © Shannon Davis

Granite high point marker

Location: 37.571068, -90.729111
Granite high point marker © Shannon Davis

Restful summit of Taum Sauk

Location: 37.571362, -90.729286
Restful summit of Taum Sauk © Shannon Davis

TST001

Location: 37.548332, -90.680870
Trailhead: Head N onto Ozark Trail (stay on W side of MO 21)

TST002

Location: 37.548000, -90.688934
Sharp turn R, veering N on Ozark Trail; an un- named trail continues straight along Claybaugh Creek

TST003

Location: 37.548935, -90.690903
A rocky outcropping affords excellent views of the ridge to the S

TST005

Location: 37.567333, -90.696999
Keep straight. Optional spur: Turn R to the summit of Russell Mtn.

TST006

Location: 37.565582, -90.706497
Clear views of the long ridgeline that forms Russell Mtn.

TST008

Location: 37.568218, -90.726784
The Ozark Trail turns left toward Mina Sauk Falls, the highest waterfall in Missouri when it's running (sometimes dry in summer)