On the way to Mina Sauk Falls, you will hike through three different glades. Coordinates: 37.5624, -90.7404 Elevation: USGS Map: Ironton 7 1/2" Directions are Mina Sauk Falls is a 132 feet high, but has three main drops. The topography of Taum Sauk is that of an elongated ridge with a NNW-SSE orientation rather than a peak.[5]. The top of Mina Sauk Falls is up ahead, but youll hit it on the way back so turn right onto the Ozark Trail. Taum Sauk rises 522 feet (159m) from an already elevated base. These falls normally have water cascading over them only during times of wet weather. Located in the St. Francois Mountains in the Ozarks of Southeastern Missouri, Mina Sauk Falls is the highest waterfall in Missouri, falling 132 feet over volcanic rock. Mina Sauk is a wet weather waterfall meaning it only flows during or after rain storms. Devil's Tollgate is a very impressive rock formation. Location & Directions. "Taum Sauk" redirects here. Geologists believe that Taum Sauk and its neighbors may be among the few areas in the US never to have been submerged in ancient seas. Create Recommended Route or Mina Sauk Falls, the highest waterfall in Missouri, is on Taum Sauk and can be visited by hiking a rugged trail that makes a 3 You can even see part of the Taum Sauk Resevoir peeking up over a distant ridge. From the waterfall, the trail climbs alongside Taum Sauk Creek. Taum Sauk State Park is in a common jurisdiction with nearby Johnson's Shut-ins State Park, and together they comprise the second largest state park in Missouri with a total area of 15,961.5 acres (64.594km2). These parks and the adjacent Bell Mountain Wilderness Area make up part of a large wilderness area that is very popular with hikers and backpackers. 21 TH. University of Missouri Press. Being a jerk / offensive? That means it's hard to see the whole waterfall at once. Your FREE account works with all Adventure Projects sites. Some parts have illegal ATV traffic and crosses old roads so look for OT markers to stay on track. You hike by Missouri's tallest mountain, stroll through scenic glades, and scramble around Missouri's highest waterfall. Taum Sauk is said to be named for a Piankeshaw chief named Sauk-Ton-Qua.[3]. You can make this a loop by taking the Ozark Trail: Taum Sauk Section on the return. Located in the St. Francois Mountains in the Ozarks of Southeastern Missouri, Mina Sauk Falls is the highest waterfall in Missouri, falling 132 feet over volcanic rock. The trail gently descends along Taum Sauk Creek. This point on the mountain may be 1,772 ft. high, but there aren't any views from here, just a plaque. Granite plaque placed by the Missouri Association of Registered Land Surveyors. This route is scenic and has views of the valley and surrounding mountains. Though Taum Sauk Mountain is the highest mountain in Missouri, it is not the most prominent. Mina Sauk Falls, the highest waterfall in Missouri. The initial descent from Mina Sauk Falls is very steep and rocky as the trail drops on a boulder-strewn hillside next to the falls. The 33-mile (53 km) Taum Sauk section of the Ozark Trail is considered by the Ozark Trail Association to be one of the finest trails in Missouri. Mina Sauk Falls is an impressive 132 ft. high when it flows. This was such a hassle the settlers called the place Devil's Tollgate. Mudlick Mountain rises 693 feet (211m) from a lower base to an elevation of 1,313 feet (400m). The Taum Sauk pumped storage plant, which failed on December 14, 2005 sending a flash flood 20 feet (6 m) deep down the Black River, is not actually on Taum Sauk Mountain. Even if the waterfall isn't flowing, this hike is still worth it for its awesome views of the Ozark Mountains. It was too narrow for their wagons so they had to be unloaded and carried through on their sides. The trail is generally going downhill. The waterfall is best experienced during times of wet weather, since dry spells can reduce it to a trickle. In 1991 Missouri created Taum Sauk Mountain State Park, a 7,448-acre (30.14km2) state park on the mountain: it has a rustic campground, a paved trail to the highpoint marked by a polished granite plaque, and a lookout tower from which a good view can be had; the dense forest on the mountain obscures the view from most other vantage points. Starting out from the large, gravel parking area, you will follow a paved trail for 900 feet before coming to a junction. While relatively low in terms of elevation at 1,772 feet (540m) compared to other peaks, Taum Sauk and the St. Francois range are true mountains, being the result of a volcanic orogeny. The glades get prettier and bigger as you hike closer to the falls. NOT OKAY! Devil's Tollgate is located one mile down the Ozark Trail from Mina Sauk Falls. Distance: 3 mile loop Even if the waterfall isn't flowing, this hike is still worth it for its awesome views of the Ozark Mountains. The wide trail goes across the level summit plateau before starting a gradual descent. The highest natural point in the U.S. state of Missouri at 1,772 feet. The trail can be a little hard to see on the descent so keep an eye out for the OT markers on trees. Something else? After leaving the third glade, the trail goes down two switchbacks and arrives at the falls. "Elevations and Distances in the United States (online edition)", "Most Prominent Peaks of the U.S. States", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Taum_Sauk_Mountain&oldid=987113353, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2008, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Taum Sauk Mountain is part of a large parks-and-wilderness area. There are lots of rocks on this trail and this part is no exception. Weathering and erosion of these ancient peaks provided the clastic sediments of the surrounding rock layers. This page was last edited on 5 November 2020, at 00:25. The third glade is the largest and prettiest. [4] Trail. An Adventure Projects staff member will review this and take an appropriate action, but we generally don't reply. There are often nice views. For the pumped storage power plant, see. Unklesbay, A.G; & Vineyard, Jerry D. (1992). Mina Sauk is a wet weather waterfall meaning it only flows during or after rain storms. Please explain. [6] This rocky loop packs in lots of beautiful scenery. At other times they are reduced to a trickle or less. Whereas vertical relief in the rest of the Ozarks region is the result of erosion of sedimentary strata, the St. Francois are an ancient Precambrian igneous uplift several times older than the Appalachians. This part of the trail descends through glades and forests. To get the great views, go back to the junction and hike the Mina Sauk Falls loop. Missouri Geology Three Billion Years of Volcanoes, Seas, Sediments, and Erosion. If there's water at the falls, you'll hear it for a while before you reach the falls itself. The 33-mile (53km) Taum Sauk section of the Ozark Trail is considered by the Ozark Trail Association to be one of the finest trails in Missouri.[8]. Short Hike: Access the waterfall via the Mina Sauk Falls Trail located in Taum Sauk Mountain State Park. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. Mina Sauk Falls is likely one of the best known waterfalls in Missouri, and is probably the tallest in the state. Mina Sauk Falls is in Taum Sauk Mountain State Park, If you plan on backpacking, fill out a card at the registration box; if you're just dayhiking, you don't need to fill out anything. The three mile long Mina Sauk Falls Loop in Taum Sauk Mountain State Park is one of Missouri's best, short trails. 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