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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Trail Facts

  • Distance: 9.0

Waypoints

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, -90.67997

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, -90.68087

Trailhead: Head N onto Ozark Trail (stay on W side of MO 21)

TST002

Location: 37.548, -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)

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