Taum Sauk Mountain - Missouri
Date Walked: 6th April 2014
Total Distance: 3.8 miles (6.2 km)
Total Actual Ascent: 977 ft (298m)
Total Time Taken: 2.5 hours
The summit of Taum Sauk is the highest natural point in Missouri, for those who would 'chalk up' such things there is a marble plaque in the ground marking the spot. At 540 m (1772 feet) it is hardly a giant and the views are mostly closed out by the surrounding forest.
My hike here is a part of the Ozark Trail and the Mina Sauk Falls Trail too, there is a scramble down the falls of about 150 feet with no trail to guide you (if you wish to view the falls that is) so bear this in mind if considering this hike.
My hike here is a part of the Ozark Trail and the Mina Sauk Falls Trail too, there is a scramble down the falls of about 150 feet with no trail to guide you (if you wish to view the falls that is) so bear this in mind if considering this hike.
the trail is easy enough for all ages initially (as far as the highest point) but it does get very rocky and slippery after a short time and presents a pretty rugged and sometimes challenging effort.
The rocks here are very slippery when wet and quite mobile too, there seems to be a little underground stream keeping a level of moisture on the rocks at all times.
I can imagine that this hike is particularly suited to autumn when the beautiful colours of the trees illuminate the forest with red, yellows and burnt orange, today I just have the brown and green of late winter/early spring but it is still a very enjoyable hike.
As I approach the top of Mina Sauk Falls I find myself above a deep ravine with boulder strewn edges, I suspect this would be another one of those wonderful spots for an autumn shot
At the top of the falls there is hardly a sign of water, the views do oppen out across the St Francois Mountains and I am reminded of Hawksbill Crag in the beautiful Ozark National Forest in Arkansas
Visit in the springtime they tell me....the falls will be at their best then, the weather reports almost 3 days of rain over here as I drove down from Canada, but this is all there is going over the top of the falls.
The water does still cascade down the stepped levels of the falls but in a more gentle manner than I'd hoped for, after all this is the tallest waterfall in the state.
The upside of the lack of water is that the climb down the falls is pretty easy and I'm able to roam around at the bottom without fear of spray reaching the lens
After the disappointment of the falls (in terms of flow) I reascend on the Ozark Trail following a small stream that supplies some of the water to the falls
The route out offered little that was different from the route in but I did meet a nice young couple who were heading back up to the summit and we walked and talked together. They lived locally and were amazed to find an englishman wandering 'their' woods....even more so when I told them I'd driven down from Calgary.
I would like to return to this lump and make this hike again in different conditions but that is unlikely to happen. For anyone thinking of going I'd suggest that you do so during a very wet springtime or in autumn for the wonderful colours. It was still great to be out hiking in the forest but it would have been perfect with a little extra water.....where did all that rainwater go?