Our 4th Highpoint

Our 4th highpoint was the closest to us back in 2004.  In August of 04 we headed over to Taum Sauk Mountain State Park in Missouri to conquer 1,772 foot Taum Sauk Mountain.  Conquer might be a bit of an exaggeration since you drive to the parking lot and walk about .2 mile to summit, but the highpoint is just the first of the adventures you can have here.

The Drive:  From Arcadia, MO take SR 21 southwest for about 4.5 miles.  You will pass the "Tip Top Roadside Park" and turn right (northwest) not long after where the sign points to Taum Sauk Mountain State Park.  Follow the paved road for 3 miles and stay right at the fork where the pavement ends.  Continue about .4 mile on the gravel road to the parking area.

The Hike:  From the parking area it is just a short walk on a paved trail.  Walk west for about .2 mile where the sign points to highpoint.

Extend your trip by visiting Mina Sauk Falls (the highest falls in Missouri) and the Devil's Tollgate.  These detailed hikes can be found in our upcoming Best Hikes Near St. Louis Falcon Guide!

JD, Arnie, and Aspen at the MO Highpoint.

A Semi-Interesting "Fact"

A few years ago (December, 2005), we led a backpacking class from SEMO from Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park to Taum Sauk Mountain State Park via the Ozark Trail.  Only DAYS after we came off the trail the Taum Sauk Reservoir broke and released a catastrophic flood directly through the area we had just hiked (that was a close one!).

In October, 2010 the section of the Ozark Trail that was wiped out by the flood finally reopened and we were on the trail hiking it for our hiking guide to Missouri the next day.  The semi-interesting fact is that we were probably the last ones to hike the trail before the flood and the first ones to hike it when it reopened after the flood.

Some trail wisdom:

An Ozark Trail blaze/marker.

This tilted blaze/marker indicates a sharp right turn in the trail.