Beautiful hike if you don't mind the challenge.
by sduke1848 - Written: Sep 25 '03
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Pros: Beautiful scenery of the majestic Arcadia Valley in MIssouri.
Cons: Miles of trail that are nearly only over rock. Very trying on the feet.
The Bottom Line: Unique and beautiful scenery not found anywhere else in Missouri. A great hike if you're feeling hearty.
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| sduke1848's Full Review: Taum Sauk Mountain State Park |
I am an amateur photographer on a quest to document as many different facets of Missouri's landscape as I can. I've exlopered and hiked most of the state and county parks in St. Louis so I was looking to broaden my horizons a little bit an do some traveling.
I picked Taum Sauk State Park because of its proximity to some other parks I had been to that I enjoyed: Elephant Rock and Johnson's Shut-Ins. As well, I just wanted to be able to say that I had been to the highest point in the state (Taum Sauk Mountain is 1772 feet above sea level).
The park is about a two hour drive from St. Louis, about half the trip is on narrow county back-roads, but nothing too challenging. The park is off Highway CC, which for the last mile or so is gravel road.
To get to the "High Point", as it's called, there is only about a tenth of a mile walk on a paved path that is very easy to get to. My path as I had planned it would be a five mile round trip that took me along the north Mina Sauk trail to Mina Sauk Falls (Missouri's highest) and then make a two mile loop from the falls to Devil's Tollgate and then loop back along the Ozark Trail to the trailhead.
The majority of the trail is exceptionally rocky. I cannot emphasize enough: wear very sturdy hiking boots, this is not a trail for a novice hiker. The trail at some points become very hard to follow. The markers are spread very far apart so as not to cause "visual pollution." I found myself doubling back and hunting for the trail on more than a few occasions.
With that said, the scenery is second to none in Missouri. The trail opens into some beautiful glades that provide wonderful views of Missouri's Arcadia Valley. In addition, if you've never ventured into the southeastern portion of the state the volcanic landscape can seem almost alien in some place, it's a great change of pace.
Mina Sauk Falls is a fantastic place to visit, but note that the falls only flow after a heavy rain. I went two days after a fairly heavy rain fall and the falls had dried to a small trickle. None the less, they were still breathtaking to behold.
The hike down from the falls to Devil's Tollgate is rough, but goes through some of the most beautiful forest I've ever had the pleasure of hiking through. Devil's Tollgate is an interesting geological oddity that is basically an 8 foot wide crack in a mammoth boulder that the trail runs through. This part of the trail is just a small part of the larger Ozark Trail.
In summary, Taum Sauk Mountain provides some unforgettable scenery and geological wonders unique to Missouri and this region of the state. Be warned, the trail is not an easy one, but provided you are up to the challenge, the results can be very rewarding.
Recommended:
Yes
Best time to go: Anytime
Recommended for: Anybody
Review Topic: Hiking & Trails
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