Mina Sauk Falls


March 2017

State: Missouri

Location: Taum Sauk Mountain State Park

Height: 132

Crest: 10

Water Source: Taum Sauk Creek

Waypoint: 37.5625N 90.740861W

Summary: The highest waterfall in Missouri, reached by a rugged hike. Unfortunately the falls only flows in wet weather, and is often dry.

Mina Sauk falls is the highest waterfall in Missouri. It drops 132 feet over a series of ledges. The two largest drops are each around 30 feet high. Taum Sauk Creek does not carry a lot of water and the falls only flows in wet weather. Another consequence of the low flow is that the gorge is very cluttered with rocks and trees, making it hard to get an unobstructed view of the full falls.

The falls is reached by rugged 1.2 mile hike. The trail starts out easy enough. It is wheel chair accessible for the first hundred feet or so, but it after that it gets rough. The hike to the falls is mostly downward, so you have a lot of climbing to do on the way back.

The Ozark Trail goes right past Mina Sauk Falls. You can use the Ozark Trail to make a loop back to the parking area. You can also continue another 13 miles to Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park.

I visited the falls on a gray and snowy day in March. The water was flowing, but the colors were very drab.

Photo Gallery


The full falls

An upper drop

The bottom drop

Trail sign

View from trail

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Last Modified: Tuesday, 25-Apr-2017 20:16:56 MDT.

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