Taum Sauk Mountain State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Taum Sauk Mountain State Park |
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The highest point in Missouri: Taum Sauk summit
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 Taum Sauk Mountain State Park
Location in Missouri
Taum Sauk Mountain State Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | Iron County & Reynolds County, Missouri, United States |
| Area | 8,732.23 acres (35.3381 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,772 ft (540 m) |
| Designation | Missouri state park |
| Established | 1991 |
| Visitors | 144,160 (in 2017) |
| Administrator | Missouri Department of Natural Resources |
| Website | Taum Sauk Mountain State Park |
Taum Sauk Mountain State Park is a special place in Missouri. It is a state park located in the beautiful St. Francois Mountains, which are part of the Ozarks region. This park is home to Taum Sauk Mountain, which is the highest point in the entire state of Missouri!
The park is a great spot for people who love to explore nature. It is especially popular with hikers and backpackers. A part of the Ozark Trail goes through the park. This trail connects Taum Sauk Mountain State Park with other wild areas nearby, like Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park and the Bell Mountain Wilderness Area. Together, these areas form a large wilderness for adventurers.
Fun Things to Do at Taum Sauk
If you visit Taum Sauk Mountain State Park, you will find lots to do! The park has a simple campground where you can stay overnight. There is also a paved path that leads to the highest point of the mountain.
You can enjoy a picnic with your family or friends at the park's picnic areas. There is also a lookout tower. From the tower, you can see amazing views of the thick mountain forest. Without the tower, the trees would block most of the views.
Mina Sauk Falls
One of the coolest spots in the park is Mina Sauk Falls. This is the highest waterfall in Missouri! To reach the falls, you need to hike a rugged trail. It is a three-mile (5 km) loop trail that starts from the parking area at the mountain's high point.
It is important to know that Mina Sauk Falls only has a lot of water flowing during wet weather. If it has not rained much, the waterfall might just be a small trickle, or even dry.
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The connected Taum Sauk Mountain and Johnson's Shut-ins state parks cover about 16,050 acres (65 km²) in the Missouri Ozarks.
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A plaque marking the highest point on Taum Sauk Mountain.
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Mina Sauk Falls, Missouri's highest waterfall.
