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Taum Sauk Mountain State Park

Coordinates: 37°34′17″N 90°43′45″W / 37.57139°N 90.72917°W / 37.57139; -90.72917
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Further information: Taum Sauk Mountain

Taum Sauk Mountain State Park
The highest point in Missouri: Taum Sauk summit
Map showing the location of Taum Sauk Mountain State Park
Map showing the location of Taum Sauk Mountain State Park
Location in Missouri
Map showing the location of Taum Sauk Mountain State Park
Map showing the location of Taum Sauk Mountain State Park
Location in the United States
LocationIron and Reynolds counties, Missouri, United States
Coordinates37°34′17″N 90°43′45″W / 37.57139°N 90.72917°W / 37.57139; -90.72917[1]
Area8,732.23 acres (35.3381 km2)[2]
Elevation1,772 ft (540 m)[1]
DesignationMissouri state park
Established1991[3]
Visitors144,160 (in 2017)[2]
AdministratorMissouri Department of Natural Resources
WebsiteTaum Sauk Mountain State Park

Taum Sauk Mountain State Park is a Missouri state park located in the St. Francois Mountains in the Ozarks. The park encompasses Taum Sauk Mountain, the highest point in the state.[4] The Taum Sauk portion of the Ozark Trail connects the park with nearby Johnson's Shut-ins State Park[5] and the Bell Mountain Wilderness Area, which together are part of a large wilderness area popular with hikers and backpackers.

In 2005, the Taum Sauk Hydroelectric Power Station was damaged and a billion gallons of water flooded parts of the park and other nearby areas.[6]

Activities and amenities

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The park has a rustic campground, a paved trail to the highpoint, picnic facilities, and a lookout tower providing a view of the dense mountain forest obscured from other vantage points.

Mina Sauk Falls

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Mina Sauk Falls, the highest waterfall in Missouri,[7] is reached via a rugged trail that makes a three-mile (5 km) loop from the highpoint parking area.[8] The falls have cascading waters only during times of wet weather; at other times they are reduced to a trickle or less.

  • The contiguous Taum Sauk Mountain and Johnson's Shut-ins state parks consist of 16,050 acres (65.0 km2) in the Missouri Ozarks.
    The contiguous Taum Sauk Mountain and Johnson's Shut-ins state parks consist of 16,050 acres (65.0 km2) in the Missouri Ozarks.
  • High point plaque on Taum Sauk
    High point plaque on Taum Sauk
  • Mina Sauk Falls
    Mina Sauk Falls

References

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  1. ^ a b "Taum Sauk Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ a b "Taum Sauk Mountain State Park: Data Sheet" (PDF). Missouri Department of Natural Resources. November 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  3. ^ "State Park Land Acquisition Summary". Missouri State Parks. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  4. ^ "Taum Sauk Mountain State Park". Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
  5. ^ "Taum Sauk Section". The Ozark Trail. Ozark Trail Association. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
  6. ^ 10 years since Taum Sauk dam gave way
  7. ^ "St. Francois Mountains Natural Area". Missouri Department of Conservation. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  8. ^ "Taum Sauk Mountain State Park: Trails". Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
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