Have you ever wanted to stand on the highest point in a state? Turns out, in Missouri, you don’t have to climb a mountain to do it—you can practically drive right up to the top! Taum Sauk Mountain, the highest point in Missouri at 1,772 feet, is tucked away in the beautiful Ozarks and makes for an easy but scenic adventure.
High pointing (a.k.a. visiting the highest natural point in a state) is a fun goal for road trippers and hikers alike, and Taum Sauk is one of the most accessible high points out there. In this post, we’ll dive into what high pointing is, share our experience at Missouri’s high point, walk you through how to reach the summit, and highlight other things to do in Taum Sauk Mountain State Park. Whether you’re checking off another high point or just looking for a peaceful spot in nature, Taum Sauk is worth the trip!
What is High Pointing?
High pointing is basically the adventure of visiting the highest natural point in every state (or country, if you’re feeling extra ambitious). Some people aim to hit all 50 U.S. state high points, while others stick to regions or just their home state. It’s like hiking with a built-in bucket list.
What makes it such a fun hobby? Well, first off, it’s a great excuse to travel and see parts of the country you’d probably never visit otherwise. Some high points are legit mountains, like Denali in Alaska, but others are just drive-up hills or random fields (looking at you, Florida). It’s a mix of challenge and accessibility—some are major expeditions, while others are just a quick stop on a road trip.
People love it because it combines hiking, geography, and personal achievement. Plus, there’s a whole community of high pointers who share tips, trip reports, and bragging rights. Whether you’re tackling Mount Rainier or just standing in a flat Kansas field, it’s a unique way to explore and set fun goals.
Missouri’s High Point: Taum Sauk Mountain
Hwy CC, Ironton, MO 63650
https://mostateparks.com/park/taum-sauk-mountain-state-park
Taum Sauk Mountain State Park is home to the highest point in Missouri, but don’t expect a dramatic mountain peak—it’s more of a gently sloping hill. Still, it’s a cool spot to check out, especially if you’re into hiking, waterfalls, and great views.
The park is in the St. Francois Mountains, which are some of the oldest mountains in North America. To reach the trailhead, you’ll first drive a steep gravel road up the mountain. We visited Taum Sauk in February, and had to wait until almost the end of our time in Missouri to visit Taum Sauk because the road was closed from snow and ice.
Once you reach the parking lot, there’s an information kiosk and pretty nice vault toilets. All the trails start from the main trailhead here and the trail to the high point is super easy. It’s about half a mile out and back on an accessible paved trail.
At the high point, there’s a log book and a marker on a rock. It’s kind of a weird high point because it’s in the middle of the woods with no view. Usually with a high point you get to look out over the state, but not this one.
What Else to Do at Taum Sauk Mountain State Park
Mina Sauk Falls Trail
Besides being home to Missouri’s highest point, it’s also home to Missouri’s tallest waterfall. The Mina Sauk Falls Trail is a 2.9 mile loop that you access from the same paved path as the high point, but then turns into a rocky and rugged hike. The trail passes along the top of the falls. Mina Sauk Falls is a wet weather waterfall, so the best time to visit is in spring after the snow has melted or soon after a good rainfall.
Ozark Trail
The Oark Trail, a 430 mile regional trail, also passes through Taum Sauk State Park if you’re looking for a longer hike. Taum Sauk offers primitive camping, so this is a perfect spot for backpacking along the OT.
Camping at Taum Sauk
Taum Sauk State Park has twelve basic walk-in tent sites. These are non-reservable, first-come-first-served sites. The camping area has vault toilets and there is water available from April 1 to October 31. During the regular season (April-October) camping is $15 a night and in the off-season it’s $14. Seniors aged 65 and older, people with disabilities, and military/veterans can also get a $2/night discount.
Taum Sauk Lookout Tower
Next to Taum Sauk State Park is another property managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation. The big feature here is the 72 feet tall lookout tower that was built in 1949. You can’t climb all the way to the top, but you can climb about half of the stairs and still get a great view of the surrounding area.
Our Taum Sauk Summit Experience
We visited Taum Sauk while also visiting a few other state parks in the area. This whole part of the state is has fascinating geology and so many great hiking opportunities. Like we talked about earlier, we had to wait for the park to re-open because of icy roads. We were worried for a bit that we might not actually get to go up at all because of the weather, but it warmed up enough before we left.
This was our third state high point and definitely the easiest, even though it wasn’t actually our lowest elevation. It did feel pretty anticlimactic, especially since there isn’t even a view- but since there’s so much else to do nearby and even within the park it doesn’t feel like a waste of time.
Missouri’s high point is definitely a great place for beginner high pointers to try out the hobby. Once you sign the log book and check it off the list, it’ll get you itching to get out and check off more.
More to Do in the Missouri Ozarks
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