Mina Sauk Falls Loop
The three mile long Mina Sauk Falls Loop in Taum Sauk Mountain State Park is one of Missouri's best, short trails. This rocky loop packs in lots of beautiful scenery. You hike by Missouri's tallest mountain, stroll through scenic glades, and scramble around Missouri's highest waterfall. Mina Sauk Falls is an impressive 132 ft. high when it flows. Mina Sauk is a wet weather waterfall meaning it only flows during or after rain storms. Even if the waterfall isn't flowing, this hike is still worth it for its awesome views of the Ozark Mountains.
Distance: 3 mile loop
5 miles with a side trip to Devil's Tollgate
Difficulty: Moderately Strenous, you will lose 400 vertical feet on your way to the falls and have to regain that on the hike back.
Scenery: 5 Stars for Missouri!
5 miles with a side trip to Devil's Tollgate
Difficulty: Moderately Strenous, you will lose 400 vertical feet on your way to the falls and have to regain that on the hike back.
Scenery: 5 Stars for Missouri!
I think following the trail in a counter-clockwise direction gives you an easier ascent back to the trailhead. Starting out from the large, gravel parking area, you will follow a paved trail for 900 feet before coming to a junction. Taking a right onto the unpaved path will take you a short distance to this registration box. Before you do this, go 100 ft. farther on the paved path to reach Missouri's high point. This point on the mountain may be 1,772 ft. high, but there aren't any views from here, just a plaque. To get the great views, go back to the junction and hike the Mina Sauk Falls loop. If you plan on backpacking, fill out a card at the registration box; if you're just dayhiking, you don't need to fill out anything. Take a right for an easier hike.
The wide trail goes across the level summit plateau before starting a gradual descent. There are lots of rocks on this trail and this part is no exception. After hiking in the woods for about half a mile, you will hit the first glade.
On the way to Mina Sauk Falls, you will hike through three different glades. The glades get prettier and bigger as you hike closer to the falls. The trail is generally going downhill.
The third glade is the largest and prettiest. You get great views of the mountains and vallies. You can even see part of the Taum Sauk Resevoir peeking up over a distant ridge.
This part of the trail descends through glades and forests. There are often nice views.
After leaving the third glade, the trail goes down two switchbacks and arrives at the falls. If there's water at the falls, you'll hear it for a while before you reach the falls itself.
The open, rocky area by the top of the falls has great views over to Wildcat Mountain and down Taum Sauk Creek's valley.
Mina Sauk Falls is a 132 feet high, but has three main drops. That means it's hard to see the whole waterfall at once. You can scramble around over the boulders to get a closer look at the falls or follow the OT towards Johnson Shut-ins to reach the base of the falls.
Devil's Tollgate Out and back
Devil's Tollgate is located one mile down the Ozark Trail from Mina Sauk Falls. The initial descent from Mina Sauk Falls is very steep and rocky as the trail drops on a boulder-strewn hillside next to the falls. The trail can be a little hard to see on the descent so keep an eye out for the OT markers on trees. The trail gently descends along Taum Sauk Creek. Some parts have illegal ATV traffic and crosses old roads so look for OT markers to stay on track.
Devil's Tollgate is a very impressive rock formation. It got its name from early settlers traveling through the valley. The wagon trail was constricted to the narrow 8 ft. passage between the rocks by the steep hill on the south and the creek on the north. It was too narrow for their wagons so they had to be unloaded and carried through on their sides. This was such a hassle the settlers called the place Devil's Tollgate.
After you check out the Tollgate, you can continue on the OT 10.5 miles to Johnson Shut-ins or return back to Mina Sauk Falls to finish the loop.
Mina Sauk Falls Loop
From the waterfall, the trail climbs alongside Taum Sauk Creek. The creek has lots of rocky little waterfalls along this section.
The trail passes through lots of little glade areas on the way back. Eventually, it ducks into the woods and continues climbing to the junction with the OT. If you take a right on the OT, it's 5.7 miles to the Hwy. 21 TH. Trail description for that hike is here.
Take a left at the junction and you'll finish the loop in about a half a mile.
Take a left at the junction and you'll finish the loop in about a half a mile.