Hey, ya got me! I am going to Taum Sauk in a few weeks, and I would have put up the page. However, you have done an excellent job, so I am glad you are the one putting this on summitpost! I will add photos once I come back from the trip.
The summit is pretty lame since it is a ten feet wide paved path and is only about a thousand or so feet from the trailhead. A right turn off of the main paved trail before the summit leads to a T-intersection. This is the loop hike. I think going to the right is a little more scenic then going to the left. If it is raining, take raingear and try it anyway as the falls will be running better. The loop to Mina Sauk Falls is great. If you have a GPS or are good with a map and compass try heading below the falls and bushwacking around.
I would also check out the lookout tower I mentioned. If you are going to be there for a few days there are several cool places in this area. Let me know if you want any recommendations.
Ah, good ol' Missouri. Lived in Belleville for a while as a kid and spent a lot of time in West County a few years back. Been drunk more than a few times in Soulard too. 4 stars just for the memories and seeing Missouri represented but your page is great too. Beautiful waterfall.
csmcgranahan - Apr 29, 2005 12:32 am - Hasn't voted
Untitled Comment
I lived in the St. Louis area for about three years and spent a lot of time exploring the backcountry of southern Missouri. Beautiful shut-ins and natural springs.
Nice page. This part of Missouri has some beautiful areas. I used to live in Indiana and would come over to canoe (usually the Current, Eleven Point, or Jack's Fork) several times a year.
Those are really great rivers, especially in the summer when they remain cool from spring water. Did you ever get a chance to visit Blue Spring near Owl's Bend on the Current? It is amazing!
Great page!! Interesting legend. I like having all 50 highpoints on SP. A goal I hope to complete. I caught some flak for putting up the final highpoint, but they are something I think that adds popularity to this site for some. Have a great day!!
In May of 2018, we were unable to locate a traditional round USGS marker at the top of Taum Sauk, but according to this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXkoKsQjxzU
there is one to be found. Unfortunately, the videographer doesn't give much of an indication on where the marker is . . . .
bigwilly - Apr 28, 2005 11:31 pm - Voted 10/10
Untitled Commentnice work
hgrapid - Apr 28, 2005 11:48 pm - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentHey, ya got me! I am going to Taum Sauk in a few weeks, and I would have put up the page. However, you have done an excellent job, so I am glad you are the one putting this on summitpost! I will add photos once I come back from the trip.
Does the 3-mile loop also reach the summit?
csmcgranahan - Apr 28, 2005 11:56 pm - Hasn't voted
Untitled CommentThe summit is pretty lame since it is a ten feet wide paved path and is only about a thousand or so feet from the trailhead. A right turn off of the main paved trail before the summit leads to a T-intersection. This is the loop hike. I think going to the right is a little more scenic then going to the left. If it is raining, take raingear and try it anyway as the falls will be running better. The loop to Mina Sauk Falls is great. If you have a GPS or are good with a map and compass try heading below the falls and bushwacking around.
I would also check out the lookout tower I mentioned. If you are going to be there for a few days there are several cool places in this area. Let me know if you want any recommendations.
Brian Jenkins - Apr 29, 2005 12:16 am - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentAh, good ol' Missouri. Lived in Belleville for a while as a kid and spent a lot of time in West County a few years back. Been drunk more than a few times in Soulard too. 4 stars just for the memories and seeing Missouri represented but your page is great too. Beautiful waterfall.
csmcgranahan - Apr 29, 2005 12:32 am - Hasn't voted
Untitled CommentI lived in the St. Louis area for about three years and spent a lot of time exploring the backcountry of southern Missouri. Beautiful shut-ins and natural springs.
Chris - Apr 29, 2005 12:54 am - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentNice page. This part of Missouri has some beautiful areas. I used to live in Indiana and would come over to canoe (usually the Current, Eleven Point, or Jack's Fork) several times a year.
csmcgranahan - Apr 29, 2005 2:10 pm - Hasn't voted
Untitled CommentThose are really great rivers, especially in the summer when they remain cool from spring water. Did you ever get a chance to visit Blue Spring near Owl's Bend on the Current? It is amazing!
Chris - Apr 29, 2005 4:40 pm - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentNo... I never did anything below Two Rivers, for some reason. One of these days I may try to get back to check it out though, I've heard it's amazing.
BobSmith - Apr 29, 2005 6:47 am - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentVery nice!
More Ozark highlands!
Scott - Apr 29, 2005 10:57 am - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentI used to live in the Missouri Ozarks for a while. They are not the mountains I am used to, but the forest were nice.
EastKing - Apr 29, 2005 3:03 pm - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentWow, this page was long overdue. Nice page.
Corax - Apr 29, 2005 7:39 pm - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentInteresting read.
mtwashingtonmonroe - Apr 29, 2005 7:47 pm - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentVery nice page! Pretty place! Have a good one!
-Britt
CNC Dave - Apr 29, 2005 11:35 pm - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentGreat page with clear info. Good photos too.
Makes me want to go there again when I go back
for a visit. Thanks.
Alpinist - May 3, 2005 12:55 pm - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentOutstanding page, complete with local folklore and nice pictures. Great job!
Matthew Holliman - Nov 8, 2005 8:18 pm - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentLooks like a prettier area than I'd have expected to find in MO. Guess it all doesn't look like St. Louis...
Nice page.
2skinners - Jan 13, 2006 7:53 am - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentGreat page!! Interesting legend. I like having all 50 highpoints on SP. A goal I hope to complete. I caught some flak for putting up the final highpoint, but they are something I think that adds popularity to this site for some. Have a great day!!
John G - May 29, 2018 10:35 am - Hasn't voted
USGS Monument / MarkerIn May of 2018, we were unable to locate a traditional round USGS marker at the top of Taum Sauk, but according to this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXkoKsQjxzU
there is one to be found. Unfortunately, the videographer doesn't give much of an indication on where the marker is . . . .
nartreb - May 30, 2018 1:19 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: USGS Monument / MarkerI didn't check the video, but this is the only one on the summit according to NGS' database:
https://www.ngs.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/ds_mark.prl?PidBox=HC1044
In the woods southwest of the end of the trail (stay up high).
There's another one under the steel tower to the southeast, outside the park boundary.