Ozark Trail: Taum Sauk Section

Johnson's Shut-Ins and Taum Sauk Mountain State Parks, Mark Twain National Forest, and MDC land (Iron and Reynolds counties)

The Taum Sauk Section crosses the St. Francois Mountains, which the Ozark Trail Association (OTA) calls “1.5 billion-year-old” mountains of igneous glades, springs, and odd rock formations. It runs about 35 miles from Highway A, where it meets the Trace Creek Section, through Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park and over Taum Sauk Mountain, at 1,772 feet the highest point in Missouri, to Highway 21.

Most backpackers split it in two. The OTA lists Highway A to the Shut-Ins at 15 miles and the Shut-Ins to Taum Sauk at 12.5 miles, or 18 miles if you continue to Highway 21. It warns that the terrain will slow your usual pace by about a mile an hour.

The hike

From Highway A, at the Bell Mountain Wilderness, the trail heads east. Missouri State Parks says the western half crosses open, rocky glades with mountain views in the Goggins Mountain Wild Area, crosses Highway N and the East Fork of the Black River, and stays high above the river before passing through a scour channel into Johnson’s Shut-Ins. Wikipedia notes that in December 2005 the Taum Sauk reservoir failed, flooded the park, and destroyed part of this section; a replacement route was finished in mid-2009. The OTA mentions a swimming hole with natural flumes near the Shut-Ins.

East of the Shut-Ins, Missouri State Parks calls the trail “very rugged,” with steep rocky climbs, high rock “steps,” and several creek crossings. Toward Taum Sauk Mountain State Park, about a mile below Mina Sauk Falls, the trail passes the Devil’s Toll Gate, which the state describes as an 8-foot-wide passage through 50 feet of volcanic rhyolite standing 30 feet high. The Compulsive Hiker, in 2012, describes it as “a 6-foot gap between huge granite boulders” where an old military road once passed. Mina Sauk Falls, the state’s tallest waterfall, can shrink to a trickle; that writer recommends going “right after a heavy rain.”

On the glades, the OTA says cairns help with navigation but it is “easy to get lost.” Its condition notes call the section generally in good shape and mostly free of downed trees, though a portion of the scour trail has been decommissioned because of beaver activity.

Callie Leisure, writing on Callie Hikes in June 2023, hiked the whole section from Bell Mountain to Highway 21 in two days, about 15 and 19 miles, in high-80s heat. She found most creeks dry, filtered from flowing streams when she could, and carried extra water between them. Mina Sauk Falls wasn’t flowing.

At its west end, the section meets the Trace Creek Section at Highway A, near Ottery Creek.

Tips

Register before you start. Missouri State Parks requires free registration for backpackers starting at Johnson’s Shut-Ins or Taum Sauk.
Park where overnight parking is allowed: the Scour Trail trailhead off Highway N for the Shut-Ins, or the Mina Sauk Falls trailhead for Taum Sauk.
Carry plenty of water. State park trail details say treatable water may not be available.
Bring a stove. Campfires are prohibited on the section, per Missouri State Parks.
Wear orange in November. Missouri’s November firearms deer portion runs Nov. 14 to 24, 2026 (MDC).

Camping

Missouri State Parks allows dispersed camping along the Taum Sauk Section. It asks backpackers to use existing campsites where possible and to camp at least 100 feet from the trail, at least 200 feet from major public-use areas, water sources, and private property, and at least a quarter mile from a trail entry or exit point. Camping is prohibited from Highway N east to mile marker 18 and from the Taum Sauk Mountain trailhead west to Mina Sauk Falls, and not directly at the falls. Campfires, saws, and hatchets are not allowed; pets must be leashed. The OTA adds: “Please don’t camp on glades.” Park office: 573-546-2450.

Inside Intel: Terrain Magazine’s Michael Shepherd Jordan, who hiked the trail in October 2024, mentions an off-trail campsite at Bell Mountain about 4.5 miles from the Highway A junction with the Trace Creek Section. No camper accounts recommending a specific legal site on the state park stretch were found.

Trail facts

Distance: 35 miles (OTA); 33 miles (Missouri State Parks)
Route type: Point-to-point; common splits are Highway A to the Shut-Ins (15 miles) and the Shut-Ins to Taum Sauk (12.5 to 14.5 miles)
Difficulty: Varied (OTA); rugged (Missouri State Parks)
Elevation gain: About 4,250 feet north to south (OTA)
Campsites: Dispersed, with state park setbacks and no-camping zones
Water: Creeks and springs, often dry in summer; treat all water
Permits: Free registration required from the Johnson’s Shut-Ins and Taum Sauk trailheads
Fires: Prohibited; stoves only
Trailheads: Highway A, Johnson’s Shut-Ins (Scour Trail, Highway N), Taum Sauk (Mina Sauk Falls), Highway 21
Last verified: October 8, 2026

The Lowdown

Creek crossings below Taum Sauk Mountain:

This section has several creek crossings, and one writer suggests seeing Mina Sauk Falls right after a heavy rain. We compared three rain shells, including the Arc'teryx Beta SL.

Compare the shells →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.