Taum Sauk Mountain State Park has Mina Sauk Falls, which the state parks page calls Missouri's tallest waterfall at 132 feet in wet weather, near the state's highest point at 1,772 feet.
Each row below was read on the page named in its last column on October 30, 2026. Prices, hours and rules change, so confirm with the operator before you go. Items we could not read are listed under What We Could Not Verify.
Background
- The Ozark Trail connects the Taum Sauk Section to Johnson's Shut-Ins for 12.8 miles. (mostateparks.com)
- Taum Sauk park covers 7,500 acres in the St. Francois Mountains. (mostateparks.com)
- Johnson's Shut-Ins bans food, alcohol, pets, coolers and disposable drink containers in the shut-ins area. (mostateparks.com)
- A fine of up to $500 applies for entering the restricted area at Johnson's Shut-Ins. (mostateparks.com)
- Part of Rockwoods' Trail Amongst the Trees is closed; Lime Kiln Trail stays open. (mdc.mo.gov)
Where to Go
| Place | Town | What It Is | Hours or Price as Printed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mina Sauk Falls (Taum Sauk Mountain State Park) | Ironton | Reached by a moderately rugged loop trail, falling over volcanic ledges in wet weather. | loop length not stated; office 573-546-2450 | mostateparks.com |
| Taum Sauk Mountain high point | Ironton | Missouri's highest point, described as an easy walk from the parking lot. | not stated | mostateparks.com |
| Devil's Tollgate | Ironton area | An 8-foot-wide passage through volcanic rock on the Ozark Trail, one mile below the falls. | not stated | mostateparks.com |
| Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park | Middle Brook | The shut-ins area is limited access; the page mentions waterfalls only in photo captions and no overlooks. | Access closes when river discharge reaches 75 cubic feet per second; day-use lot (100 cars) usually full by 10 a.m. Memorial Day to Labor Day; no fee listed | mostateparks.com |
| Elephant Rocks State Park | Belleview | Granite boulders formed 1.5 billion years ago; Braille Trail winds through the rocks; no overlook described. | hours and fees not stated; office 573-546-3454 | mostateparks.com |
| Rockwoods Reservation | Wildwood area (St. Louis County) | MDC area with about 13 miles of foot trails, a southern-trailhead overlook and the Lime Kiln. | Sunrise to half hour after sunset; no fees mentioned; closed Nov 26 and Dec 25, 2026 | mdc.mo.gov |
| Ha Ha Tonka State Park | Camdenton area | Stone castle ruins overlook Ha Ha Tonka Spring and the lake; trails and boardwalks. | not stated | mostateparks.com |
| Rocky Falls (Ozark National Scenic Riverways) | Current River area | NPS site index lists Rocky Falls along with Big, Alley and Round Spring; no detail page read. | not stated | nps.gov |
What We Could Not Verify
- Taum Sauk and Johnson's trails subpages 404, so no loop length
- Rockwoods page mentions no waterfall
- Rocky Falls nps detail page 404
- Overlook not described on Johnson's or Elephant Rocks pages
More Missouri Guides
Questions People Ask
What is Missouri's tallest waterfall?
The state parks page names Mina Sauk Falls at 132 feet in wet weather.
Can I visit the Johnson's Shut-Ins when water is high?
The park says access closes when river discharge reaches 75 cubic feet per second.
Is Rockwoods free?
The MDC page mentions no fees.
Sources
Checked October 30, 2026 by It’s Missouri. Cite this page: It’s Missouri (https://itsmissouri.com/things-to-do/waterfalls-and-overlooks/), checked October 30, 2026. Free to quote with a link.