Rising 1,772 feet above sea level near the old mining town of Middle Brook, Taum Sauk Mountain is Missouri’s highest natural point. But you’d be forgiven for driving right past it. In true Ozark fashion, the summit is less a jagged peak and more a highland glade. A granite marker at the foot of a weathered boulder is about all that distinguishes the spot as significant.

But that timeworn quality comes with the territory.

Taum Sauk sits within the St. Francois Mountains, one of the oldest mountain ranges in North America. The granite and rhyolite shaping the region are roughly 1.5 billion years old — far older than both the Rockies and the Appalachians. While today’s Ozarks are heavily eroded and modest in elevation, they were once part of a much more dramatic landscape near the edge of an ancient supercontinent.

Visitors can reach the summit via a short, paved trail from the upper parking lot at Taum Sauk Mountain State Park. Beyond the summit, the surrounding terrain offers a “best of” Ozarks setting: rocky glades, oak-pine forests, steep valleys, and exposed volcanic rock rarely seen elsewhere in the Midwest.

The park is also home to Mina Sauk Falls, the tallest waterfall in Missouri. After heavy rain, water spills down a series of rocky ledges along the mountainside. Nearby, the Taum Sauk section of the Ozark Trail is considered one of Missouri’s most rugged and scenic stretches, with steep climbs, ridgeline views, and remote-feeling terrain.

Wildflowers, lichens, cedar trees, and prickly pear cactus thrive in the dry glade environment, while migrating birds and reptiles move through the surrounding hills. Together, they serve as reminders that Taum Sauk is far more complex and ecologically rich than many people realize.

“High Points,” a series showcasing the highest outdoor spots in our region, is sponsored by Swade Cannabis Dispensary. To learn more about Swade and how it can elevate your outdoor adventures, visit swadecannabis.com.