Mina Sauk Falls Trail: Missouri’s Highest Waterfall

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ⓒ Mina Sauk Falls Trail: Missouri’s Highest Waterfall

The Mina Sauk Falls trail to the Mina Sauk waterfall is quite possibly one of the best day hikes in the area. It’s located just outside of Ironton Missouri which is about an hour and a half from St. Louis.

We hiked the Mina Sauk Falls Trail in February and we’re going to cover everything you need to know from where to park, what to pack and what you’ll see along the way!

Keep Reading For Everything You Need To Know To Hike The Mina Sauk Falls Trail!

Need a place to stay? If you’re coming from out of town there are some great options of places to stay in Ironton!

Why Hike The Mina Sauk Falls Trail?

There are two really great reasons to hike the Mina Sauk Falls trail. The first one is that the Mina Sauk Waterfall is the highest waterfall in Missouri at 132 feet (40 meters) tall. It cascades down over a series of drop-offs and is absolutely beautiful. When we hiked to Mina Sauk Falls we were very lucky to see lots of water going over the falls. 

But that’s actually not the only reason to hike the Mina Sauk Falls trail. If you do you’ll also have a great opportunity to see the highest point in Missouri!

The Mina Sauk Falls trail is located in Taum Sauk Mountain State Park which, as you might have guessed, includes Taum Sauk Mountain. The peak of Taum Sauk Mountain is the highest elevation point in Missouri, it’s 1,772 feet (540 Meters).

If you’re interested in seeing the highest point of any state then it’s definitely worth going! But in general, I must admit that it’s a little underwhelming. While the Mina Sauk Falls trail does take you right past the official highest point in MO, the only reason you would be able to tell is that there is a plaque marking the spot.

The surrounding area is all more or less all the same elevation and so there really isn’t any view from the highest point. There is however a box with a signature log and a sign with the elevation so you can take a picture. We have a friend who visited before and she said there were stickers as well, but they must have been out because there weren’t any when we got there.

How Far Is The Hike To Mina Sauk Falls?

Distance – 2.9 Miles

The Mina Sauk Falls trail is a loop and is 2.9 miles long, and the trail blazes are red. From the parking lot, it’s a relatively short walk to the highest elevation point in Missouri and that portion of the trail is actually paved and wheelchair accessible.

However, the trail only gets rougher from there. Only a few hundred yards after the highest point you will come to a sign and you can continue either left or right down the trail.

The hike to Mina Sauk Falls is a loop and so you can go either way and you will eventually end up back at the same spot. The Mina Sauk waterfall is almost exactly halfway around the loop and so it will take you about the same amount of time to reach the falls either way.

If you would like to hike out and come back the same way, here is what you can expect on either side of the loop if you go left or right from that sign.

Turning right (hiking counterclockwise) – Harder option

Going to the right will be the harder portion of the trial. You will start going down in elevation almost right away and the trail will take you through a mixture of forested as well as open areas. The open areas are a really great opportunity to see some views of the surrounding area.

However, the trail blazes are more sporadic for this portion of the trail and so you’ll need to pay more attention to where you’re going so that you don’t end up getting lost.

Turning Left (hiking clockwise) – Somewhat easier option

If you watch the video of when we hiked to Mina Sauk Falls you’ll see that we hiked counterclockwise and we did the entire loop. If I were to go again I would have gone to the left, hiking clockwise and I would have come back that same way.

If you go to the left you will not see as many open areas with views of the landscape, but you will hike along Taum Sauk Creek for most of the hike, leading you straight down to Mina Sauk Falls. You’ll stay in the shade for most of your hike while listening to the relaxing sounds of Taum Sauk Creek as you go.

You will still start out going downhill meaning you will need to hike uphill on your way back to the parking lot, but that’s the same no matter which way you decide to hike since Mina Sauk Falls is at a lower elevation than the parking lot.

Want to go on a float trip? Check out our guide to the best float trips in Missouri!

How Long Does It Take To Hike The Mina Sauk Falls Trail?

Hike Time – 3 Hours

Taum Sauk Mountain State Park is managed by Missouri State Parks. In the Missouri Department of Natural Resources official guide to the Mina Sauk Falls Trail, they recommend that you plan on at least 3 hours if you’re going to hike the Mina Sauk Falls trail.

I will admit that when I first read this I was a little bit skeptical. I didn’t think that it would take us 3 hours to hike a trail that wasn’t even 3 miles long.

However, after hiking the Mina Sauk Falls trail I can say that you absolutely need to plan at least 3 hours if you’re going to hike this hike. The trail can be rather technical at times, climbing over obstacles. The trail blazes can also be sporadic in some areas and the time you’re going to want to spend at the falls alone will really start to take up some time.

Do yourself a favor and plan at least 3 hours for this hike!

Mina Sauk Falls Trail Elevation Gain

Elevation Gain – 433 feet

The parking lot for the Mina Sauk Falls trail is more or less the highest point on the trail. The waterfall is located at the lowest point of the tail and is about halfway around the loop. This means that if you hike the trail clockwise or counterclockwise, either way, you will go down in elevation first and then will be hiking uphill on your way back to the parking lot.

Parking Lot And Amenities

The parking area is relatively large and could easily fit 30 or more cars or trucks. We hiked the Mina Sauk Falls trail during the week in February and there were only 2 other cars when we arrived so parking was super easy.

There isn’t much at the Mina Sauk Falls trailhead, but the normal announcement bulletin board, sign-in sheet, and a picnic table or two. There is, however, a bathroom available at the trailhead.

Overall I would say that Mina Sauk Falls is very accessible and you should have everything you need when you get there!

Are Pets Allowed On The Mina Sauk Falls Trail?

Pets – Yes (Leashed)

According to All Trails, pets are allowed on this trail but must be kept on a leash. We didn’t see anyone hiking with a pet the day we went, but this would be such a fun hike for you and your furry friend!

When To Hike The Mina Sauk Falls Trail?

Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall

The best time to hike to Mina Sauk Falls would depend on what you would like to see. If you’re interested in seeing the waterfall or swimming in some of the pools at the top then you will likely want to go in either spring or early summer.

The Mina Sauk Falls waterfall is a wet weather waterfall, meaning that it doesn’t necessarily have water flowing over it all the time, only after there has been some rain or snowmelt off.

We hiked to Mina Sauk Falls in February. There had been some snow recently but the weather warmed up and so most of the snow was already gone. This ended up being a perfect time to go because all of the snowmelt was running over the falls and there was a lot to see.

Fall would be the other great time to hike to Mina Sauk Falls especially if you hike the loop counterclockwise because you will get to see some great views of the surrounding area and all of the gorgeous fall colors!

Packing List

Like any other hike being prepared will keep you safe. Here is a short list of things we recommend bringing with you if you’re going to hike to Mina Sauk Falls.

Don’t forget that you’re going to want to take some great pictures of the beautiful waterfall to share when you get home!

Camera Gear we use:

Looking for more of the best outdoor gear? Check out some of our guides to the best gear for any adventure!

Mina Sauk Falls has become one of our favorite hikes to do in Missouri! It’s in a beautiful area, there are a ton of different things to see along the way and it’s just the right length to make it a great way to spend the day.

Have you hiked to Mina Sauk Falls before?

Click the link to our YouTube video and leave us a comment! What time of year did you hike to the falls?

Was there water flowing when you went?