OZARK TRAIL IN MISSOURI

Overview: The Taum Sauk section is 33.0 miles long and lies within the Potosi-Fredericktown Ranger Districts. It connects the Trace Creek section (05) to its north via a 3 mile section within Bell Mountain Wilderness and the Marble Creek/Crane Lake section (07) of the eastern limb of OZT in the Fredericktown Ranger district to its south. The current northwestern access point is at Bell Mountain Wilderness on hwy. A, the middle portion trailhead is at Johnson's Shut-In State Park, and the southeastern trailhead at Taum Sauk Mountain S.P. at the end of hwy. CC and at the parking area on the west side of hwy. 21 just north of Royal Gorge. The section crosses 4 mountains: Bell, Goggins, Proffit and Taum Sauk. The trail intersects with the East Fork of the Black River and Taum Sauk Creek. This is a foot trail only.

Ketcherside Mountain Conservation Area (p.100 of MO Dept. of Conservation Atlas) is 4 miles south of Ironton on hwy. 21, and 3 miles down CC. This is a 3,356-acre forest that contains the Tom Sauk towersite and picnic area and a stretch of the OZT.

Proffit Mountain Conservation Area (p.188 text and 189 map of MO Dept. of Conservation Atlas) is a 1,600 acre tract lying east of JSI S.P. with access by foot trail only.

Section 6 General Information

Counties

Reynolds (northwest portion), Iron

Agencies

MO-DNR (573-751-2479 or 1-800-334-6946; TDD 1-800-379-2419). U.S. Forest Service (Potosi-Fredericktown Ranger District and Salem Ranger Districts). MO Dept. of Conservation (Ketcherside Mountain Conservation Area, Proffit Mountain), Southeast Office at Piedmont (314-223-4525).

Directions

Taum Sauk Mountain S.P. is 9 miles SW of Ironton on hwy. CC off of hwys 21/49 and spans both Iron and Reynolds counties.

Johnson's Shut-In S.P can be approached by taking the Saint Clair Exit 240 off U.S. 44 and proceeding east on 30 to state hwy 47 going south. Take 47 to hwy 21 near Washington S.P. then go south to Ironton. Taum Sauk is located on M a few miles west of Ironton. To reach Johnson's Shut-In S.P. keep going south on 21 past Hogan to the junction with 72/49. Turn right (west) for approximately 13 miles to reach Johnson's Shut-Ins 13 miles north on hwy N. JSI Park also can be reached from U.S. 44 Exit 208 at Cuba driving southeast to hwys 19 and 49 to the intersection with hwy. N 3 miles west of Lesterville.

Alternate JSI S.P. route from St. Louis: Take 270 South to 55 South. 55 South to 67 South (Festus area). Around Farmington, go right on W and turn right on hwy 21 at flashing red light. Go a mile and see park sign. Turn left on hyw N for 13 miles, park entry on left.

Maps

Potosi/Fredericktown Ranger District (phone 573-438-5427) or MO-DNR for brochure "Taum Sauk Section" of the Ozark Trail.

Facilities

(At Taum Sauk S.P.) Primitive camping with a small pond, lookout tower with commanding view of Tom Sauk Mountain. (At Bell Mtn Wilderness trailhead on hwy. A) Parking lot, drinking water. (At Johnson's Shut-Ins S.P.) Camping, swimming at the shut-ins on Black River.

Features

Taum Sauk mountain is the highest point in MO at 1,772 feet (Arkansas' highest point is 2,750 feet in comparison). Mina Sauk Falls is along the OZT route about a mile from Taum Sauk trail head. The views of rolling hills (Missouri "mountains") rival the Blue Ridge Mountains in VA's Shenandoah Valley for scenic beauty. Johnson's Shut-Ins parking access is limited to 100 cars and may be crowded in warm weather because of the immense popularity of swimming in the Black River stony shut-ins (it's a great park!). The connecting trail between the state parks is up-and-down challenging and is thus popular among hikers on foot.

Trails

(At Taum Sauk S.P.) Mina Sauk Falls loop trail is 3 miles (OZT merges with the southern end). The OZT connects these Taum Sauk and Johnson's Shut-Ins state parks. Twelve miles of unmaintained trail are in Bell Mtn Wilderness.

Contact Information

Taum Sauk State Park, Ironton, MO and Johnson's Shut-Ins S.P., Middlebrook, MO (same phone 573-546-2450). MO-DNR, P.O. Boz 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102 (ph 1-800-334-6946). Potosi (phone 573-438-5427) and Fredericktown U.S. Forest Service Ranger Districts (phone 573-783-7225).

Related URLs

http://www.mo.bot.us/stateparks/taumsauk.html

http://www.mo.bot.us/stateparks/shutin.html

OZTMO_section_06.html