Taum Sauk Mountain State Park exists partly because Missouri needed somewhere to put its highest point and partly because the St. Francois Mountains are genuinely remarkable terrain that deserves protection. The 7,448-acre park opened in 1991 and encompasses the summit, a rustic campground, and a network of trails that connect to the larger Ozark Trail system.
The park has a particular history that makes its current shape more interesting. The AmerenUE hydroelectric reservoir at the top of the mountain failed catastrophically in 2005, releasing 1.3 billion gallons of water that scoured a path down to the East Fork Black River. The downstream Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park was severely damaged. Both parks were restored, and the rebuilt reservoir now operates with additional safety systems. The failure is part of the landscape now, visible in the reconstructed terrain.
The Mina Sauk Falls Loop — about three miles of rugged Ozark Trail from the summit — leads to the highest waterfall in Missouri, a 132-foot cascade over rhyolite bluffs. In spring and after heavy rain it's dramatic. In dry conditions it's still worth seeing for the surrounding geology and the Ozark Trail corridor.
The summit itself is a short walk from the parking area on a paved trail, marked with a granite plaque. The fire tower nearby gives the elevated views the flat summit doesn't. On clear days you can see well into Arkansas. Come for the landscape. The ancient rock here is as old as anything you'll walk on in Missouri.