is all flat prairies and dairy cows, Taum Sauk Mountain is here to prove them wrong. As a member of the St. Francois mountain range, Taum Sauk doesn’t have the towering height of

Alaska’s

peaks or the

Colorado

Rockies—but it’s still tall enough for a spectacular view.

Here to give you the inside scoop on Missouri’s highest point is the insurance shopping

super app

and travel expert,

Jerry

. Let’s dive in!

What is the highest elevation in Missouri?

With an elevation of 1,772 feet (540 m), Taum Sauk Mountain earns the lofty title of “highest place in Missouri.” Nestled between rocky glades and shaded forests, Taum Sauk is a perfect travel destination for solo climbers and hiking families alike.

Best of all, entry to the Taum Sauk Mountain State Park is free—but you can

donate

to help preserve Missouri’s beautiful state parks!

How do I get to Taum Sauk Mountain?

If you type “Taum Sauk Trail” into a

nifty navigation app

, you should have no problem getting to the trailhead. If you’re going old-school and busting out the road maps, here’s how you can get to the trail:

Start on State Highway 72

Turn onto Highway CC, which has signs for Taum Sauk Mountain State Park

After a few miles, you’ll come to the end of the pavement

On your left, there will be a lookout tower with wonderful views of the park

On your right, you will find the Taum Sauk trailhead

Once you’re at the trailhead, congratulations! Since you covered most of the elevation in your car, you’ll only have to walk a few minutes to reach the highest point in Missouri. The trail is quick, easy, ADA accessible, and pet-friendly—so you and your puppy can conquer the trek together.

MORE:

The best castles in Missouri to visit

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Things to do around Taum Sauk Mountain

If you’re feeling ambitious, two major trails run through the Taum Sauk Mountain State Park:

Mina Sauk Falls Trail

(2.9 miles): The easier of the two trails provides access to the state’s highest point and the state’s highest waterfall: Mina Sauk Falls.

Ozark Trail

(11.3 miles): This one is not for the faint of heart—but those who brave the rugged Ozark trail will be rewarded with amazing views of some of Missouri's most beautiful landmarks.

If you’re ready to call it a day after reaching the high point, head down to

Arcadia Valley

. It’s chock-full of fun things to do, ranging from music festivals to BBQ battles. It’s only a 20-minute drive from the high point trailhead, so it offers easy access to all of the best hikes in the St. Francois Mountains.

MORE:

Road trip essentials

What city has the highest elevation in Missouri?

Just 100 feet below Taum Sauk is the unincorporated community of Cedar Gap. At 1,694 feet (516 m), you won’t be able to breathe much easier when you’re in town than when you’re on the mountain—but you will get to see Cedar Gap’s famous cedar trees!

There isn’t much to do in Cedar Gap (after all, it is unincorporated), but it’s just a short jaunt from the town to your next outdoor adventure.

Where to find affordable car insurance

While you’ve been on a quest to reach the highest point in Missouri,

Jerry

has been on a quest of our own—getting you the lowest insurance prices in the state.

Taking advantage of our research is super easy: just download our top-rated insurance app, sign up in 45 seconds, and tap your favorite policy from our recommendations. We’ll even help you switch policies—no headache or hassle!

After you’ve switched policies with Jerry, it’s time to celebrate, because you just joined the team of Jerry drivers that save an average of $887 on car insurance!

“
Jerry
had a super simple app that was easy to navigate. And their terrific customer service made everything even easier. Plus I saved $700 in a single year.” —Lucia M.

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