Stand on Missouri's roof. At 1,772 feet, Taum Sauk Mountain isn't some jagged Rocky Mountain peak, but the ancient, oak-smothered dome still commands respect. The dark ground beneath your boots consists of billion-year-old volcanic rhyolite. It is brutally old. A short, paved path leads right to the summit marker, so you don't even have to sweat to check this off your bucket list. But the real adventure lies beyond the asphalt. Rugged trails plunge straight into deep, rock-strewn valleys where cell service dies. Watch your step. This is the Ozarks at their most raw.

Hikers head here to find Mina Sauk Falls. This wet-weather waterfall drops 132 feet over a series of rocky ledges. It is the state's tallest. To see it roar, you need to hike right after a heavy spring rain, though. Otherwise, you might just find a wet rock face. Still pretty, but not spectacular. The three-mile loop trail to the falls connects to the longer Ozark Trail, meaning you can backpack for days if you want to push yourself. Pack plenty of water. The exposed volcanic rock sucks up the summer sun and radiates heat like a giant brick oven. Go in autumn instead. The oak canopy turns a brilliant, fiery red.

Billions of years ago, volcanic eruptions squeezed out the dark pink rhyolite that forms these high ridges. Fast forward to the 1800s. A Piankeshaw chief named Sauk lived in the area, giving the peak its name. Homesteaders tried to plow the unforgiving rocky soil. They failed. You can''t grow corn on solid volcanic rock, so timber companies bought up the cheap tracts instead. They hacked down the shortleaf pines and white oaks for railroad ties. For decades, local families let their cattle roam wild through the scrubby woods. It was hard country. The state finally stepped in during 1991, purchasing the first massive block of land from private owners to stop the logging.

If you hike down the rocky trail today, you will stumble upon some incredible history. Take Mina Sauk Falls. This three-tiered wet-weather waterfall drops 132 feet over red granite ledges. According to local lore, a princess leaped from the ledge after her father executed her lover. The waterfall supposedly sprang up where she died. It''s a tragic story. You can still see 1.5-billion-year-old rock formations lining the creek bed. Look closely at the dirt. Part of the path follows the old Ozark Trail, which volunteers carved out by hand decades ago. It is a rugged walk. But sitting at the top of the highest peak around makes every single step worth it.