AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Saylorville Lake Project

Johnston Interurban Trail & Top Shelf Loop

6.2 mi · ▲ 110 ft · 2 hr 7 min

Johnston Interurban Trail & Top Shelf Loop is a 6.2-mile loop in Saylorville Lake Project near Johnston, IA. It is mostly level, with 110 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi801 – 948 ft7.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.68036, -93.67649
Nearest town Johnston, IA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Johnston Interurban Trail & Top Shelf Loop

6.2 mi · ▲ 110 ft · 2 hr 7 min

Elevation 801–947 ft

Loop · Saylorville Lake Project

Trailhead: 41.68036, -93.67649

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:01 AM · sunset 7:17 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 0.1 miBear right onto Top Shelf, heading S.
  3. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Covid Cut, heading SE.
  4. 150 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading SE.
  5. 200 ftTurn right onto Covid Cut, heading SE.
  6. 50 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading SE.
  7. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Sycamore Trail, heading S.
  8. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading S.
  9. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Lake Loop, heading S.
  10. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading SE.
  11. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Low Line, heading W.
  12. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sycamore Trail, heading W.
  13. 100 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading W.
  14. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Sycamore Trail, heading W.
  15. 50 ftTurn right onto Trestle to Trestle Trail, heading W.
  16. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  17. 50 ftSharp right, heading W.
  18. 200 ftBear left onto Johnston Interurban Trail, heading NW.
  19. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  20. 0.7 miTurn left, heading NW.
  21. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  22. 200 ftTurn left, heading N.
  23. 200 ftBear left, heading NW.
  24. 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  25. 50 ftSharp left, heading NW.
  26. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  27. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  28. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  29. 0.8 miTurn right, heading N.
  30. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  31. 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
  32. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  33. 0.5 miBear left, heading SE.
  34. 350 ftThe loop closes back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/johnston-interurban-trail-loop

Trail surface

52% paved41% dirt7% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:01 AMSunset 7:17 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~26 min). Leave by 6:32 PM for the 7:17 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:01 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Johnston, Iowa