AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Saylorville Lake Project

Johnston Interurban Trail & Top Shelf

5.5 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 1 hr 51 min

Johnston Interurban Trail & Top Shelf is a 5.5-mile out-and-back in Saylorville Lake Project near Johnston, IA. It is mostly level, with 26 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi801 – 837 ft6.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.67292, -93.69315
Nearest town Johnston, IA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Johnston Interurban Trail & Top Shelf

5.5 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 1 hr 51 min

Elevation 801–836 ft

Out & Back · Saylorville Lake Project

Trailhead: 41.67292, -93.69315

Weather Sep 22: sunrise 7:03 AM · sunset 7:14 PM

Transit-accessible: stop 395 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  3. 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
  4. 200 ftSharp right, heading W.
  5. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  6. 200 ftBear right, heading W.
  7. 450 ftContinue straight onto Johnston Interurban Trail, heading S.
  8. 0.7 miTurn right, heading SE.
  9. 0.3 miBear right, heading S.
  10. 200 ftSharp left, heading SE.
  11. 50 ftTurn right onto Trestle to Trestle Trail, heading SE.
  12. 0.2 miTurn left onto Sycamore Trail, heading E.
  13. 50 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading E.
  14. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Sycamore Trail, heading NE.
  15. 100 ftContinue straight onto Low Line, heading E.
  16. 50 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading E.
  17. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Lake Loop, heading NE.
  18. 0.1 miReach Johnston Interurban Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  19. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading NE.
  20. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Low Line, heading W.
  21. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sycamore Trail, heading W.
  22. 100 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading W.
  23. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Sycamore Trail, heading W.
  24. 50 ftTurn right onto Trestle to Trestle Trail, heading W.
  25. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  26. 50 ftSharp right, heading W.
  27. 200 ftBear left onto Johnston Interurban Trail, heading W.
  28. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  29. 0.8 miBear left, heading N.
  30. 200 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  31. 50 ftSharp left, heading NW.
  32. 200 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  33. 150 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  34. 300 ftArrive 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-top-shelf-out-back-9-km-8079

Trail surface

46% paved44% dirt10% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:03 AMSunset 7:14 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.8 mi in (~67 min). Leave by 5:46 PM for the 7:14 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:36 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: stop 395 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Johnston, Iowa