Lake Ceres via Top Shelf
6.9 mi · ▲ 242 ft · 2 hr 25 min
Lake Ceres via Top Shelf is a 6.9-mile out-and-back in Saylorville Lake Project near Johnston, IA. The route reaches Lake Ceres at the turnaround, 3.4 miles in. It is mostly level, with 242 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Lake Ceres via Top Shelf
6.9 mi · ▲ 242 ft · 2 hr 25 min
Elevation 795–947 ft
Out & Back · Saylorville Lake Project
Trailhead: 41.68005, -93.66689
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:01 AM · sunset 7:17 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 100 ftSharp right, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Low Line, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Top Shelf, heading SW.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading W.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.7 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading W.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.6 miReach Lake Ceres, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.6 miTurn left, heading E.
- 250 ftBear right, heading E.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.7 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading SE.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Low Line, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.3 miSharp left, heading E.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.6 mi in (~42 min). Leave by 6:15 PM for the 7:17 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:10 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Neal Smith Trail 10.4 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Fisher Lake–Lake Future, 4 lakes 10 mi · ▲ 162 ft
- Inter-Urban Trail via Neal Smith Trail 13 mi · ▲ 82 ft
- Top Shelf 5.6 mi · ▲ 242 ft
- Fisher Lake via Neal Smith Trail 2.2 mi · ▲ 0 ft
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