AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Saylorville Lake Project

Neal Smith Trail & Top Shelf

14.3 mi · ▲ 416 ft · 4 hr 58 min

Neal Smith Trail & Top Shelf is a 14.3-mile out-and-back in Saylorville Lake Project near Camp Dodge, IA. It climbs 416 ft and is mostly paved. It scores 5/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi794 – 951 ft15.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Neal Smith Trail 41.73167, -93.68012
Nearest town Camp Dodge, IA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Neal Smith Trail & Top Shelf

14.3 mi · ▲ 416 ft · 4 hr 58 min

Elevation 795–950 ft

Out & Back · Saylorville Lake Project

Trailhead: Neal Smith Trail · 41.73167, -93.68012

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

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Neal Smith Trail, heading E.
  2. 1.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  3. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  4. 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
  5. 0.1 miBear right, heading E.
  6. 0.9 miTurn left, heading W.
  7. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  8. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  9. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  10. 0.9 miTurn right, heading S.
  11. 1.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  12. 0.3 miTurn left onto Low Line, heading W.
  13. 50 ftTurn right onto Top Shelf, heading W.
  14. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Covid Cut, heading S.
  15. 150 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading S.
  16. 200 ftTurn right onto Covid Cut, heading S.
  17. 50 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading S.
  18. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Sycamore Trail, heading S.
  19. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Low Line, heading S.
  20. 0.6 miReach Neal Smith Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  21. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Sycamore Trail, heading W.
  22. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading NW.
  23. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Covid Cut, heading N.
  24. 50 ftTurn left onto Top Shelf, heading N.
  25. 250 ftContinue straight onto Covid Cut, heading N.
  26. 150 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading N.
  27. 0.5 miTurn left onto Low Line, heading W.
  28. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  29. 0.3 miTurn right onto Neal Smith Trail, heading N.
  30. 1.2 miSharp right, heading N.
  31. 0.9 miTurn left, heading N.
  32. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  33. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  34. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  35. 1 miBear right, heading NE.
  36. 400 ftTurn right, heading E.
  37. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  38. 1.1 miArrive 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/neal-smith-trail-neal-smith-trail-out-back-3-sights-23-km-cd9a

Trail surface

67% paved31% dirt2% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:03 AMSunset 7:14 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.3 mi in (~33 min). Leave by 6:20 PM for the 7:14 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:02 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Camp Dodge, Iowa