AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Saylorville Lake Project

Neal Smith Trail & Top Shelf

14.4 mi · ▲ 219 ft · 4 hr 55 min

Neal Smith Trail & Top Shelf is a 14.4-mile out-and-back in Saylorville Lake Project near Camp Dodge, IA. It is mostly level, with 219 ft of elevation gain. It scores 4/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi794 – 951 ft15.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Neal Smith Trail 41.72450, -93.67231
Nearest town Camp Dodge, IA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Neal Smith Trail & Top Shelf

14.4 mi · ▲ 219 ft · 4 hr 55 min

Elevation 795–950 ft

Out & Back · Saylorville Lake Project

Trailhead: Neal Smith Trail · 41.72450, -93.67231

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:02 AM · sunset 7:15 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Neal Smith Trail, heading SE.
  2. 300 ftTurn left, heading E.
  3. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  4. 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
  5. 0.1 miBear right, heading E.
  6. 1 miTurn left, heading SW.
  7. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  8. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  9. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  10. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  11. 0.9 miTurn right, heading S.
  12. 1.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  13. 0.3 miTurn left onto Low Line, heading W.
  14. 50 ftTurn right onto Top Shelf, heading W.
  15. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Covid Cut, heading S.
  16. 150 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading S.
  17. 250 ftTurn right onto Covid Cut, heading S.
  18. 50 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading S.
  19. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Sycamore Trail, heading S.
  20. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading S.
  21. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Lake Loop, heading S.
  22. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading S.
  23. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Low Line, heading W.
  24. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sycamore Trail, heading W.
  25. 100 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading W.
  26. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Sycamore Trail, heading W.
  27. 50 ftTurn right onto Trestle to Trestle Trail, heading W.
  28. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  29. 50 ftSharp right, heading W.
  30. 200 ftReach Neal Smith Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  31. 200 ftSharp left, heading W.
  32. 0.2 miTurn left onto Sycamore Trail, heading NW.
  33. 50 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading W.
  34. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Sycamore Trail, heading N.
  35. 100 ftContinue straight onto Low Line, heading SE.
  36. 50 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading SE.
  37. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Lake Loop, heading E.
  38. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading E.
  39. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Sycamore Trail, heading N.
  40. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading N.
  41. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Covid Cut, heading N.
  42. 50 ftTurn left onto Top Shelf, heading N.
  43. 250 ftContinue straight onto Covid Cut, heading N.
  44. 150 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading N.
  45. 0.5 miTurn left onto Low Line, heading N.
  46. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  47. 0.3 miTurn right onto Neal Smith Trail, heading NW.
  48. 1.2 miSharp right, heading N.
  49. 0.9 miTurn left, heading N.
  50. 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
  51. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  52. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  53. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  54. 0.8 miTurn left, heading N.
  55. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  56. 400 ftTurn right, heading E.
  57. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  58. 350 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/neal-smith-trail-neal-smith-trail-out-back-4-sights-23-km-07a3

Trail surface

55% paved43% dirt2% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:02 AMSunset 7:15 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.2 mi in (~5 min). Leave by 6:51 PM for the 7:15 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:35 PM — 9 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Neal Smith Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Camp Dodge, Iowa