Saylorville Lake Project

Top Shelf

6.8 mi · ▲ 283 ft · 2 hr 24 min

Top Shelf is a 6.8-mile out-and-back in Saylorville Lake Project near Camp Dodge, IA. It climbs 283 ft. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi801 – 994 ft7.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.69127, -93.70817
Nearest town Camp Dodge, IA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Top Shelf

6.8 mi · ▲ 283 ft · 2 hr 24 min

Elevation 802–994 ft

Out & Back · Saylorville Lake Project

Trailhead: 41.69127, -93.70817

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:02 AM · sunset 7:16 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  3. 0.1 miSharp right, heading SE.
  4. 250 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  5. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
  6. 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  7. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  8. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  9. 400 ftTurn right, heading W.
  10. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  11. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  12. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
  13. 1.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  14. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  15. 0.5 miBear left, heading SE.
  16. 0.3 miBear right onto Top Shelf, heading E.
  17. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Covid Cut, heading S.
  18. 100 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading S.
  19. 250 ftTurn right onto Covid Cut, heading S.
  20. 50 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading S.
  21. 0.3 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  22. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Covid Cut, heading S.
  23. 50 ftTurn left onto Top Shelf, heading S.
  24. 200 ftContinue straight onto Covid Cut, heading N.
  25. 150 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading N.
  26. 0.4 miBear left, heading NW.
  27. 0.3 miBear right, heading NW.
  28. 0.5 miTurn right, heading NW.
  29. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  30. 1.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  31. 0.1 miBear left, heading NW.
  32. 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
  33. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  34. 450 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  35. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  36. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  37. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  38. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
  39. 250 ftSharp left, heading E.
  40. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  41. 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

57% paved21% dirt22% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:02 AMSunset 7:16 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.7 mi in (~20 min). Leave by 6:36 PM for the 7:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:48 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

More from this trailhead