Saylorville Lake Project

Top Shelf

7.8 mi · ▲ 276 ft · 2 hr 44 min

Top Shelf is a 7.8-mile out-and-back in Saylorville Lake Project near Herrold, IA. It climbs 276 ft and is mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi801 – 948 ft8.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.68712, -93.74462
Nearest town Herrold, IA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Top Shelf

7.8 mi · ▲ 276 ft · 2 hr 44 min

Elevation 802–947 ft

Out & Back · Saylorville Lake Project

Trailhead: 41.68712, -93.74462

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:01 AM · sunset 7:18 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  3. 2.4 miTurn left, heading E.
  4. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  5. 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
  6. 0.3 miBear right, heading SE.
  7. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  8. 0.5 miBear left, heading SE.
  9. 0.3 miBear left onto Top Shelf, heading E.
  10. 0.1 miBear right onto Low Line, heading SE.
  11. 100 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  12. 150 ftBear left onto Top Shelf, heading E.
  13. 0.1 miBear right, heading E.
  14. 0.3 miBear right, heading W.
  15. 0.5 miTurn right, heading NW.
  16. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  17. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
  18. 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
  19. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  20. 2.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  21. 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

92% paved4% dirt4% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:01 AMSunset 7:18 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.6 mi in (~67 min). Leave by 5:50 PM for the 7:18 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:37 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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