Top Shelf
8.9 mi · ▲ 276 ft · 3 hr 6 min
Top Shelf is an 8.9-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
Getting there
Directions
Top Shelf
8.9 mi · ▲ 276 ft · 3 hr 6 min
Elevation 802–947 ft
Out & Back · Saylorville Lake Project
Trailhead: 41.68712, -93.74462
Weather Sep 21: Heavy drizzle, high 62°F / low 57° · precip 45% · wind 10 mph · sunrise 7:02 AM · sunset 7:16 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 2.4 miTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading SE.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Top Shelf, heading E.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Covid Cut, heading S.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading S.
- 200 ftTurn right onto Covid Cut, heading SE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading SE.
- 0.3 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Covid Cut, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Top Shelf, heading N.
- 200 ftContinue straight onto Covid Cut, heading N.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading N.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading N.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading NW.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 2.4 miTurn left, heading W.
- 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 2.7 mi in (~69 min). Leave by 5:47 PM for the 7:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:37 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
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Hikes near Herrold, Iowa