AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Saylorville Lake Project

Top Shelf

8.4 mi · ▲ 249 ft · 2 hr 55 min

Top Shelf is an 8.4-mile out-and-back in Saylorville Lake Project near Herrold, IA. It is mostly level, with 249 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi801 – 948 ft8.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.69097, -93.73702
Nearest town Herrold, IA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Top Shelf

8.4 mi · ▲ 249 ft · 2 hr 55 min

Elevation 802–947 ft

Out & Back · Saylorville Lake Project

Trailhead: 41.69097, -93.73702

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

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  3. 2 miTurn left, heading N.
  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 right onto Top Shelf, heading E.
  10. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Covid Cut, heading S.
  11. 150 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading SE.
  12. 200 ftTurn right onto Covid Cut, heading SE.
  13. 50 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading SE.
  14. 0.3 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  15. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Covid Cut, heading N.
  16. 50 ftTurn left onto Top Shelf, heading N.
  17. 200 ftContinue straight onto Covid Cut, heading N.
  18. 150 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading N.
  19. 0.4 miBear left, heading N.
  20. 0.3 miBear right, heading NW.
  21. 0.5 miTurn right, heading NW.
  22. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  23. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  24. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
  25. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  26. 2 miTurn right, heading W.
  27. 450 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/top-shelf-out-back-14-km-3d1d

Trail surface

81% paved17% dirt2% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:03 AMSunset 7:14 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.4 mi in (~62 min). Leave by 5:52 PM for the 7:14 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:28 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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Hikes near Herrold, Iowa