AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Saylorville Lake Project

Top Shelf

9.1 mi · ▲ 276 ft · 3 hr 10 min

Top Shelf is a 9.1-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 ft9.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.68550, -93.74445
Nearest town Herrold, IA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Top Shelf

9.1 mi · ▲ 276 ft · 3 hr 10 min

Elevation 802–947 ft

Out & Back · Saylorville Lake Project

Trailhead: 41.68550, -93.74445

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

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 300 ftTurn left, heading N.
  3. 50 ftSharp right, heading N.
  4. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  5. 100 ftTurn left, heading N.
  6. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  7. 2.4 miTurn left, heading E.
  8. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  9. 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
  10. 0.3 miBear right, heading SE.
  11. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  12. 0.5 miBear left, heading SE.
  13. 0.3 miBear right onto Top Shelf, heading E.
  14. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Covid Cut, heading S.
  15. 150 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading S.
  16. 250 ftTurn right onto Covid Cut, heading S.
  17. 50 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading S.
  18. 0.3 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  19. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Covid Cut, heading S.
  20. 50 ftTurn left onto Top Shelf, heading S.
  21. 250 ftContinue straight onto Covid Cut, heading S.
  22. 100 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading N.
  23. 0.4 miBear left, heading NW.
  24. 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
  25. 0.5 miTurn right, heading NW.
  26. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  27. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
  28. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
  29. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  30. 2.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  31. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  32. 100 ftTurn right, heading W.
  33. 50 ftSharp left, heading W.
  34. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  35. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/top-shelf-out-back-15-km-0dcc

Trail surface

80% paved15% dirt5% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:01 AMSunset 7:18 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.8 mi in (~71 min). Leave by 5:46 PM for the 7:18 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:42 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Herrold, Iowa