Top Shelf
9.3 mi · ▲ 303 ft · 3 hr 15 min
Top Shelf is a 9.3-mile out-and-back in Saylorville Lake Project near Herrold, IA. It climbs 303 ft and is mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi801 – 948 ft10.2 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 41.68513, -93.74810
Nearest town Herrold, IA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Top Shelf
9.3 mi · ▲ 303 ft · 3 hr 15 min
Elevation 802–947 ft
Out & Back · Saylorville Lake Project
Trailhead: 41.68513, -93.74810
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:02 AM · sunset 7:16 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 350 ftBear left, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 2.4 miTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 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.
- 250 ftTurn right onto Covid Cut, heading S.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading S.
- 0.3 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Covid Cut, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Top Shelf, heading S.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Covid Cut, heading S.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading S.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading NW.
- 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 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 0.1 miBear right, 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
79% paved15% dirt6% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 7:02 AMSunset 7:16 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.9 mi in (~75 min). Leave by 5:41 PM for the 7:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:43 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
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