Top Shelf
4.7 mi · ▲ 137 ft · 1 hr 38 min
Top Shelf is a 4.7-mile out-and-back in Saylorville Lake Project near Camp Dodge, IA. It is mostly level, with 137 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Top Shelf
4.7 mi · ▲ 137 ft · 1 hr 38 min
Elevation 802–947 ft
Out & Back · Saylorville Lake Project
Trailhead: 41.68933, -93.70199
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:02 AM · sunset 7:16 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading SE.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Top Shelf, heading SE.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Covid Cut, heading SE.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading SE.
- 200 ftTurn right onto Covid Cut, heading SE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading E.
- 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 W.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.5 miArrive 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 0.5 mi in (~14 min). Leave by 6:42 PM for the 7:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:44 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint
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Hikes near Camp Dodge, Iowa