Top Shelf
5.2 mi · ▲ 219 ft · 1 hr 51 min
Top Shelf is a 5.2-mile out-and-back in Saylorville Lake Project near Camp Dodge, IA. It is mostly level, with 219 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
5.2 mi · ▲ 219 ft · 1 hr 51 min
Elevation 802–994 ft
Out & Back · Saylorville Lake Project
Trailhead: 41.69226, -93.70421
Weather Sep 22: sunrise 7:03 AM · sunset 7:14 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 400 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftBear left, heading W.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
- 1.2 miBear right, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading SE.
- 0.3 miBear left onto Top Shelf, heading E.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Low Line, heading SE.
- 100 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 100 ftBear left onto Top Shelf, heading E.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading E.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading W.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 1.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 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 0.4 mi in (~11 min). Leave by 6:43 PM for the 7:14 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:39 PM — 3 min before dark. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint
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