AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Saylorville Lake Project

Top Shelf

4.9 mi · ▲ 243 ft · 1 hr 45 min

Top Shelf is a 4.9-mile out-and-back in Saylorville Lake Project near Johnston, IA. It is mostly level, with 243 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi801 – 948 ft5.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.67211, -93.69717
Nearest town Johnston, IA
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Top Shelf

4.9 mi · ▲ 243 ft · 1 hr 45 min

Elevation 802–947 ft

Out & Back · Saylorville Lake Project

Trailhead: 41.67211, -93.69717

Weather Sep 22: Light drizzle, high 58°F / low 55° · precip 23% · wind 9 mph · sunrise 7:03 AM · sunset 7:14 PM

Transit-accessible: stop 140 m from the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 100 ftTurn right, heading N.
  3. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  4. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  5. 0.8 miTurn right, heading N.
  6. 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
  7. 0.3 miBear right, heading SE.
  8. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  9. 0.5 miBear left, heading SE.
  10. 0.3 miBear left onto Top Shelf, heading E.
  11. 0.1 miBear right onto Low Line, heading E.
  12. 100 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  13. 150 ftBear left onto Top Shelf, heading E.
  14. 0.1 miBear right, heading SE.
  15. 0.3 miBear right, heading W.
  16. 0.5 miTurn right, heading NW.
  17. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  18. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
  19. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
  20. 0.8 miBear right, heading S.
  21. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  22. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  23. 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-8-km-fd16

Trail surface

78% paved6% dirt16% unspecified

Weather

Light drizzleTemperature 58°F55°
Precip23%Wind9 mphUV1Humidity92%
Rained 0.3″ yesterday (1.3″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperatureRain chance
65°50° 12 AM: 23% rain1 AM: 11% rain2 AM: 8% rain3 AM: 5% rain4 AM: 4% rain5 AM: 5% rain6 AM: 8% rain7 AM: 12% rain8 AM: 16% rain9 AM: 13% rain10 AM: 8% rain11 AM: 5% rain12 PM: 2% rain1 PM: 4% rain2 PM: 2% rain3 PM: 3% rain4 PM: 2% rain5 PM: 1% rain6 PM: 2% rain7 PM: 3% rain8 PM: 1% rain9 PM: 1% rain10 PM: 1% rain11 PM: 1% rain
Sunrise 7:03 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:14 PM
Wed 65°55°
Thu 67°54° 22%
Fri 62°59° 37%
Sat 62°59° 62%
Sun 72°57° 27%
Mon 72°54° 27%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.2 mi in (~31 min). Leave by 6:22 PM for the 7:14 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:58 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: stop 140 m from the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Johnston, Iowa