Saylorville Lake Project

Top Shelf

5.9 mi · ▲ 270 ft · 2 hr 6 min

Top Shelf is a 5.9-mile out-and-back in Saylorville Lake Project near Camp Dodge, IA. It climbs 270 ft and is mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi801 – 994 ft6.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.68997, -93.70726
Nearest town Camp Dodge, IA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Top Shelf

5.9 mi · ▲ 270 ft · 2 hr 6 min

Elevation 802–994 ft

Out & Back · Saylorville Lake Project

Trailhead: 41.68997, -93.70726

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:02 AM · sunset 7:16 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
  3. 0.1 miSharp right, heading SE.
  4. 250 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  5. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  6. 200 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  7. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  8. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  9. 400 ftTurn right, heading W.
  10. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  11. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  12. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  13. 1.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  14. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  15. 0.5 miBear left, heading SE.
  16. 0.3 miBear left onto Top Shelf, heading E.
  17. 0.1 miTurn left onto Low Line, heading E.
  18. 50 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  19. 50 ftTurn right onto Top Shelf, heading SE.
  20. 0.1 miBear right, heading E.
  21. 0.3 miBear right, heading NW.
  22. 0.5 miTurn right, heading NW.
  23. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  24. 1.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  25. 0.1 miBear left, heading NW.
  26. 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
  27. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  28. 400 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  29. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  30. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  31. 200 ftTurn right, heading S.
  32. 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
  33. 250 ftSharp left, heading E.
  34. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SE.
  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 surface

66% paved4% dirt30% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:02 AMSunset 7:16 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.8 mi in (~22 min). Leave by 6:34 PM for the 7:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:50 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

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