Top Shelf
5.4 mi · ▲ 136 ft · 1 hr 52 min
Top Shelf is a 5.4-mile out-and-back in Saylorville Lake Project near Camp Dodge, IA. It is mostly level, with 136 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
5.4 mi · ▲ 136 ft · 1 hr 52 min
Elevation 802–956 ft
Out & Back · Saylorville Lake Project
Trailhead: 41.69080, -93.70195
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:02 AM · sunset 7:16 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
- 0.5 miSharp left, heading N.
- 300 ftSharp right, heading SE.
- 0.6 miBear right, heading SE.
- 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.
- 250 ftTurn right onto Covid Cut, heading SE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading SE.
- 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.
- 250 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.
- 0.6 miSharp left, heading NW.
- 350 ftSharp right, 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 0.8 mi in (~20 min). Leave by 6:35 PM for the 7:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:51 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
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