Saylorville Lake Project

Top Shelf

5.6 mi · ▲ 242 ft · 1 hr 59 min

Top Shelf is a 5.6-mile out-and-back in Saylorville Lake Project near Johnston, IA. It is mostly level, with 242 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi794 – 948 ft6.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.68005, -93.66689
Nearest town Johnston, IA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Top Shelf

5.6 mi · ▲ 242 ft · 1 hr 59 min

Elevation 795–947 ft

Out & Back · Saylorville Lake Project

Trailhead: 41.68005, -93.66689

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:02 AM · sunset 7:15 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 100 ftSharp right, heading E.
  3. 0.3 miTurn left onto Low Line, heading SW.
  4. 50 ftTurn right onto Top Shelf, heading SW.
  5. 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
  6. 0.3 miBear right, heading W.
  7. 0.5 miTurn right, heading NW.
  8. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  9. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
  10. 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
  11. 0.8 miBear right, heading S.
  12. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  13. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  14. 100 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  15. 250 ftBear right, heading S.
  16. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  17. 350 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  18. 350 ftTurn right, heading S.
  19. 150 ftBear left, heading S.
  20. 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
  21. 100 ftTurn right, heading S.
  22. 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
  23. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  24. 0.8 miTurn right, heading N.
  25. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  26. 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
  27. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  28. 0.5 miBear left, heading SE.
  29. 0.4 miTurn left onto Low Line, heading SE.
  30. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  31. 0.3 miSharp left, heading E.
  32. 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

80% paved5% dirt15% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:02 AMSunset 7:15 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.6 mi in (~43 min). Leave by 6:12 PM for the 7:15 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:09 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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