AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Saylorville Lake Project

Top Shelf

5.2 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 44 min

Top Shelf is a 5.2-mile out-and-back in Saylorville Lake Project near Lovington, IA. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi801 – 820 ft5.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.65339, -93.69927
Nearest town Lovington, IA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Top Shelf

5.2 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 44 min

Elevation 800–819 ft

Out & Back · Saylorville Lake Project

Trailhead: 41.65339, -93.69927

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

Bikes allowed on the whole route · Transit-accessible: stop 500 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 0.5 miBear right, heading E.
  3. 50 ftTurn right onto Trestle to Trestle Trail, heading SE.
  4. 0.2 miTurn left onto Sycamore Trail, heading NE.
  5. 50 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading NE.
  6. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Sycamore Trail, heading E.
  7. 150 ftContinue straight onto Low Line, heading SE.
  8. 50 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading SE.
  9. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Lake Loop, heading N.
  10. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading N.
  11. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Sycamore Trail, heading N.
  12. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading N.
  13. 0.4 miReach Top Shelf, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  14. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Sycamore Trail, heading S.
  15. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading S.
  16. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Lake Loop, heading S.
  17. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading S.
  18. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Low Line, heading W.
  19. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sycamore Trail, heading W.
  20. 100 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading W.
  21. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Sycamore Trail, heading W.
  22. 50 ftTurn right onto Trestle to Trestle Trail, heading W.
  23. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  24. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  25. 0.4 miArrive 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-top-shelf-out-back-8-km-79b5

Trail surface

72% dirt28% paved

Weather

Sunrise 7:02 AMSunset 7:16 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.0 mi in (~49 min). Leave by 6:06 PM for the 7:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:19 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Bikes allowed on the whole route
  • Transit-accessible: stop 500 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Lovington, Iowa