Bureau of Land Management · Colorado
Sand Gulch Campground
Bureau of Land Management · Colorado, United States
- Sites
- 31
- Hookups
- 23 with water, 29 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Max RV length
- 20 ft
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 6,453 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 2
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile weak · AT&T weak · Verizon weak (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Shelf Road Sites
- Nearest town
- Canon City
- Address
- Bureau of Land Management, Canon City, CO, 81212
- Phone
- 719-269-8500
- Activities
- Backpacking, Biking, Birding, Camping, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking, Photography, Rock Climbing, Scenic Drive
About
Overview
With easy walking access to sport rock climbing routes in the popular Shelf Road Recreation Area, Sand Gulch Campground is a 31-site camping facility, open year-round. The campground is located 14 miles north of Cañon City at an approximate elevation of 6,400 feet and features spectacular views of the surrounding limestone cliffs.
Recreation
Sand Gulch Campground offers sport climbers easy walk-in access to tall monolithic cliffs. Climbers can access Contest and Freeform Walls with bolted routes via the Sand Gulch trails. A variety of other recreation opportunities easily accessed from the campground include hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding as well as 4wd routes. In addition to campsites, Sand Gulch Campground offers a small day-use parking area for recreationalists.
Facilities
Sand Gulch campground has 29 individual sites, two group sites, and two vault toilets. Individual sites are limited to 2 vehicles and 8 people. The group site is limited to 4 vehicles and 20 people. Each campsite includes a parking space, a metal fire ring and picnic table. Many sites are designed for tent or van camping. Large camp trailers are accommodated best in pull- through campsites 5, 7, 11 (see map). Drinking water, electric hook-ups and trash service are not available at Sand Gulch Campground. Please bring your own water and firewood. Plan to take your trash with you when you leave.
Natural Features
Sand Gulch Campground and the surrounding area is well known amongst rock climbers and outdoor enthusiasts for the long bands of limestone cliffs dominating the landscape. Stunning rock features paired with the piñon pine and juniper vegetation, enhance the dramatic vistas and a picturesque camping environment.
Nearby Attractions
The region around Shelf Road offers numerous attractions and recreation opportunities. Popular activities include visiting the Royal Gorge via the Royal Gorge Bridge, the Royal Gorge Train, hiking trails or a rafting trip with one of a number of river outfitters. The Arkansas River offers whitewater rafting as well as outstanding angling. There are numerous trails for all activities in the region as well as agricultural and heritage tours along the Gold Belt National Scenic Byway. The local communities offer a range of shopping and dining experiences.
Visit the Royal Gorge Region web page for more information about local attractions:
Explore - Royal Gorge Region: royalgorgeregion.com
Fees
Individual Sites: $20 per night
Group sites: $40 per night
There is an $8 non-refundable reservation fee for each reservation.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40° | 17° | -20° | 57° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 43° | 16° | -18° | 61° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 51° | 29° | -1° | 76° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 62° | 34° | 19° | 79° | 8 of 11 |
| May | 68° | 43° | 20° | 84° | 2 of 11 |
| June | 84° | 53° | 42° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 88° | 58° | 52° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 84° | 57° | 50° | 93° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 80° | 52° | 22° | 92° | 1 of 11 |
| October | 66° | 38° | 18° | 79° | 5 of 10 |
| November | 54° | 31° | -2° | 70° | 9 of 10 |
| December | 43° | 22° | -5° | 59° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- The Bank Campground · Bureau of Land Management · 1 mi · 35 sites
- Red Canyon Park Camping Areas · City, County & Regional Parks · 2 mi
- East Ridge Campground at Royal Gorge Park · City, County & Regional Parks · 11 mi · 23 sites
- Wye Campground · USDA Forest Service · 18 mi
- Five Points Campground · Bureau of Land Management · 18 mi
All public campgrounds in Colorado · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-05-29. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.