Established Camping
Sand Gulch Campground
About
Bureau of Land Management
Shelf Road Sites
Overview
With easy walking access to sport rock climbing routes in the popular Shelf Road Recreation Area, Sand Gulch Campground is a 17-site camping facility, open year-round. The campground is located 14 miles north of Ca__on 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
This 17-unit campground has 16 individual sites, one group site, and one vault toilet. The 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. The sites are small and designed for tent-camping. 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 pi__on 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__
Fee Info
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Stay Connected
- WiFiUnknown
- VerizonAvailable
- AT&TUnknown
- T-MobileUnknown
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
Features
For Campers
- Phone Service
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Water Hookups
Lovely campground
A lovely quiet campground with beautiful views on all sides. It sits in a valley so you have tall mountains to the east and the red sand gulch climbing cliffs to the west. Breathtaking.
It was nearly empty - which was nice. But I feel that if it was full it would be very tight. A lot of the camp spots are very close together and visible from other spots.
There is a cow field nearby so you can hear cows sometimes.
Absolutely beautiful star gazing with very little light pollution.
Only one bathroom that was kind of dirty.
canyon city
Nice views of rock walls and surrounding mountains. Pit toilet clean enough. Decent buffer between sites. Direct access to multiple trails.
- (6) View All
Great climbing, beautiful views
Camped here multiple times at different times of year. We’ve stayed in both paid camping and dispersal sites. Definitely want to get there early if you want a paid spot with fire rings and tables. There’s a clean vault bathroom at the trail head. The one con of this area would be if you stay in dispersal sites beware of human poo poorly buried in loose sand. Use the toilet please!!
Location
Sand Gulch Campground is located in Colorado
Directions
From Highway 50 in Ca__on City, Take Dozier Avenue north following it as it turns west. At the four-way stop sign turn right on Field Avenue and follow it north until it turns into CR 9. In approximately 10 miles, take a left turn at the sign for Sand Gulch Campground.__
Coordinates
38.61737 N
105.22956 W