About Sand Gulch Campground
Number of accommodations: 17
Nearby Activities & Attractions
Hiking
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Open year round
This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.
Rates, Sites & Availability
17 Sites Available
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Site Details
Select a site to view details
17 Sites Available
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Reviews (48)
What Guests Are Saying
Sand Gulch Campground offers a peaceful and clean environment, with friendly camp host Jerry enhancing the experience. The new sites provide excellent privacy, and the well-maintained bathrooms add to the overall comfort. However, some improvements could be made, such as enlarging the parking area and addressing the presence of cactus, which may be a concern for families and larger vehicles.
What Guests Are Saying
Sand Gulch Campground offers a peaceful and clean environment, with friendly camp host Jerry enhancing the experience. The new sites provide excellent privacy, and the well-maintained bathrooms add to the overall comfort. However, some improvements could be made, such as enlarging the parking area and addressing the presence of cactus, which may be a concern for families and larger vehicles.
Review Summary
Robin S
VerifiedApril 28, 2026 • Stayed at: Group Site 2, Loop: Sand Gulch
Peaceful and quiet. Jerry the camp host was such a nice man!
My only suggestion for improvement on the group site is to make the parking area bigger. The 4 vehicles area is very tight.
Blane H
VerifiedApril 1, 2026 • Stayed at: 9, Loop: Sand Gulch
The campground was the cleanest I have ever experienced. The sites were level and the terrain between sites was groomed between the bushes. Restrooms were all clean all of the time. The camp host Jerry was very friendly and we talked to him several times. We cannot get back here soon enough!
Christine W
VerifiedJanuary 18, 2026 • Stayed at: Group Site 1, Loop: Sand Gulch
Campground and bathrooms clean and well signed. What more can you ask for!
Maria E
VerifiedMay 12, 2025 • Stayed at: 15, Loop: Sand Gulch
No place for a tent. Poor description on the website
Ariel Z
VerifiedDecember 1, 2024 • Stayed at: 14, Loop: Sand Gulch
The sites were nice, rent platform, nice picnic table, fire pit, ample parking. Refurbished Campground since my last visit, more bathrooms. Bathrooms were clean and ample toilet paper. Loved the walkability to climbing .
Kacey Y
VerifiedSeptember 7, 2024 • Stayed at: 1, Loop: Sand Gulch
Nice campsite with vault toilet and fire pit. Only warning is that really strong toilet smells drift over to site 1 (and I’m sure others near it) so would recommend choosing a site farther away. Otherwise no complaints
Ryan B
VerifiedAugust 2, 2024 • Stayed at: 15, Loop: Sand Gulch
This campground is really nice in the 'rock climbing off season', it's practically empty and for the most part people are very respectful and quiet during quiet times (10pm). Royal Gorge is nearby and worth a visit if you've not gone. Sites 1-15 are 'brand new' this year (2024) and may show signs of newness and ideas/thoughts to make each spot better. Oh, also in the summer months, there is no camp host. So if you've got noisy neighbors or have a problem, you'll have to deal.
Here are my pros/cons.
Pros:
-The sites are new, and look really great.
-Excellent sense of privacy with trees all around.
-Bathrooms, while missing a sink/running water were clean and didn't smell even in 100F weather.
-The roads getting around are well marked and taken care of.
-For us, cell coverage was surprisingly well. 5 bars of 5G UC with TMobile.
-Dog friendly for sure!
-The trails nearby are really nice to walk along and offer some pretty good solitude moments of peace and quiet. Just know that the "sand gulch" trail and the "contest" trail is some sort of loop. Had a guy "sneak up" on us and scare the beans out of us!
Cons:
-Cactus, is EVERYWHERE. Small barrel cactus, and long sticky bush kind of cactus. It's just everywhere.
-Did I mention cactus? The field nearby is NOT suited for football/frisbee, as there is cactus everywhere.
-Boulders line every, single, road. Seriously, boulders larger than 4ft across and 3-4ft high are lining the road in the campgrounds.
-If you have a 30ft or larger, SPOT 15 IS NOT FOR YOU, unless you're an absolute pro at backing in. It will fit, but the boulders on each side of you will present a significant challenge and is NOT for inexperienced folks with a travel trailer.
-The trails leading to the rock climbing spots aren't as well defined as you might like. They're "ok".
-They're isn't any water present, even non-potable. Would be nice if a small well or something was built, given that in the summer it's over 95F early in the morning.
Suzy M
July 29, 2024
Beautiful and quiet campground with an amazing view! I just wish the address was listed on the reservation confirmation since reception is spotty on the drive to consistently access the app.
Heidi D
July 23, 2024
Absolutely loved this campground. While there isn’t a lot of shade, we got lucky with some minor storms and cloud cover during the hot afternoon. Site 19 was such a nice site. It is right next to the day use parking lot, so I’d say that was the only down side. Well kept site/grounds.
Brian W
VerifiedJuly 13, 2024 • Stayed at: 9, Loop: Sand Gulch
Nice camp with easy access from the south on graded gravel road and good spacing between sites. Not many trees, so may be hot mid summer. Short hike into cliffs above that appears to be a very popular climbing area (lots of routes with install hangers for protection).
Location Sand Gulch Campground
Address:
Bureau Of Land Management
Canon City, CO, 81212
United States
From Highway 50 in Cañon 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.
Sand Gulch Campground is accessible via Highway 50 in Cañon City, which provides a major route to the area.
Latitude & Longitude: 38.6174 / -105.23
Elevation: 1967 feet
Policies & Rules
Arrival & departure
Check in time
1PM
Check out time
11AM
General
- There are no hookup services, no trash collection services and no potable water.
- Bring your own drinking water.
- Maximum length of stay is 14 days.
- Individual campsites are limited to 8 people and 2 vehicles per site. Group campsites are limited to 20 people and 4 vehicles per site.
- Campsites are various sizes, some are smaller and designed to accommodate tent or van camping. Sites 1-16 accommodate longer trailer units (5, 7, 11 are pull through sites).
- No overnight camping in day use parking areas.
- Fires are only allowed in BLM approved metal fire rings, do not build rock fire rings. Bring your own firewood.
- This includes, but not limited to, generators, music, loud voices, and loud pets.
- Generators during non-quiet hours are highly discouraged, for the consideration of other campers.
- Sites 1-15 and Group Sites are Reservation Only, Sites 16-29 are First Come, First Serve, pay at the Pay Station at the entrance. Reservations can be made the day of. Cellphone Coverage is limited, it's recomended that you make your reservation before arriving.
- Please keep your reservation number on hand for reference.
- During the months of June, July and August, the extreme heat and the presence of pinon gnats, flies, ants and other insects can make camping during these months unpleasant. It’s advised to plan accordingly if you plan to camp during this time of the year.
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Last updated: June 4, 2026
