Sand Gulch Campground Entrance
Campground
Sand Gulch Campground 2
Sand Gulch Kiosk
Campground Map

Featured amenities

Parking Parking
Pet Friendly Pet Friendly
Restrooms Restrooms
Fire Pit Fire Pit

Available sites

17 total sites

About Sand Gulch Campground

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 mi north of Cañon City at an approximate elevation of 6.4 ft and features spectacular views of the surrounding limestone cliffs. 

Activities & Attractions

Nearby

Hiking

Hiking

Year-round

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Open year round

This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.

365 Days

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Parking Parking
Pet friendly Pet friendly
Restrooms Restrooms
Fire Pit Fire Pit
Water and Hygiene

Water and Hygiene

  • Restrooms
Cooking and Fire

Cooking and Fire

  • Fire Pit
  • Campfire Ring
Parking and Transport

Parking and Transport

  • Parking
Pets and Policies

Pets and Policies

  • Pet friendly
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

17 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 1, Loop: Sand Gulch RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 10, Loop: Sand Gulch RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 11, Loop: Sand Gulch RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Pull-through
🚐 12, Loop: Sand Gulch RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 13, Loop: Sand Gulch RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 14, Loop: Sand Gulch RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 15, Loop: Sand Gulch RV
Pet Friendly
🚐 2, Loop: Sand Gulch RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 3, Loop: Sand Gulch RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 4, Loop: Sand Gulch RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 5, Loop: Sand Gulch RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Pull-through
🚐 6, Loop: Sand Gulch RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 7, Loop: Sand Gulch RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Pull-through
🚐 8, Loop: Sand Gulch RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 9, Loop: Sand Gulch RV
Pet Friendly · Back-in Site
🚐 Group Site 1, Loop: Sand Gulch RV
Pet Friendly
🚐 Group Site 2, Loop: Sand Gulch RV
Pet Friendly

Reviews (66)

What Guests Are Saying

Sand Gulch Campground offers spacious and beautiful sites with good privacy and well-maintained facilities, including clean restrooms and concrete picnic tables. Visitors appreciate the stunning views, peaceful atmosphere, and friendly camp host, Jerry. While some sites may lack shade and the campground has limited amenities, the overall experience is highly positive, with many eager to return.

Review Summary

4.1
66 reviews
5
53.0%
35
4
24.2%
16
3
7.6%
5
2
6.1%
4
1
9.1%
6

Amy S

Verified

October 25, 2021 • Stayed at: Group Site 1, Loop: Sand Gulch

4

With how much open space for the Group site it would be nice if you considered cutting in one space for a less than 20 ft camper, like a pop up camper or smaller RV, so it doesn't have to be set up in the parking spaces.
Thank you, Amy

Mardi B

October 4, 2021

4

I was impressed with how clean the campground is and how respectful the campers are. It’s a popular destination for day use also by people who love to hike.

I really appreciate that there’s an overflow area because half the campsites are first come, first serve in September and I didn’t have to worry about not having a safe place to park my van if it was full when I got there. I had made a reservation for my first night there But it’s more expensive with the eight dollar online registration fee and I think the price was different
Online. The price on the registration box at the park at seven dollars a night.

Verizon cell coverage is very weak there. I understand from the locals that AT&T is better. I have a WeBoost and I was able to use my mobile devices by parking in the overflow area.

I also appreciate that it’s not far from the main road and only 12 mi to town for ice and water, etc.

I stayed the whole 14 days allowed and really enjoyed it.

Neal S

September 27, 2021

5

Lovely campsite! We loved that the campground is relatively small, and while the individual sites are close together, they still felt private and secluded. Very easy access to several hiking trails from my he campground, and very close by other attractions. Would highly recommend!

Clancy P

Verified

May 19, 2021 • Stayed at: 14, Loop: Sand Gulch

1

My campsite was double booked so I had to setup a tent next to the trailhead. I had drove 3 hours so I didn't have many options. Overall this would have still been alright but I was only refunded for $7 when it cost me $15 to book a campsite someone else used.

Douglas L

Verified

May 9, 2021 • Stayed at: Group Site 1, Loop: Sand Gulch

2

When I arrived at my campsite (group site), there were three vehicles with four people already camping there. I tried to contact the Forest Service by phone (dead phone number) and I tried to use the help menu on rec.gov. Rec.gov's help menu is a complete joke. All of the features in the menu kept sending me in a big worthless circle.
Fortunately, the people squatting on my reserved site at Sand Gulch agreed to move. They said the rec.gov site showed the group site was not reserved. I showed them my confirmation email and they agreed to move.
Despite that, Shelf Road camping is essentially the same as it always has been for the 20+ years I've been camping there, primitive but excellent.

Bennett S

April 26, 2021

4

Great campsite! Clean, well maintained bathroom, easy to find, well marked.

For the first few days some friends booked a first come first serve site next to us. Once my reservation expired, we had to go to a site one over (one we were there, it's cheaper to book it first come first serve, rather than find another one online).

Having every other site reservable/first come first serve makes it awkward for larger groups planning to stay there, since there will (likely) always be a group in between your group on busy days. Maybe change it to every 3rd site reserveable + the last few? (that way 50% are still reservable online and larger groups can still camp next to eachother if they are at the site already).

Location & Directions for Sand Gulch Campground

Bureau Of Land Management, Canon City, CO 81212 United States

Elevation: 1,967 ft

Getting There

<p>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 mi, take a left turn at the sign for S...

Nearest town

Canon City, CO - 14 mi

About 28 min to downtown

Highway access

Sand Gulch Campground is accessible via Highway 50 in Cañon City, which provides a major route to the area.

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).&nbsp;
  • 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.&nbsp;
  • 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.

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: October 18, 2026

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Explore Canon City, CO

Population: 17,122

Nearby larger city

Colorado Springs, CO

Approx. 26 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 5,335 ft

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