Pikes Peak Region Trail Finder

Camping fees are going up this year for two U.S. Bureau of Land Management campgrounds along Shelf Road, a popular climbing area north of Canon City.

The agency announced fees will increase from $4 to $7 a day for individual sites and $8 to $14 for group sites at the Bank and Sand Gulch campgrounds. The agency originally hoped to increase the individual-site fee to $10 but users complained about the increase.

Along with climbing on the limestone cliffs, the area is popular with hikers, horse riders, mountain-bikers and dirt bike/ATV users. The BLM said use has increased three-fold since 2005.  The increases take effect March 1.

From a news release:

“The current campground fees were established in 1995. Until now, we haven’t raised fees to reflect the increasing visitation or the growing costs of operating and maintaining our facilities at the Shelf Road Recreation Area,” said Keith Berger, Royal Gorge Field Manager.  “We’ll use the additional fees to upgrade restrooms, campsites, roads, and signs.”