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Sand Gulch campground reopens after successful expansion

Organization

Bureau of Land Management

BLM Office:

Royal Gorge Field Office

Media Contact:

CAÑON CITY, Colo. – The Royal Gorge Field Office will reopen its Sand Gulch campground on March 1, 2024, following a project to expand site availability and improve the quality of the visitor experience,

The Shelf Road rock climbing area, of which the Sand Gulch campground is a part, has seen visitation increase by approximately 50% since reporting began in 2000.

"The Shelf Road area provides outstanding recreation experiences,” said Kalem Lenard, Royal Gorge Field Office assistant field manager. “We’re excited to be able to accommodate the growth and interest in this area while protecting resources and caring for the area.”

The recent expansion doubled the number of available sites, added new picnic tables and fire rings, quadrupled on-site parking, and installed four new vault toilets. The Bank campground, also at the Shelf Road rock climbing area, had a similar renovation in 2019. Between the two campgrounds the BLM has invested more than $1 million.

“When we charge a fee, the revenue generated stays within the management area where it was collected,” said Keith Berger, Royal Gorge Field Office manager. “This project is an excellent example of what can be done with increased resources.”

Reservations for the Sand Gulch campground can be made on recreation.gov.

For public enquiries, contact Kalem Lenard, Royal Gorge Field Office Assistant Field Manager, at (719) 269-8538. For media enquiries, contact Levi Spellman, Public Affairs Specialist, BLM Rocky Mountain District Public Affairs, at (719) 839-1584.

A semi at the Sand Gulch campground
Many new enhancements were added during the expansion. Several new bathrooms, seen here, were recently installed to ensure adequate availability for the doubling of visitor capacity.

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.