What to do when Shelf Road's camp site are all full?

Lee Smith wrote: Psssst! Hey Tim, ixnay on the ount-may Orthay! Shhh! Seriously, people, this is a dreadful place to climb, don't go there especially on the weekends! Don't do it. Don't. This means YOU! If you hike the road east from Panorama Point until you are dead even with Mt. Thor, you can reduce the bushwack substantially. Sh*t, what am I saying?!? Don't go there, you will have a miserable time!

At one of the spots we're hitting this weekend you have to park far away enough from the rock so as to not bang your door. And no one knows.

I once tried to find camping up the road towards Cripple creek, with no luck, ended up in a motel in Cripple creek due to snow!

You could find low impact camping down the bank road, but be wary of ranchers (it is BLM land though, and is just as open to camping as grazing and shitting cows).

Super 8 Motel - Canon City
209 N 19th Street
19th & Hwy 50
Canon City, CO, 81212-2470 US

Make sure to ask for a "smoking" room!

Tevis Blom wrote:I once tried to find camping up the road towards Cripple creek, with no luck, ended up in a motel in Cripple creek due to snow! You could find low impact camping down the bank road, but be wary of ranchers (it is BLM land though, and is just as open to camping as grazing and shitting cows).

If you look at the National Geographic topo map for Pikes Peak/Cañon City, much if not all of the land along Shelf Road all the way up to Cripple Creek is in fact private. There is a small parcel that is designated wilderness near Marigold and some BLM land further along, but it's only about a half-mile tract.

True, the road to Cripple creek was a total no go for camping, but what about the road from the 'Bank' (out of the campground). I thought that the land beyond was BLM (open to grazing, ATV's, shooting, climbing, dogs, etc.). I could be wrong... Going to a motel in Canyon City is a total bummer for sure though!

The road down the drainage where the Bank is located (Sand Gulch) is all BLM land. One could certainly camp there if tucked out of the way off the road.

Does anyone know where to find the rules about camping in undeveloped BLM areas? The BLM's website is not that helpful of outlining these rules.

Tim Stich wrote:The BLM's website is not that helpful of outlining these rules.

Some of the first camping rules and limits for public lands were printed in Federal Register April 11, 1990 (55 FR 13672) as noted in Federal Register RFC pdf document - "Proposed supplementary rules for public lands within the State of Colorado"

As long you don't commit any 'Prohibited Acts' as listed on pg.4, I don't see any reason why it wouldn't be ok to camp free on any undeveloped (no fee imposed) public land in CO. You could also call to verify BLM State & Local contact Page

Their website/sites are a bit disorganized, hard to find quick answers except now they do have an FAQ page that addressed important things like adopting a wild horse or burro - Eeeehawww!!!