BLM · Shelf Road Sites · Canon City, CO

The Bank Campground

Open year-round; visitors come for the spectacular rock climbing adjacent to the campground. Approximately 15 miles north of Cañon City, Colorado, The Bank Campground overlooks Shelf Road and is located at an approximate elevation of 6890 feet. The Bank has 33 campsites. The dirt road leading to the campground is very rough and not recommended for large RVs and travel trailers.

More like this: reservable in Colorado · pets allowed in Colorado · group sites in Colorado

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Shelf Road Climbing Area, 4 mile CreekThe Bank KioskThe BankShelf Road
Photos courtesy of Bob Wick, 2021, BLM · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups20
Tent-only13
Group sites2
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 30 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

20 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteFits, ftPeople / vehiclesFires
B-14308 / 2Yes
B-15308 / 2Yes
B-16308 / 2Yes
B-17308 / 2Yes
B-18308 / 2Yes
B-19308 / 2Yes
B-20308 / 2Yes
B-21308 / 2Yes
B-22308 / 2Yes
B-23308 / 2Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length20 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
FeesIndividual Sites: $20 per night. Group sites: $40 per night. There is an $8 non-refundable reservation fee for each reservation.
AccessibilitySites Group Site 2, A-13 are listed accessible

The dirt road leading to The Bank campground is steep and rough. This 33-site campground was recently renovated and has 31 individual sites, 2 group sites, and 4 vault toilets. Individual sites are limited to 2 vehicles and 8 people. Group sites are limited to 4 vehicles and 20 people. Each campsite includes a parking space, a metal fire ring and a picnic table. Many sites are designed for tent or van camping. Large camp trailers and RVs that can manage the steep access road are accommodated with some pull-through sites in B-Loop. Drinking water, electric hook-ups and trash service are not available at The Bank Campground so please bring your own water and plan to take your trash with you when you leave. Bring your own firewood.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near The Bank Campground20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 0.56 inches of precipitation, 8.4 inches of snowFebruary: 0.87 inches of precipitation, 12.0 inches of snowMarch: 1.61 inches of precipitation, 10.2 inches of snowApril: 1.75 inches of precipitation, 15.8 inches of snowMay: 2.08 inches of precipitation, 7.1 inches of snowJune: 1.22 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 3.49 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 3.52 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 1.55 inches of precipitation, 1.2 inches of snowOctober: 1.09 inches of precipitation, 7.5 inches of snowNovember: 0.64 inches of precipitation, 5.1 inches of snowDecember: 0.91 inches of precipitation, 10.4 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 26.5°F averageFebruary: 27.0°F averageMarch: 34.5°F averageApril: 40.3°F averageMay: 49.3°F averageJune: 59.6°F averageJuly: 63.4°F averageAugust: 61.4°F averageSeptember: 55.4°F averageOctober: 45.1°F averageNovember: 34.5°F averageDecember: 26.3°F average0 in5 in10 in15 in20 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Guffey 9Se, 10 miles from the campground at 8,915 feet, station USC00053652 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 19 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 78 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

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, continue straight and follow the sign for The Bank Campground. Campground is located approximately 1 mile up the rough dirt road.

Nearest townCanon City, Colorado
Coordinates38.6280° N, 105.2252° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    O'Brien 2 Broadcast Rx

    26 mi from the campground · 267 acres

  • Prescribed
    Rainbow Gulch Rx

    27 mi from the campground · 912 acres

  • Wildfire
    Aspen Acres

    43 mi from the campground · 102,007 acres · 90% contained

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearRoyal Gorge Rafting ↗13.1 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗18.2 mi
RV sales & serviceWindish RV Center ↗27.7 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

East Bank Campground Review - USACE Campground GA/FL Border

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

The Bank Campground and the surrounding area is well known amongst rock climbers and outdoor enthusiasts for the long bands of limestone cliffs dominating the landscape. Stunning rock features paired with the piñon pine and juniper vegetation, enhance the dramatic vistas and a picturesque camping environment.

Recreation

The Bank Campground offers easy access to the popular rock climbing area, Shelf Road. Climbers can access nearly 1000 bolted routes via the Cactus Cliff and Dark Side trails. A variety of other recreation opportunities easily accessed from the campground include hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding as well as 4wd routes. In addition to campsites, The Bank Campground offers a day-use parking area for recreationalists.

Nearby

The region around Shelf Road offers numerous attractions and recreation opportunities. Popular activities include visiting the Royal Gorge via the Royal Gorge Bridge, the Royal Gorge Train, hiking trails or a rafting trip with one of a number of river outfitters. The Arkansas River offers whitewater rafting as well as outstanding angling. There are numerous trails for all activities in the region as well as agricultural and heritage tours along the Gold Belt National Scenic Byway. The local communities offer a range of shopping and dining experiences.

Guidebooks for Colorado

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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at The Bank Campground?

Sites at The Bank Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at The Bank Campground?

Individual Sites: $20 per night. Group sites: $40 per night. There is an $8 non-refundable reservation fee for each reservation.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at The Bank Campground?

Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does The Bank Campground have?

35 sites, including 20 standard sites without power, 13 tent-only sites, and 2 group sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at The Bank Campground?

The longest site here provides 20 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are pets allowed at The Bank Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at The Bank Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at The Bank Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 3 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.

Source: Fire nearby

Are there accessible sites at The Bank Campground?

Sites Group Site 2 and A-13 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at The Bank Campground?

The Bank Campground offers easy access to the popular rock climbing area, Shelf Road. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to The Bank Campground?

Canon City, Colorado. The region around Shelf Road offers numerous attractions and recreation opportunities.

Source: Getting there

What if The Bank Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Sand Gulch Campground (0.8 mi), The Crags (17.7 mi, first-come), and Spillway Campground (23.3 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby