Known for its sheer cliffs and dramatic vistas, Shelf Road near Canon City offers an exhilarating experience for outdoor adventurers and nature lovers alike.
One highlight of our camping trip at the Bank Campground in the Shelf Road Recreation Area was to bike down Shelf Road from the town of Cripple Creek and back to the Bank Campground.
This route is mostly downhill.
Shelf Road Route
The Shelf Road follows the old stagecoach toll route from Canon City to Cripple Creek, going from an elevation of 5,330 in Canon City, to 9,395 in Cripple Creek.
Canon City built it as a toll road in 1892, but it is now free to use. It winds north from Canon City, tracing Fourmile Creek through valleys and canyons.
Along the way the views are amazing as the road follows the limestone cliffs, through canyons, and along Fourmile Creek.
Vehicle Requirements
You can drive the route in a regular 2WD car, but do not pull your trailer or attempt to drive your RV along this route.
It is a narrow dirt road, along limestone cliffs, and with steep drop-offs and tight corners.
It works fine for a passenger car, but anything bigger is definitely not recommended.
Starting in Cripple Creek
I got dropped off with my mountain bike in Cripple Creek, and then followed the road all the way back to the Bank Campground. It was amazing and easy to do.
The route is about 14 miles and it’s mostly all downhill at a gradual slope, if you start in Cripple Creek at 9,395 in elevation.
The route is a National Scenic Byway, known as the Shelf Road Gold Belt Tour.
The beginning of the route, starting in Cripple Creek, is less rocky, with old mines along the way with historical signs you can stop to read.
Camping along Shelf Road
There are a few campsites along the way that are designed primarily for tent camping.
You may be able to fit a truck camper in a few of these, but definitely not an RV as you couldn’t get there anyway since you’d have to drive along the narrow road.
The area is still filled with active mines, and signs warning you of them.
You’ll also be warned that much of the land along the road is privately owned.
The closer you get to the Bank Campground area from the Cripple Creek area, the more rocky and interesting the terrain becomes.
You’ll also pass by the window rock, which is a popular landmark.
I passed several people in jeeps who were enjoying the scenery, but no RVs, thankfully!
The views are definitely worth the drive if you’re camping in the area and have a vehicle or bicycle to get you safely up and down the road.
Final Thoughts
Taking the lazy route, as I did, by biking downhill from Cripple Creek back to the Canon City area was an easy way to take in the sights along Shelf Road.
The scenery is amazing and by biking, you can stop anywhere you want to take in the views.
If you’re more ambitious, you can take the route from Canon City towards Cripple Creek, but you’ll be going up in elevation the whole route.
Either way, it’s a fabulous experience!
