# Red sandstone, gold-rush roads and dark nights – by camper from Pikes Peak via the Gold Belt Tour to Pueblo

> From Colorado Springs via the Garden of the Gods and the toll road up Pikes Peak, through fossil meadows and gold-mining towns, over gravel roads into the…

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/rf-389-colorado-pikes-peak-royal-gorge/

**At a glance:** 7-day road trip of about 275 km (171 mi) with 12 stops, from Colorado Springs to Pueblo. About 3 h 03 min of driving in total. Best time to go: May and September–October. No toll roads expected for a car. From Colorado Springs via the Garden of the Gods and the toll road up Pikes Peak, through fossil meadows and gold-mining towns, over gravel roads into the Royal Gorge and through the Wet Mountain Valley to Pueblo: around 575 kilometres of the southern Front Range between 1,400 and 4,300 metres.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | approx. 275 km (171 mi) |
| Driving | 3 h 03 min |
| Suggested days | 7 |
| Stops | 12 |
| Route | Colorado Springs → Pueblo |
| States | CO |
| Best time to go | May and September–October |
| Tolls and vignettes | None expected |
| Updated | October 1, 2026 |

[Download GPX file](https://camping-spirit.com/gpx/rf-389-colorado-pikes-peak-royal-gorge.gpx)

Practical guides for this route: [Driving in the US: The Rules European Visitors Most Often Get Wrong at the Wheel](https://camping-spirit.com/magazine/us-driving-rules-visitors/), [Fuel, Tolls and Distances: Practical US Driving Math for Motorhome and Camper Travelers](https://camping-spirit.com/magazine/us-fuel-tolls-distances/), [US national parks: entry fees, passes and reservations in plain terms](https://camping-spirit.com/magazine/us-national-park-passes/)

*From Colorado Springs via the Garden of the Gods and the toll road up Pikes Peak, through fossil meadows and gold-mining towns, over gravel roads into the Royal Gorge and through the Wet Mountain Valley to Pueblo: around 575 kilometres of the southern Front Range between 1,400 and 4,300 metres.*

## The spirit of the route

At the southern end of the Front Range the prairie runs head-on into the Rocky Mountains, and this route follows exactly that edge. In the morning the tilted sandstone fins of the Garden of the Gods glow red against the granite massif of Pikes Peak, at midday you stand in the wind at over 4,300 metres, and in the evening the campground smells of ponderosa resin. Beyond lies the old gold country around Cripple Creek: headframes, tailings piles, free-roaming donkeys. Gravel roads that drop into the canyons along old railway grades lead down to the Arkansas River, which has cut almost 300 metres deep into the Royal Gorge. After that it becomes wide and quiet: in the Wet Mountain Valley cattle graze in front of the jagged chain of the Sangre de Cristo, and at night you can see the Milky Way from the sliding door as clearly as is possible in only a few places left in Colorado.

## Stage-by-stage plan

### Stage 1: Colorado Springs to Manitou Springs (approx. 45 km)

- **The drive:** Short opening stage at around 1,850 to 2,000 metres: from downtown via 30th Street to the Garden of the Gods, then on US-24 and Manitou Avenue into the narrow valley of Manitou Springs, and for the night south on CO-115 to Cheyenne Mountain State Park. City traffic, with congestion around Manitou on summer weekends; pure driving time under an hour, a full day with sightseeing. If you are arriving from low altitude, use this day to acclimatise before heading up Pikes Peak. Plenty of fuel stations and supermarkets in Colorado Springs.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Garden of the Gods: free city park where upended red sandstone walls stand in front of Pikes Peak. The paved Perkins Central Garden Trail leads right into the middle, and Balanced Rock sits by the road to the south. Some of the park roads are one-way; motorhomes are best parked at the Visitor & Nature Center, from where you walk in on the footpath. The rocks glow most intensely at sunrise.
  - Manitou Springs: 19th-century spa town at the foot of Pikes Peak with mineral springs you can drink from for free at public fountains, and the base station of the Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway. Since its rebuild the cog railway runs to the summit again; book tickets with a fixed departure time in advance. Parking in town is tight and paid – plan ahead with large vehicles or park outside.
  - Manitou Incline: former cable-car route with around 2,700 steps and over 600 metres of elevation gain over a good 1.5 kilometres – a test of fitness and acclimatisation; free reservation required, check conditions with the City of Colorado Springs.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Cheyenne Mountain State Park on the south-western edge of Colorado Springs: modern campground in several loops (including Swift Puma, Raptor Glen, Gobbler Grove and The Meadow) in scrub oak and grassland at the foot of Cheyenne Mountain, sites with electricity and some with full hookups, walk-in tent sites, bathhouse with showers and washing machines, dump station. Reservations through the Colorado Parks and Wildlife system; in addition to the site fee you need a vehicle pass for the park (see Practicalities).
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs sleeping in a vehicle on streets and in public car parks is prohibited; the car parks in the Garden of the Gods are closed at night. Pike National Forest begins right behind the city, but along the Front Range dispersed camping is now permitted in many corridors only at designated, numbered sites – check the Motor Vehicle Use Map and notices from the Pikes Peak Ranger District.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Water from the mineral springs tastes of iron and carbonation – fine for a taste, not for the fresh-water tank. Fill the tank at the campground. If you want to go up Pikes Peak early the next day, buy your provisions today in Colorado Springs; at the top there is only the summit café.

### Stage 2: Manitou Springs to Mueller State Park (Divide) (approx. 120 km)

- **The drive:** On US-24 up through Ute Pass to Cascade and the gate of the Pikes Peak Highway. The City of Colorado Springs toll road is around 31 kilometres (19 miles) long, paved throughout, with many hairpins and unprotected edges above the tree line; it climbs from about 2,300 to 4,302 metres. Strict vehicle rules apply: trailers and caravans of any size are prohibited, motorhomes may be no more than 24 feet (7.3 metres) long with a wheelbase of no more than 19 feet; automatic transmissions must have a “1” or “L” gear. From May to September you need, in addition to the entry fee, a timed-entry permit with a fixed entry time, booked in advance through the official toll road website; whether a shuttle also runs on the upper section is decided anew by the city each season. Drive downhill in low gear; at the brake check on the descent your brake temperature is measured, and vehicles with brakes that are too hot have to wait. Allow 3–4 hours up and back with stops, then via Woodland Park and Divide on CO-67 to Mueller State Park.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Pikes Peak Summit Visitor Center at 4,302 metres (14,115 feet): glass and stone on the summit, with views across the prairie to Kansas and west over the chain of the Collegiate Peaks; plus the famous freshly baked doughnuts. At this altitude the air is around 40 per cent thinner – walk slowly, drink a lot, and descend immediately if you get a headache or nausea.
  - Devils Playground and Glen Cove: above the tree line alpine tundra spreads out between granite boulders; at the pull-outs you will see marmots, pikas and often bighorn sheep. Glen Cove is the rest stop with the historic inn at just under 3,500 metres.
  - Crystal Reservoir: reservoir on the lower part of the road with a shop and picnic tables; when the air is clear the north face of Pikes Peak is reflected in the water – a good stop on the way back when the brakes need to cool down.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Mueller State Park near Divide at around 2,900 metres: large forest campground among pines, spruces and aspens with several loops (including Peak View, Grouse Mountain, Conifer Ridge, Revenuer’s Ridge), sites with electricity, walk-in sites, bathhouse with showers in season, dump station and drinking water. Many sites look out on the west side of Pikes Peak. In winter only part is open, with limited water. Reservations through Colorado Parks and Wildlife, vehicle pass extra.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Overnight stays are prohibited along the Pikes Peak Highway, and the road closes in the evening. In the parts of Pike National Forest around Woodland Park and Divide dispersed camping is in many places restricted to designated sites; if you want to camp free, get the Motor Vehicle Use Map of the Pikes Peak Ranger District in advance. The Crags Campground on the west slope of Pikes Peak (National Forest, basic, access via a steep gravel road) is an alternative for small vehicles.
- **Insider tip for campers:** A larger motorhome or a rig with a trailer stays below: then the cog railway from Manitou is worthwhile. In summer thunderstorms build almost daily from midday, and on the summit you are the highest point for miles – go up early and be back down by midday. Fill up in Colorado Springs or Woodland Park; on the climb petrol engines lose noticeable power in the thin air.

### Stage 3: Mueller State Park to Cripple Creek and Victor (approx. 75 km)

- **The drive:** Via Divide and US-24 to Florissant, then south on Teller County Road 1: two lanes, paved, across open high pastures with views of Pikes Peak, later winding down to Cripple Creek at around 2,900 metres. From there on CO-67 to Victor and back. Pure driving time around 1.5 hours. The route is suitable for all vehicles; in Cripple Creek the streets are steep, and parking for large vehicles is on the edges of town. Return to Mueller State Park via CO-67 (around 30 minutes); two nights there make sense.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument: on the edge of a high valley stand the petrified stumps of redwoods buried in volcanic mud around 34 million years ago, including the mighty Big Stump; in the visitor centre, impressions of insects and leaves. Short loop trails, plus the Hornbek Homestead. Entry per person; check fees and opening hours on nps.gov.
  - Cripple Creek: the 1890 gold-rush town now lives off casinos, but the brick facades of Bennett Avenue date from after the town fire of 1896. The Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine offers tours around 300 metres underground; semi-wild donkeys, descendants of the mine animals, wander around town.
  - Victor: smaller, quieter sister town with headframes on the hillside and the Vindicator Valley Trail, a loop among old mine workings. From the edge of town you look into the active open-pit Cripple Creek and Victor Mine.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Second night at Mueller State Park (see stage 2). In Cripple Creek there are only private RV parks; there are no public campgrounds in the immediate area.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In Cripple Creek and Victor overnight stays on streets and casino car parks are not permitted; casino car parks only with explicit permission. The surrounding land is mostly private and mining land. Public BLM land begins south of Victor at Phantom Canyon and on the Shelf Road (see stage 4).
- **Insider tip for campers:** Cripple Creek and Victor lie higher than most Alpine passes, and it freezes at night even in late summer. Top up your fresh-water tank and gas supply at the state park before heading onto the gravel roads. There is enough space for motorhomes at the Florissant visitor centre; Teller County Road 1 carries casino buses at weekends.

### Stage 4: Victor to Cañon City (approx. 75 km)

- **The drive:** Gold Belt Tour: three roads lead down from the gold country into the Arkansas Valley. The Phantom Canyon Road (Fremont County Road 67) follows the grade of the former Florence & Cripple Creek Railroad south from Victor through a narrow granite canyon, with two short tunnels, an old steel bridge and gravel sections; vehicles over 25 feet (7.6 metres) are prohibited, and trailer rigs do not belong here. Around 2 hours to Penrose or Florence, then via US-50 to Cañon City. The Shelf Road from Cripple Creek to Cañon City is a narrow rock ledge high above Fourmile Creek, only two lanes in places, with four-wheel drive recommended on the upper part – unsuitable for motorhomes and trailer rigs. If you are travelling in something large, take the paved High Park Road, which also belongs to the Gold Belt Tour, or go via Colorado Springs and CO-115. After rain and thunderstorms the gravel roads become slippery, and rockfall is common.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Phantom Canyon: tunnels, curves blasted into the rock and the old railway bridge over Eightmile Creek recall the narrow-gauge railway that ran here until 1912; in its lower part the canyon opens up to pinyon-juniper slopes.
  - Garden Park Fossil Area on the lower Shelf Road: some of the first Stegosaurus and Allosaurus skeletons were excavated here in the 19th century; information panels and short trails on BLM land, and the lower part of the Shelf Road from Cañon City is easy to drive.
  - Florence: small town with antique shops on Main Street; from here you can see the Wet Mountains to the south, the destination of the coming days.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Shelf Road Recreation Area (BLM): the basic campgrounds The Bank Campground and Sand Gulch Campground north of Cañon City, reached via the lower, easily driven part of the Shelf Road – limestone walls, climbers, pinyon pines. Sites with table and fire ring, vault toilets, no drinking water, fee; reservations through recreation.gov. Alternative: the City of Cañon City’s Royal Gorge Park East Ridge Campground near the Royal Gorge (23 sites, vault toilets, no water, no electricity; reservable from April to October, otherwise first come, first served).
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** On BLM land of the Royal Gorge Field Office dispersed camping is generally permitted for up to 14 days, but in the Shelf Road Recreation Area only at the campgrounds. The City of Cañon City allows free camping in two areas with vault toilets and fire rings: Red Canyon Park north of the city (red sandstone towers, access via gravel road) and Temple Canyon Park to the south-west. Check access and vehicle size in advance; no campfires during fire bans.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Driving the Gold Belt Tour anticlockwise – that is, downhill – spares the engine but not the brakes: roll down in low gear. Before the gravel stretch check tyre pressure and secure drawers, roof vents and cupboards. In Cañon City the cheapest fuel in the region is on US-50; there are also supermarkets and water there.

### Stage 5: Cañon City to Westcliffe (approx. 110 km)

- **The drive:** West on US-50 to the Royal Gorge (access to the bridge via Fremont County Road 3A), then on along US-50 through the canyon of the Arkansas River, narrow and winding, with rafters on the water and railway tracks on the opposite bank. At Texas Creek turn south onto CO-69: two lanes, over a ridge near Hillside and down into the Wet Mountain Valley to Westcliffe at around 2,400 metres. Pure driving time around 2 hours. Fuel stations in Cañon City and Westcliffe, hardly any services in between.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Royal Gorge Bridge & Park: the 1929 suspension bridge spans the Arkansas River at a height of around 290 metres; the park was rebuilt after the 2013 wildfire and offers a gondola, zip line and viewpoints on the rim. Admission charged, large car park also for motorhomes.
  - Royal Gorge Route Railroad: excursion train from the Cañon City station along the floor of the gorge and under the bridge – the view from below that you cannot get by car.
  - Cañon City: Museum of Colorado Prisons in the old women’s prison next to the Territorial prison, which is still in operation; the Skyline Drive along a rocky ridge high above the town is a narrow one-way road and unsuitable for large motorhomes.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Alvarado Campground (San Isabel National Forest) at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo west of Westcliffe at around 2,700 metres: forest sites among pines and aspens, starting point for hikes to mountain lakes, vault toilets, drinking water in season, no hookups; the last few kilometres are gravel, check length limits when reserving through recreation.gov. Smaller alternative in the valley: Lake Creek Campground near Hillside (National Forest, basic, for short vehicles).
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In San Isabel National Forest dispersed camping is generally permitted for up to 14 days, but the access roads into the Sangre de Cristo are mostly rough and steep. The valley floor is mostly private ranch land – do not park on farm tracks. In State Wildlife Areas such as at DeWeese Reservoir, camping is permitted only where designated and only with a valid hunting or fishing licence or State Wildlife Area Pass.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Westcliffe and Silver Cliff have jointly been designated an International Dark Sky Community: in the evening do not leave any exterior lights on your vehicle burning, and use only red light. On the edge of town stands the small Smokey Jack Observatory, where amateur astronomers offer observing evenings in season – check dates locally.

### Stage 6: Westcliffe to Bishop Castle (San Isabel) (approx. 65 km)

- **The drive:** East on CO-96 through the Wet Mountain Valley and over the Wet Mountains to McKenzie Junction, then south on CO-165: the road is part of the Frontier Pathways Scenic and Historic Byway, paved, winding and runs through pine and aspen forest at about 2,500 to 2,800 metres. Pure driving time around 1.5 hours. No fuel stations along the way, water only at the campgrounds.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Looking back at the Sangre de Cristo: from CO-96 above Westcliffe you can see the whole range with the fourteeners of the Crestone group – clearest early in the morning, when the light grazes the slopes.
  - Bishop Castle: castle of fieldstone and iron right on CO-165, built largely single-handedly by Jim Bishop since 1969, with towers, a ballroom and a sheet-metal dragon’s head. Free entry, donations welcome; you climb the stairs and grated walkways at great height at your own risk.
  - Lake Isabel: small reservoir in San Isabel National Forest with a lakeside path and anglers; starting point for hikes along the St. Charles River.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Lake Isabel Recreation Area (San Isabel National Forest) south of Bishop Castle: the La Vista, St. Charles and Southside campgrounds by the lake or on the St. Charles River, forest, vault or flush toilets, drinking water in season; La Vista has a loop with electric hookups for motorhomes; water there is only for filling containers, no dump station – fill your fresh-water tank beforehand. Other Forest Service sites near the castle: Ophir Creek right on CO-165 and Davenport on a short forest road. Season roughly May to September, reservations for most sites through recreation.gov, some sites first come, first served; check lengths per site.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In San Isabel National Forest along CO-165 dispersed camping outside the recreation areas is generally possible where forest roads allow it; the Lake Isabel Recreation Area and the surroundings of the campgrounds are excluded. No overnight stays in the Bishop Castle car park.
- **Insider tip for campers:** The parking strip at Bishop Castle lies right on the winding CO-165 and is full on summer weekends; with a large vehicle, arrive early in the morning. The Wet Mountains get strong afternoon thunderstorms with hail in summer – retract the awning before the wind arrives.

### Stage 7: Bishop Castle to Pueblo (approx. 85 km)

- **The drive:** Continue south on CO-165 through the forest and down to Rye, then via Colorado City onto I-25 and north to Pueblo; for the night west on US-50 or CO-96 to Lake Pueblo State Park. You descend from 2,700 metres to around 1,450 metres into the prairie, and the air becomes noticeably warmer and drier. Pure driving time a good hour; fuel stations in Colorado City and Pueblo.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo: riverside promenade along a restored channel of the Arkansas in the middle of the city, with restaurants and boat rides; on its edge the El Pueblo History Museum with the remains of an 1842 trading post.
  - Lake Pueblo State Park: large reservoir in the prairie with sandstone shores, swimming beach, boat ramps and cycle paths; in the evening the Wet Mountains are reflected in the water.
  - Pueblo chile: in late summer and autumn, farm stands around the city roast the thick Mirasol peppers in drums – the smell drifts across the roads.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Lake Pueblo State Park west of the city: several camping areas, including Arkansas Point and Juniper Breaks, sites with electricity (check hookup type when booking), bathhouses with showers, dump stations, drinking water. Little shade; hot in summer. Reservations through Colorado Parks and Wildlife, vehicle pass extra.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In Pueblo sleeping in a vehicle on public streets and in car parks is not permitted; in the state park too, only at the campgrounds. There is no public land for dispersed camping in the prairie around Pueblo.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Lake Pueblo is exposed when the wind blows; secure the awning and awning tent. The Arkansas banks in the park and the Pueblo Riverwalk are connected by cycle paths – the motorhome can stay put. Use the dump station in the park before continuing on I-25.

## Camping practice & local rules

### Wild camping & overnight parking

- Colorado generally allows dispersed camping on federal land (National Forest, BLM) for up to 14 days in the same place, unless a closure applies. On the heavily visited Front Range around Colorado Springs and Woodland Park, however, the Forest Service has in many places restricted free camping to designated, numbered sites; the Motor Vehicle Use Map of the relevant Ranger District is authoritative.
- In state parks you may stay overnight only at the campgrounds. State Wildlife Areas allow camping only where expressly designated and require a valid hunting or fishing licence or a State Wildlife Area Pass. Cities such as Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Cañon City and Pueblo prohibit sleeping in vehicles on public streets and in car parks; the exception is the City of Cañon City’s designated free camping areas.
- Colorado State Parks: every state park requires a vehicle pass, even if you are camping there – the site fee does not cover it. Since May 2026 vehicles with out-of-state plates need a separate, higher daily pass; annual passes are available, check current prices with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Reservations through the Colorado Parks and Wildlife booking system, Forest Service sites through recreation.gov.
- Fire bans: in dry conditions counties, National Forests and the BLM impose fire bans in stages (Stage 1: campfires only in fixed fire rings at designated sites; Stage 2: no open fire at all, often no smoking outdoors either). Gas stoves with a shut-off valve are usually allowed. The Front Range has seen numerous large fires, including the Royal Gorge fire of 2013 and wildfires on Pikes Peak – check the status daily with the county, Forest Service and BLM.
- Federal lands: since 2026 visitors without US residency pay higher fees in some US national parks and surcharges at heavily visited parks; check current prices on nps.gov. The America the Beautiful Pass is valid at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument and at Forest Service fee sites, not on the Pikes Peak Highway and not in state parks.
- Apps: iOverlander, Campendium, The Dyrt and Recreation.gov; Park4Night is not widely used here.

### Waste disposal & supplies

- Dump stations: at Cheyenne Mountain, Mueller and Lake Pueblo State Parks and at private RV parks; the BLM sites on the Shelf Road, East Ridge at the Royal Gorge and most Forest Service sites have none.
- Drinking water: there is no water on the Shelf Road, at East Ridge or in the City of Cañon City camping areas; Forest Service sites usually have water only from May to September. Fill the tank before each stage; above 2,500 metres you drink considerably more.
- Empty grey water and chemical toilets only at dump stations; draining on forest roads or BLM land is prohibited.
- Propane: fuel stations, DIY stores and campgrounds fill US cylinders; European cylinders are generally not refilled. At altitude gas appliances burn less efficiently, and absorption fridges sometimes cool less well above 2,500 metres – especially in the heat of Pueblo and Cañon City.
- Altitude: Colorado Springs lies at around 1,850 metres, Mueller, Cripple Creek and Victor at around 2,900, Pikes Peak at 4,302. Increase altitude slowly over the first two days, avoid alcohol, drink a lot; descend immediately if you have a persistent headache, shortness of breath or confusion.
- Fuel and shopping: supermarkets in Colorado Springs, Woodland Park, Cañon City and Pueblo; smaller shops in Divide, Cripple Creek and Westcliffe. Practically no services on CO-165 between Westcliffe and Colorado City.

### Vehicle size & traffic rules

- Speed limits: interstates in Colorado up to 75 mph (120 km/h), less in urban areas; rural roads mostly 55–65 mph. Motorhomes and trailer rigs are generally subject to the same limits as cars unless signs indicate otherwise.
- Pikes Peak Highway: toll road of the City of Colorado Springs, not covered by national park passes. Trailers and caravans prohibited, motorhomes no more than 24 feet long with a wheelbase of no more than 19 feet; automatics with a “1” or “L” gear. From May to September a timed-entry permit is also required; opening hours change seasonally, and the summit road can be closed for snow and storms even in summer. Check current rules on the city’s website.
- Gold Belt Tour: Phantom Canyon Road only for vehicles up to 25 feet, Shelf Road unsuitable for motorhomes and trailer rigs, four-wheel drive recommended on the upper part. Both roads are unpaved and may be closed after severe weather.
- Phones while driving: since 1 January 2025 it has been illegal in Colorado to hold a phone or operate it manually while driving; only hands-free use is permitted. On narrow mountain roads the uphill driver has right of way.
- Thunderstorms: from June to August thunderstorms with lightning, hail and downpours form over the Front Range almost daily from midday. Be back below the tree line by midday; flash floods are possible in canyons such as Phantom Canyon.
- Weather and roads: snow is possible on Pikes Peak in any month, and from October also on CO-67, CO-165 and in Cripple Creek. CDOT can invoke a Traction Law (winter tyres or chains) when it snows; check road conditions on cotrip.org.
- Emergency: 911. Mobile coverage is good in the towns, patchy in Phantom Canyon, on the Shelf Road, on CO-165 and in parts of the Wet Mountain Valley.

## CampingSpirit packing & preparation checklist

- Infrared thermometer: shows how hot brake discs and rims really are after the descent from Pikes Peak and through Phantom Canyon.
- Warm layers, hat and rain jacket: on the summit the temperature is often close to freezing even in July, and thunderstorms come quickly.
- Extra water container (20 litres): the Shelf Road, East Ridge and the Cañon City camping areas have no drinking water, and your needs rise at altitude.
- Red-light head torch: in the Westcliffe dark-sky area white light disturbs stargazers and night vision.
- Gas stove with shut-off valve and fire extinguisher: under Stage 2 fire bans campfires and charcoal are off-limits, gas appliances are usually allowed.
- High-factor sun protection and sunglasses: UV radiation at 3,000 to 4,300 metres is considerably stronger than in the lowlands.

_As of 2026-10. Closures, fees and booking rules change: check official sources before you go._

## Sources

- [Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain (Stadt Colorado Springs) – Drive the Pikes Peak Highway](https://www.pikes-peak.com/drive-pikes-peak-highway)
- [Denver Gazette – Pikes Peak Highway changes underscore tensions in managing for tourists, locals (Mai 2024)](https://www.denvergazette.com/2024/05/04/pikes-peak-highway-changes-underscore-tensions-in-managing-for-tourists-locals-6001ab3d-9c9e-52a2-be46-9c32e747ce30/)
- [Colorado Public Radio – Colorado state parks charge out-of-state visitors (Mai 2026)](https://www.cpr.org/2026/05/04/colorado-state-parks-charge-out-of-state-visitors/)
- [Colorado Parks and Wildlife – Mueller State Park: Camping & Lodging](https://cpw.state.co.us/state-parks/mueller-state-park/mueller-state-park-camping-lodging)
- [CDOT – Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways: Gold Belt Tour](https://www.codot.gov/travel/colorado-byways/south-central/gold-belt)
- [Gold Belt Tour Scenic & Historic Byway – RV and Trailer Restrictions](https://www.goldbeltbyway.com/faq/rv-trailer-restrictions/)
- [BLM – Sand Gulch campground reopens after successful expansion](https://www.blm.gov/press-release/sand-gulch-campground-reopens-after-successful-expansion)
- [BLM Royal Gorge Field Office – The Bank Campground Map](https://blm.gov/royal-gorge-fo/public-room/map/blm-co-rgfo-bank-campground-map)
- [City of Cañon City – Campgrounds (East Ridge, Red Canyon Park, Temple Canyon Park)](https://www.canoncity.gov/515/Campgrounds)
- [Recreation.gov – La Vista Campground – Lake Isabel](https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232066)
- [Colorado Politics – Law to require hands-free use of cellphones while driving coming to Colorado Jan. 1, 2025](https://www.coloradopolitics.com/2024/10/24/law-to-require-hands-free-use-of-cellphones-while-driving-coming-to-colorado-jan-1-2025-0db7513e-9228-11ef-a6db-ef31053f776e)
- [OpenStreetMap-Daten (data/osm/camps/US-CO.json) – Campingplätze Colorado](https://www.openstreetmap.org/)

## Which stops are on the route from Colorado Springs to Pueblo?

1. **Colorado Springs** (CO)
2. **Garden of the Gods** (Colorado Springs, CO): A free city park where red sandstone fins stand upright in front of Pikes Peak. The paved loops are easy.
3. **Manitou Springs** (CO)
4. **Pikes Peak** (CO)
5. **Florissant Fossil Beds** (CO)
6. **Cripple Creek** (CO)
7. **Victor** (CO)
8. **Cañon City** (CO)
9. **Royal Gorge Bridge** (Cañon City, CO): A suspension bridge 291 m above the Arkansas River, owned by Cañon City. Admission covers the bridge, gondola and park; the gorge can also be seen from the Royal Gorge Route train.
10. **Westcliffe** (CO)
11. **Bishop Castle** (CO)
12. **Pueblo** (CO)

## When is the best time for the route from Colorado Springs to Pueblo?

The most pleasant months are usually May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and June. Cold, short days in January. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)

## FAQs

**How long is Red sandstone, gold-rush roads and dark nights – by camper from Pikes Peak via the Gold Belt Tour to Pueblo?**
7-day road trip of about 275 km (171 mi) with 12 stops, from Colorado Springs to Pueblo. About 3 h 03 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for Red sandstone, gold-rush roads and dark nights – by camper from Pikes Peak via the Gold Belt Tour to Pueblo?**
We suggest 7 days: about 3 h 03 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does Red sandstone, gold-rush roads and dark nights – by camper from Pikes Peak via the Gold Belt Tour to Pueblo start and end?**
It starts in Colorado Springs and ends in Pueblo.

**Which states does Red sandstone, gold-rush roads and dark nights – by camper from Pikes Peak via the Gold Belt Tour to Pueblo pass through?**
Colorado.

**Where can you camp along Red sandstone, gold-rush roads and dark nights – by camper from Pikes Peak via the Gold Belt Tour to Pueblo?**
OpenStreetMap lists 114 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Foot of the Rockies RV Resort, Garden of the Gods RV Resort and Love's RV Stop.

## Part of these destinations

- [Pikes Peak Highway](https://camping-spirit.com/destinations/pikes-peak-highway/)