August Road Trip--Shelf Road, San Luis Valley, other suggestions?

Some friends of mine and I are planning on heading west (from Illinois) for some climbing before the summer ends and were planning on hitting at least the climbing in the San Luis and Shelf Road. Having never been to this part of the country before I was looking for recommendations on other rad stuff to do along the way, open to anything. Thanks for the info!

Shelf is going to be scorching hot in August. I would suggest skipping the shelf and heading to Rifle or Independence Pass.

Agreed, Shelf and Penitente will probably be too hot for most people both those areas are good late fall through spring. Maybe look into the stuff in Wyoming, Ten Sleep or South Dakota, Spearfish Canyon.

If you are set on the CO Andrew's suggestions are good. If you are set on Shelf you will want to follow the shade which is possible.

Shelf's really not that bad in the summer. Sleep in, then cruise over to the dark side, or chase shade at the sand gulch. You'll have the place to your self.

A lot of stuff near South Fork that will be a bit cooler. Not much info on it though.
Questa Dome is good if you hit it early, great climbing.

You could go rocka neering in the Crestone's as well