Oh Be Joyful Campground: A Mountain Escape Along the Slate River
Oh Be Joyful is a highly sought-after campground tucked into a beautiful mountain setting, surrounded by forests, hiking trails, mountain bike routes, and the nearby Slate River.
I’ve stayed at plenty of campgrounds where the campsite was simply a place to sleep for the night.
Oh Be Joyful Campground isn’t one of those places.
This is a campground where you don’t have to go far to experience the outdoors — it’s right outside your door.
Located just a few miles outside of Crested Butte, the campground sits in a valley surrounded by towering mountains and some of the scenery that makes this part of Colorado so special. The views begin the moment you arrive and only get better as you explore the surrounding area.
Getting a campsite here can be challenging, especially during the busy summer months. There is only one first-come, first-served site, and I was fortunate enough to claim it when I arrived.
I’m staying here now, and it has quickly become one of my favorite campgrounds I’ve ever experienced.
What Oh Be Joyful Campground Is Like
Entrance sign for Oh Be Joyful Campground near Crested Butte, Colorado.
Oh Be Joyful Campground sits a few miles outside of Crested Butte along the Slate River. Campsites are scattered throughout a forested valley, with mountains rising above the campground in nearly every direction.
The campground is close enough to town that cyclists often ride from Crested Butte to access the nearby trail system.
The campground itself is simple. There aren’t many amenities here — and that’s not why people come. You’ll find vault toilets, fire rings, picnic tables, and bear-proof storage lockers.
What makes Oh Be Joyful special is its location.
The campground sits at the bottom of a valley where the surrounding mountains feel enormous. Whether you’re relaxing at your campsite, walking down to the river, or heading out on a trail, the scenery is always right there.
What stood out to me most was just how massive the mountains feel from camp. You don’t need to hike to a viewpoint or drive to an overlook.
You simply step outside and look up.
One of my favorite parts of staying here has been how easy it is to enjoy the outdoors without ever getting into the car. I can walk down to the river, hop on a trail, or simply sit at camp and take in the views.
The Slate River adds another layer to the experience. Depending on where you’re camping, you can hear the water flowing through the valley throughout the day and into the evening, creating a peaceful natural soundtrack.
It’s the kind of campground where you end up spending more time at camp than you originally planned.
From my van, I’ve watched hikers set out on the Oh Be Joyful Trail, mountain bikers ride toward Coal Creek Trail, and families make their way down to the river. Some people come for the trails. Others come simply to spend the day by the water.
The river almost feels like a mountain beach.
People find a spot along the shoreline, set up their chairs, and spend the afternoon relaxing. Kids play in the water, dogs splash along the edge, and everyone enjoys the incredible mountain scenery surrounding them.
Camping Along the Slate River
A walking path winds through the trees at Oh Be Joyful Campground.
The Slate River is one of the features that makes Oh Be Joyful Campground feel truly unique.
Depending on where you’re staying, you can hear the river flowing through the valley throughout the day and into the evening. It creates a peaceful atmosphere whether you’re enjoying your morning coffee, sitting around camp, or settling in for the night.
The river is also one of the main gathering places in the campground.
The Slate River flows alongside Oh Be Joyful Campground.
During my stay, I watched people carry chairs down to the water and spend hours relaxing along the riverbank. Families gathered near the shoreline while kids played in the water. Dogs cooled off in the river or chased after sticks and toys thrown from shore.
The river almost feels like a beach.
People find a comfortable spot by the water, settle in, and spend the afternoon enjoying the surroundings. Some stay for an hour. Others spend nearly the entire day there.
One of my favorite things about the river is how accessible it is. You don’t need to plan a special activity or drive somewhere else.
You can simply walk down from camp and enjoy being outdoors.
Combined with the dramatic mountain views surrounding the campground, it’s easy to understand why so many visitors spend just as much time by the river as they do exploring the trails.
Hiking and Mountain Biking from Camp
The trailhead sign for the Oh Be Joyful Trail near the campground.
One of the biggest advantages of staying at Oh Be Joyful Campground is the ability to access trails without ever getting in your vehicle.
My main reason for staying here was mountain biking. From camp, I could ride Coal Creek Trail and connect to Lower Lower and Upper Lower without loading my bike onto my vehicle.
Being able to roll straight out of camp and onto the trails made it easy to ride whenever I wanted.
During my stay, I saw plenty of other riders doing the same thing. The campground is close enough to Crested Butte that many cyclists ride directly between town and the surrounding trail network.
Hiking is just as convenient.
The Oh Be Joyful Trail begins near the campground and is one of the most popular hikes in the area. It can be enjoyed as a shorter out-and-back hike or extended into a longer mountain adventure.
Many hikers explore several miles into the valley before turning around, while others continue all the way to Blue Lake — a roughly 13-mile round-trip hike.
During my stay, I also hiked both the Oh Be Joyful Trail and Lupine Trail, making it easy to spend several days here without running out of things to explore.
Whether you come to hike, mountain bike, or simply relax beside the river, it’s easy to see why so many people choose Oh Be Joyful as their base camp for exploring the Crested Butte area.
Campsites and Reservations
A typical campsite at Oh Be Joyful Campground.
Oh Be Joyful Campground has 30 campsites, including 14 RV sites, 15 walk-in tent sites, and one group site.
Finding a campsite here can be difficult during the summer. The campground is extremely popular and often fills up well ahead of time.
Most campsites can be reserved through Recreation.gov up to 180 days before your trip. A smaller number of sites are released four days before arrival, which can be a useful option if you’re planning a last-minute visit.
I knew there was a chance the first-come, first-served site would already be taken, but I stopped by anyway — and fortunately, I got lucky.
If you’re planning a trip around specific dates, I’d recommend making a reservation as early as possible.
Camping Along the Slate River
