Camping at Oh Be Joyful Campground in Crested Butte
A riverside campground surrounded
by towering peaks in one of Colorado's most beautiful valleys.
Words by Michele Underwood | Photos by Michele
The view from the first-come, first-served campsite I stayed in at Oh Be Joyful Campground.
Oh Be Joyful is a coveted campground tucked into a beautiful area with trees, hiking and mountain bike trails, and the Slate River running nearby.
I've camped in plenty of places where the campground was simply a place to sleep.
Oh Be Joyful Campground isn't one of them.
This is a campground where you don't have to travel far to enjoy the outdoors. Located a few miles outside of Crested Butte, it sits in a valley surrounded by steep mountains and some of the scenery that makes this part of Colorado so special. The views start the moment you arrive and only get better as you explore the area.
It can be difficult to get a campsite here, especially during the summer. There is one first-come, first-served site, which I was lucky enough to grab when I arrived.
I'm staying here now, and it has quickly become one of my favorite campgrounds of all time.
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 spread throughout a forested valley with mountains rising above the camp in nearly every direction. The campground is close enough to town that cyclists will ride from Crested Butte to access trails near the campground.
The campground itself is simple. There aren't many amenities here, and that's not why people come. There are 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 mountains feel massive. Whether you're sitting at your campsite, walking down to the river, or heading out on a hike, the views are always there.
What stood out to me most was how big the mountains feel from camp. You don't have to hike to a viewpoint or drive to an overlook. You simply step outside and look up.
One of my favorite things about staying here has been how easy it is to spend time outside without ever getting in the car. I can walk to the river, hop on a trail, or simply sit at camp and enjoy the scenery.
The Slate River adds to the experience. Depending on where you're camped, you can hear the water flowing through the valley, creating a peaceful backdrop throughout the day and into the evening.
It's the kind of campground where you end up spending more time at camp than you planned.
From my van, I've watched hikers head 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 here for the trails. Others come to spend the day by the water.
The river almost feels like a beach. People find a spot along the water, set up their chairs, and spend the afternoon relaxing. Kids play in the water, dogs splash along the shoreline, and people sit back and enjoy the mountain views.
Camping Along the Slate River
A walking path winds through the trees at Oh Be Joyful Campground.
The Slate River is one of the things that makes Oh Be Joyful Campground feel different.
Depending on where you're camped, you can hear the water flowing through the valley throughout the day and into the evening. It creates a peaceful backdrop whether you're sitting around camp, having your morning coffee, or winding down for the night.
The river is also one of the main gathering spots in the campground.
The Slate River flows alongside Oh Be Joyful Campground.
Throughout my stay, I've watched people carry chairs down to the water and spend hours sitting along the riverbank. Families gather near the shoreline while kids play in the water. Dogs cool off in the river or jump in after sticks and toys thrown from shore.
The river almost feels like a beach.
People find a spot along the water, set up their chairs, and spend the afternoon relaxing. Some stay for an hour. Others spend most of the day there.
One of the things I like most about the river is that it's only a short walk from camp. You don't have to plan an activity or head into town. You can simply walk down to the water and enjoy being outside.
Combined with the mountain views surrounding the campground, it's easy to see why so many people spend as much time by the river as they do on the trails.
Hiking and Mountain Biking from Camp
The trailhead sign for the Oh Be Joyful Trail near the campground.
One of the best things about staying at Oh Be Joyful Campground is how easy it is to access trails without getting in your car.
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 ever loading my bike onto a vehicle. Being able to roll out of camp and straight onto the trails made it easy to ride whenever I wanted.
Throughout my stay, I saw plenty of other riders doing the same thing. The campground is close enough to Crested Butte that many cyclists ride between town and the trail system.
Hiking is just as accessible. The Oh Be Joyful Trail starts near the campground and is one of the most popular hikes in the area. It can be enjoyed as either a shorter out-and-back hike or a longer adventure deeper into the mountains. Many hikers explore a few miles into the valley before turning around, while others continue all the way to Blue Lake, a roughly 13-mile round-trip hike.
I also hiked both the Oh Be Joyful Trail and Lupine Trail during my stay, making it easy to spend a few days here without running out of things to do.
Whether you're here to hike, mountain bike, or relax by the river, it's easy to see why so many people choose this campground as a base camp for exploring the 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.
Getting a campsite can be challenging during the summer. The campground is extremely popular and often fills well in advance.
Most campsites can be reserved through Recreation.gov up to 180 days ahead of your trip. A smaller number of sites are released four days before arrival, which can be a good option if you're planning a last-minute visit.
I knew there was a chance the first-come, first-served site wouldn't be available, but I stopped by to check anyway and got lucky.
If you're planning a trip around specific dates, I'd recommend making a reservation as early as possible.
Pro Tips
If you're staying at Oh Be Joyful Campground for a few days, here are a couple of things that came in handy during my stay.
Potable Water and RV Services
The town's RV dump station is located at Waste Water Treatment Plant on Butte Avenue.
Address:
801 Butte Ave, Crested Butte, CO 81224
When I visited, potable water was available for a small fee, making it an easy place to fill up before heading back to camp.
Laundry
If you need to do laundry while you're in town, I had a good experience at Crested Butte Laundry.
Address:
615 Teocalli Ave, Crested Butte, CO 81224
The facility was clean, there were plenty of machines available, and the prices were reasonable. It's an easy stop if you're spending several days in the area and need to freshen up your clothes.
Trash
One thing that surprised me was how particular Crested Butte is about trash.
Most of the larger dumpsters around town are locked, so you can't simply pull up and throw away your camp trash. If you're staying for several days, it's something worth planning for.
Some gas stations will allow you to dispose of trash, though there may be a fee. During my stay, I found that Crested Butte takes waste disposal seriously, so don't assume you'll easily find a public dumpster when you need one.
I Love Crested Butte
Crested Butte has been on my mountain biking bucket list for a while, so I knew I was going to have an amazing trip.
What I didn't know was how lucky I would be to land a spot at what many consider one of the most coveted campgrounds near Crested Butte.
I can't fully capture how beautiful this campground is in words or even photos. What makes it special isn't the campground itself. It's where it sits.
The mountains, the river, the trails, and the easy access to everything outdoors make this a place people genuinely want to spend time in.
You can tell it's a special place because the Crested Butte community uses it too. During my stay, I saw hikers, mountain bikers, families, and people simply spending the day by the river.
After I left, a local had my campsite reserved for her family.
There is something special about this place that even the locals want to be right in the middle of it.
Michele Underwood writes Overland Girl, where she shares the gear she uses on real trips—from the Northwoods of Wisconsin to desert rides in the West. She values quality and craftsmanship and believes in buying less, but buying better. The gear she recommends is gear she uses herself.Some links on Overland Girl may be affiliate links. If you purchase through them, Michele may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.