Bureau of Land Management · Colorado
Oh Be Joyful Campground
Bureau of Land Management · Colorado, United States
- Sites
- 30
- Hookups
- 14 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Max RV length
- 20 ft
- Group sites
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 8,976 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- Verizon weak · T-Mobile none · AT&T none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Gunnison
- Nearest town
- Crested Butte
- Phone
- 970-642-4940
- Activities
- Auto Touring, Backpacking, Birding, Camping, Horseback Riding, Hunting, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Mountain Climbing, Off Road Vehicle Trails, Photography, Picnicking
28 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Approximately 5 miles from Crested Butte, Colorado, Oh Be Joyful Campground is a 30-unit campground along the Slate River. The campground itself gets its name from nearby Oh Be Joyful Creek that features massive waterfalls and colorful wildflowers in the summer months. The campground is located at approximately 9,000 feet in elevation and the views are spectacular. There is no cell service at this location, please save or print a copy of your reservation confirmation prior to arrival.
Recreation
This premier area is known for camping, fishing, horseback riding, sight-seeing, hiking/walking, water play, kayaking, mountain biking, wildflower viewing, and motorized recreational uses. A foot bridge allows visitors to access the west side of the Slate River to hike along Oh Be Joyful Creek and into the Raggeds Wilderness.
Facilities
This 30-unit campground was recently renovated and has 14 RV campsites, 15 walk-in tent campsites, one walk-in group campsite and 3 vault restrooms. This campground is normally full and not available unless you have a reservation. Each campsite has a parking space, metal fire ring, picnic table, tent pad and bear proof food storage locker. Drinking water, electric hook-ups and trash service are not available at Oh Be Joyful so bring your own water and plan to take your own trash with you when you leave.
Parking is available for day use visitors who come to Oh Be Joyful to hike, play in the water, picnic, etc.
The access road (BLM Road 3220) into Oh Be Joyful Campground is steep and can be rough. The campground can accommodate RVs but the rough road down to the campground may not be suitable for larger low clearance rigs.
Be aware BLM is a multi-use land management agency, cattle may enter the camping area during your stay.
Natural Features
The campground sits directly on the east bank of the Slate River and is nestled in a valley with mountains on either side of the valley. Due to the abundance of moisture in the spring and early summer, wildflowers are abundant. Look for our State flower the Columbine and other species including Indian Paintbrush and Avalanche Lilies.
Nearby Attractions
Charges & Cancellations
Reservations cannot be modified less than 72 hours prior to reservation start date. This means no modifications can be made to a 4-day advanced reservation.
Only 2 modifications can be made to a 180-day advanced reservations sites.
Reservation cancellations occurring less than 72 hours prior to reservation start date are subject to NO REFUND.
Fees
Fee $20 per night at individual sites, $60 per night at group sites.
22 Sites can be reserved 180-days in advance. The remaining 7 sites can be reserved 4 days in advance. Reservations are required for all sites.
14 Day Max Stay
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29° | 13° | -12° | 41° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 30° | 15° | -3° | 45° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 37° | 19° | 2° | 51° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 45° | 26° | 4° | 56° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 53° | 32° | 20° | 62° | 11 of 11 |
| June | 67° | 41° | 30° | 80° | 3 of 11 |
| July | 76° | 48° | 40° | 82° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 73° | 47° | 40° | 81° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 66° | 42° | 24° | 76° | 1 of 11 |
| October | 53° | 32° | -12° | 64° | 10 of 10 |
| November | 43° | 17° | -15° | 55° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 30° | 8° | -10° | 47° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- River Flats Campground · Bureau of Land Management · 1 mi
- Lake Irwin · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi · 45 sites
- Gothic · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi · 4 sites
- Lost Lake Campground · USDA Forest Service · 10 mi
- Cement Creek · USDA Forest Service · 12 mi · 4 sites
All public campgrounds in Colorado · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-07-15. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.