The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
“The Slate River valley is a popular destination”
By Kendra Walker
Campers and recreation enthusiasts may have already observed some updates to the popular Oh Be Joyful campground along the Slate River this summer, including sites by reservation, a new footbridge and a soon-to-be connector trail from Gunsight Bridge.
“The BLM [Bureau of Land Management] has made quite an investment in the Oh Be Joyful campground the last few years,” said BLM Gunnison field manager Elijah Waters. “It’s really coming along.”
A new footbridge over the Slate River has been added at the campground to provide safe, all-season access to the Oh Be Joyful falls and foot trail. Numerous vehicles were getting stalled in the vehicle ford across the river each year and stranding visitors on the far side, said Waters. “To address that, we identified the need for a footbridge. Once that bridge was in place, we were able to close the ford.”
Also new this year, the Oh Be Joyful campground is using a reservation system through Recreation.gov for several of the sites, including 11 RV sites, eight tent sites and one group campsite. The remaining 10 sites, as well as all five of the nearby River Flats walk-in campsites, will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
“We might increase the number of sites available for reservations as the camping season progresses,” said Waters. The final touches are still being put on an ADA-accessible group site, which should be available for reservations and use by July.
A final addition this summer will be a new hike/bike trail, with construction scheduled to begin in August. The trail is a collaboration between the BLM, Crested Butte Land Trust and Crested Butte Conservation Corps, and will connect the Oh Be Joyful campground to the Gunsight Bridge. This will provide day users access to Oh Be Joyful without having to drive from town.
Waters said the BLM does expect an increase in camping in Gunnison County this summer. “The Slate River valley is a popular destination,” he said. “Visitation and the associated impacts continue to increase. The demand for sites at OBJ oftentimes exceeds capacity. The improvements and changes made to the Oh Be Joyful campground were put in place to offer and preserve a quality experience for users.”
To follow public health orders, the BLM has modified cleaning protocols and installed signage with social distancing messages at recreation sites across BLM public lands. “We ask that if the campsites are full that users do not compromise that experience for other users by camping in non-designated areas,” said Waters. He also emphasized that the public should check in with local public health officials for the latest guidance and travel and health restrictions.
