Oh Be Joyful Recreation Area
PThe Dyrt PRO User
Reviewed Jul. 25, 2021

Decent campground; GREAT for young kids (river); great hiking access

Oh Be Joyful is a nice campground with spectacular access to a meandering shallow creek great for very young kids (and others) and with instant access to the Oh Be Joyful hiking trails that lead up modestly for 0.5 miles to miles of more flat terrain and spectacular glaciated canyon views of beautiful peaks, aspen and conifer groves, mountain flowers, and a rushing creek with great waterfalls.  So, location (also within about 10 min of town center via a 2-wheel drive / bike friendly dirt road) is superb. The campground offers both decent to rather austere drive-in sites (some along creek) with bear boxes (only CG i know of in area with bear boxes) and tables / firepit (the basics). Some of the walk-in tent sites are pretty good but many are close to heavy foot traffic spots (but some appear to be creekside). (we did not explore all the sites.) There are some sites that rank among the lamest sites i have ever seen... i think walk-in site 6 (don't quote me) fits about 2 - 3 modest tents (no car) and is contiguous with a heavy-foot traffic (and even some vehicles) driveway. It's actually shocking that they call it a campsite ... it's gravel is not even river (smoothened) gravel... it's super lame. But, that one (maybe more?) site aside, the CG is good enough (but does not invite first-come first-serve influx... but rather requires reservations.gov in advance) but it's location is excellent.  (The driveway to get from slate river road down to site is a bit rough for 2-wheel drive (doable but rough).)  I think the price (summer 2021) was $10/night.  Honestly, if you are looking for a more mellow (free) site, or don't have reservations, go one mile up the road to the CG called Musician's Camp (not yet listed on dyrt) which has sites 14 - 17... which are really nice tent spots.

Month of VisitAugust