Blue Lake Out and Back

Dogs Leashed

Features Commonly Backpacked · Fall Colors · Fishing · Lake · River/Creek · Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

A long trail up a world class valley. No matter where you turn around, this hike is worth it. The upper portion of the valley is well watered with lush greenery and an excellent wildflower display. With the Ruby Range as a backdrop, this trail is a must-do.

From Crested Butte, travel north on Gothic Road and take a left on Slate River Road just outside of Crested Butte. Drive 4.5 miles on the well-maintained dirt road and look for the Oh-Be-Joyful Campground turn-off on your left. Drive 0.5 miles to the campground at the bottom of the hill. If your vehicle has enough clearance and the waters are not too high, you may want to park on the other side of the river. Just be aware that if it rains, the water levels can change rapidly.

This trail follows an old mining road up above the side of Oh Be Joyful Creek, climbing fairly steeply for a brief time. Once you hit the vantage point above the Oh Be Joyful Falls, the trail mostly flattens out and becomes narrower. You'll cross the wilderness boundary (don't forget to sign in at the register). You can continue up the valley following the trail as far as the base of Daisy Pass before turning around to return to the Oh Be Joyful Campground.

Alternatively, this trail continues up and around Oh-Be-Joyful Peak and Hancock Peak, over the pass and down to its intersection with the Silver Basin Trail.

For those looking for more adventure, there are numerous ways to extend your mileage and elevation gain. Summiting Daisy Pass and descending into Pittsburg is popular with locals, but does require two vehicles or the willingness to hitch hike. Make sure to have a good topographic map or the Hiking Project mobile app before attempting one of the loops from the Oh Be Joyful Trail.

Elk, deer, coyote, many birds.