Oh Be Joyful


If you haven't heard of Oh Be Joyful (OBJ), then (a) let me welcome you to the world of kayaking or (b) please crawl out of the cave you've been living in the for past 20 years.  Oh Be Joyful has become so synonymous with creekboating, that it seems to bring out people to brave its massive features who normally don't even consider running class V creeks.  Perhaps it's the reputation for big and clean drops with easy moves that brings out the hordes.  Or perhaps the stunning location in the high alpine forests just outside of Crested Butte.  Or perhaps its the excellent camping adjacent to the run where you're sure to see a few familiar faces from the boating scene and meet a few new ones.  Or perhaps its the stunning clusters of wildflowers that tend to be in full bloom when the creeks are running.  Or perhaps its the abundant trails perfect for hiking, mountain biking, and dirt biking that make this excellent place to bring nonboating friends or make it a multisport weekend.  Most likely, it's all of the above.

Suggested river levels for paddling this section of the Oh Be Joyful are between a bare minimum of 500cfs and a high of 2,000cfs. River conditions sourced from USGS 09114500, the Gunnison River Near Gunnison Remember only watercraft are permitted at Oh Be Joyful.

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Area Hydrology

Gauge Streamflow Stage
Piney River Near State Bridge
USGS 09059500 		402 cfs 4.7 ft
Homestake Creek At Gold Park
USGS 09064000 		79 cfs 4.7 ft
Fryingpan River Near Ruedi
USGS 09080400 		116 cfs 1.5 ft
Twin-Lakes Tunnel At E Portl
USGS 09073000 		311 cfs 3.2 ft
Cimarron River Bl Squaw Creek
USGS 09127000 		222 cfs 8.8 ft
North Fork Gunnison River Near Somerset
USGS 09132500 		2,110 cfs 3.8 ft
Eagle R Bl Wastewater Treatment Plant At Avon
USGS 09067020 		1,390 cfs 6.2 ft
Colorado River Below Glenwood Springs
USGS 09085100 		6,230 cfs 6.2 ft
Muddy Creek At Bardine
USGS 09131500 		404 cfs 5.2 ft
Taylor River At Almont
USGS 09110000 		397 cfs 2.4 ft
Snotel Site Snowpack 24hr Change
gothic
SNOTEL GTHC2 		12.62" -1.83"

Outdoor Recreation

Campground Campsites Reservations Toilets Showers Elevation
Dry Gulch - Curecanti Area 10 7,583 ft
Elk Creek - Curecanti Area 160 7,575 ft
Palisades Senior RV Park 59 7,680 ft
Stevens Creek - Curecanti Recreation Area 54 7,540 ft
Silver Queen 6 8,682 ft
Gothic 4 9,657 ft
Lake Irwin 32 10,400 ft
Ski Area Snowpack Air Temperature 5 Day Forecast
Aspen Mountain 37" 62° 0"
Snowmass 30" 62° 0"
Aspen Highlands 30" 62° 0"
Crested Butte Mountain Resort 25" 60° 0"
Buttermilk Mountain 30" 62° 0"
Sunlight Mountain Resort 22" 68° 0"
River Run Streamflow Length Class
Crystal Mill Falls 310.0cfs None Mi V- to V
Cemetery 901.0cfs 12.0 Mi II+ to III+
Castle Creek 203.0cfs 2.0 Mi IV+ to V-
Barrel Springs 3140.0cfs 4.0 Mi IV+ to V+
Shoshone (Power Plant to Grizzly Creek) 1380.0cfs 1.7 Mi III- to IV
Barrel Springs 3140.0cfs 4.0 Mi IV+ to V+
Avalanche Down 1360.0cfs 12.0 Mi III
Shoshone (Power Plant to Grizzly Creek) 1380.0cfs 1.7 Mi III- to IV
Carbondale to Westbank (Pink to Black) 901.0cfs 7.0 Mi II
Oh Be Joyful 653.0cfs 1.0 Mi V
Grizzly Creek to Two Rivers Park 1380.0cfs 6.0 Mi II to III
Waterfall to Confluence 401.0cfs 1.0 Mi V-
Bogan Canyon 1360.0cfs 6.85 Mi III to III+
Glenwood Springs Whitewater Park 2290.0cfs 0.25 Mi II to IV-
Catherine Store Section 401.0cfs 4.0 Mi II to II+