Welcome to the 31st annual
Russell Fork Rendezvous
This years Russell Fork Rendezvous is proud to be back at Carson Island, just outside of Elkhorn City, Kentucky. Although camping is primitive at Carson Island, it is a beautiful location that has served us well over the years as the home of many previous festivals. With full service RV sites available within a short drive at the Breaks Park, located at 627 Commission Circle, Breaks, VA 24607 and the town of Elkhorn City less than a mile away, you will find everything you need to make this site both comfortable and convenient. With a huge selection of both quiet and “right in the middle of the action” camping sites, it will be abundantly clear why we chose this location as the site of the Russell Fork Rendezvous.
Rather you come solely for the festival or decide to take advantage of the other festivities we hold every weekend in October at the Ratliff Hole Campground, you’ll quickly understand the magic of Russell Fork season and why the Russell Fork Rendezvous is not only a truly unique event but why so many paddlers call the Russell Fork home.
2025 Russell Fork Rendezvous
Welcome to the 31st Anniversary of the Russell Fork Rendezvous. This years festival will be held at Carson Island, located just outside of Elkhorn City at 410 Carson Island Road, Elkhorn City KY. with camping available at the festival grounds at Carson Island from Wednesday, October 22nd through Monday, October 27th at 7 pm. (Camping at Ratliff Hole campground will only be available from Thursday, Oct. 23rd through Sunday, Oct. 26th at 7 pm.)
As always, we want to thank the communities that support us and take seriously our duty to support them.
We encourage everyone to follow the example of the festival and hold off purchasing as many supplies as possible until you’re within 20 miles of the festival grounds.
2025 Russell Fork Season
Ratliff Hole and Festival Information
With the Russell Fork Rendezvous in it’s 31st year, the festival will be celebrating both the culture and the history of the Russell Fork for the entire month of October. There’s a ton of stuff to do and with the festival capping the month of October at the Carson Island this will be the best season of boating on the Russell Fork in a long time.
As has been the tradition, the Russell Fork Rendezvous, and the Breaks Park will be keeping the Ratliff Hole campground open every weekend in October, starting on October 2nd.
Want to come to the Russell Fork but looking for other accommodations?
Breaks Park: Want to camp at the park or stay at the lodge? With better shower, restroom and full-service RV sites available, it’s hard to go wrong with a stay at the park. Check out their website at https://www.breakspark.com
Mountain Top Campground: Located in Haysi, Va. Mountain Top Campground offers plenty of space, excellent restroom and shower facilities and plenty of water and power hookups for RVs. It’s also closer to the put in for the upper Russell Fork with easy access to plenty of horseback and dirt bike riding. https://www.campspot.com/book/mountaintopcampground
Driftwood Studio Cottage on the Russell Fork River: Here’s a nice little place to stay that’s just a few minutes away in Elkhorn City, best of all, it’s owned by a friend of the festival. “Our studio is located on our 103 year-old multi-family property. Just 10 minutes from the Breaks Interstate Park, you’ll be perfectly placed for hiking, kayaking, climbing, or just soaking up the Appalachian beauty. And now- we’re pet friendly!” https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/641855626127439163?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=fc71b73f-6cef-4c8b-812b-48751964221d
Ratliff Hole Camping: Camping at Ratliff Hole is still available during race weekend. Sites are 35.00 per site, which come with one free pass to the festival. Special rates for the festival are available for Lord of the Fork race volunteers and racers.
Buy Local: Regardless of whether you’re camping at the festival grounds or any of the other available options, we believe strongly in supporting the communities that support us. Buy Local.
– Announcements –
2025 Russell Fork River October release schedule.
Thanks to the support of the Corps of Engineers and the participation of kayakers throughout the region as well as kayaking associations like American Whitewater, the Bluegrass Wildwater Association and the Viking Canoe Club, the Corps of Engineers will once again be offering an expanded release schedule for the upcoming Russell Fork season. The first full release will be on October 3rd – 5th at 800 cfs, with the last release being October October 24th – 26th of 2025 at 1000 cfs.
– 2025 Festival Details –
Arrival at the festival
Carson Island will be open for camping on Wednesday, Oct 22nd through Tuesday morning, Oct 28th. for those camping throughout the festival at the festival grounds. All gear, vehicles and refuge should be removed by noon on Oct. 28th.
Due to it’s unique layout, and the ability to park right at your campsite, the festival offers a wide range of camping options. From quiet family camping and “self supported” RV camping to the “Bring on the Party” choices, the festival offers something special for everyone. With plenty to do, the festival opens for camping starting on Wednesday, Oct. 22nd and doesn’t shut down until Tuesday morning on October 28th. Regardless of your choice, you won’t go wrong staying at the festival. Admission is $35.00 pp for the entire festival which includes camping. Should you want full service RV camping, the closest location would be a short drive away at the Breaks Park. Please be advised that arrangements for these would need to be arranged in advance with the Breaks Park and any fees would be separate from festival admission. Check out their site at https://www.breakspark.com
Can’t wait to see you there.
We are not responsible for lost or stolen items, so please secure your belongings upon arrival.
Camping
The festival site at Carson Island has plenty of space for camping and plenty of options. Rather you like to be right in the middle of the action or enjoy a nice quiet place to get away, the festival, with it’s beautiful scenery offers plenty of both. Unlike the primitive camping at Ratliff Hole, the Festival grounds offer camping from Wednesday, October 22nd all the way up to Tuesday morning, October 28th.
There is additional camping at the Breaks Park and a few miles away in Haysi, VA at either the Mountain Top Campground or Thunder River Campground. We are not affiliated with these camping areas so all reservations and questions should be directed to them.
Atmosphere
The Russell Fork Rendezvous is a celebration of the Russell Fork River and the unique area that surround it. You should expect a relaxed atmosphere with music, drums, dancing, fires, hoops, and blatant exaggerations of exploits on the river.
Although the festival is centered around the sport of extreme kayaking, you do not need to be a whitewater enthusiast to enjoy Rendezvous. There are plenty of other options such as hiking, mountain bike riding and exploring the truly beautiful countryside. The festival itself includes something for everyone, from huge bonfires, live music, and hikes to the trailhead for the race, you’ll quickly understand why this event is more than just a spectacle, it is truly a unique event that you’ll be glad you were a part of.
Paddling
The Russell Fork River offers something for boaters of every skill level. Novices or anyone looking for a fun float can put on right at Carson Island and take out in Elkhorn City. Intermediate boaters can hone their skills on the upper or lower sections. Advanced boaters may choose to take on the gorge, or even participate in the Lord of the Forks race on Saturday (requires expert skill and knowledge of the run).
The upper and lower sections can also be rafted or shredded.
Learn more about the river here.
Food & Drink
Rendezvous is a strictly BYOB event and we encourage everyone to keep the refuse to a minimum. Trash bags will be provided but we ask that everyone deposit their trash in the dumpsters by the pavilion at the end of the festival.
As is the custom with the festival, we make every effort to support the communities that are supporting us so we ask that, whenever possible you make your purchases either within the fairgrounds or directly from businesses within the boater friendly towns of Elkhorn City, KY or Haysi, VA. We try our best to support the local community and encourage everyone to do the same.
Other stuff to do
There’s plenty to do at Rendezvous and in the surrounding areas! Aside from the many events during the festival and the live music on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, both Haysi and the nearby Breaks Interstate Park offers abundant hiking and biking trails. Read more about the area’s attractions here.
There will be live music starting on Thursday night at 10 pm thru and Saturday night on the main stage. View the music lineup here.
-Live Music-
We are currently booking our line up for the 2025 festival and will update once the musical schedule is set.
