Adaptive Climbers Festival FAQ
When and where is the fest, and how do I get there?
When: Adaptive Climbers Festival 2026 is Oct. 15-18.
Where: Since 2022, the Adaptive Climbers Fest has taken place at the Red River Gorge, a huge canyon near the towns of Slade and Beattyville, Kentucky.
The address for our camp host:
Lago Linda Hideaway
950 Blacks Ridge Rd.
Beattyville, KY 41311.
Programmed climbing will be at various crags around the gorge:
Muir Valley
Hazel Hollow
The Office
Climbers who choose to not take part in programmed climbing are welcome to climb wherever they feel comfortable. However, it is not supported by ACF staff.
How to get there: You can always drive! Otherwise a lot of our crew flies in.
The closest airports are as follows:
Lexington (about an hour away)
Cincinnati (just under three hours, and often the cheapest)
Louisville (just under three hours)
Shuttle service and carpools:
We partner with a Red River Gorge Shuttle to provide rides between Louisville and Lexington airports, and ACF.
This shuttle is free, and first come, first served.
There are a couple steps into the bus, so it is unfortunately not fully accessible at this time.
If you'd like a seat on the bus, email operations@adaptiveclimbersfest.org.
Looking to split a rental car? email operations@adaptiveclimbersfest.org, and we’ll send you a link to the carpool webpage. (We keep it private since it involves people’s travel plans.)
Note: While we are happy to provide the carpool forum, ACF does not arrange any travel for our participants. Getting there and back is your responsibility.
What about lodging, amenities, and camping gear?
Lodging options:
Lago Linda Hideaway has all sorts of lodging - tent sites, RV camper sites, and cabins.
ACF has rented all of the cabins already, and these will only be available for people who medically cannot camp and cannot afford to rent a cabin offsite.
Please note that all cabin spaces at Lago Linda Hideaway (base camp) are first come, first served, and are not private spaces. (You'll have roommates.)
If you just don’t want to stay in a tent, you’ll want to start looking for a cabin rental outside of Lago Linda’s ASAP as October is a very popular time of the year.
Amenities (showers, pavilions, Wi-Fi, and more):
Lago’s has two shower houses with flush toilets, running water, and hot showers.
We will also provide accessible port-o-potties throughout the campsites and main camp areas.
At the climbing areas, there are pit toilets and funky port-o-potties.
There are pavilions to get shade or shelter from rain.
There is ok (spotty) Wi-Fi in the main area of camp.
If you’re bringing a cooler there is bagged ice for sale on site.
Camping gear:
We’ll have a limited amount of loaner tents, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads, but we’d recommend trying to borrow from someone before you arrive.
Email us if you need help.
There is also a place on their registration form to request what you need!
What kind of climbing experience and gear do I need?
I’ve only climbed indoors before:
That’s awesome! We’ll be offering a gym to crag clinic that may be perfect for you, but also feel free to join any other clinics or just hang out with open climb. The Red is a great place to have your first outdoor climbing experience.
I’ve NEVER climbed before:
That’s AWESOME! We love hanging with first timers here at the ACF.
I’m not interested in clinics but still want to climb. However, I don’t have much experience:
Open Climb is the solution! We’ll have a large section of wall with top ropes hung and belayers ready to catch. You can climb as little or as much as you’d like, just tie in and go!
I’m an experienced climber, and I don’t know that the ACF is for me:
It so, so is for you! In fact, nearly half of our participants have at least four years of climbing experience. If you want to go explore the gorge, you’re totally free to go do your own thing and climb whatever, wherever. Or you can come climb with us at Muir and move around as you’d like. Come camp and stay with us though. You won’t want to miss the fun!
I don’t have any of my own climbing gear:
Bring what you have, and we’ll have plenty to share. Our sponsors will have demo fleets of harnesses, shoes, and helmets. Group gear like ropes, quickdraws will be supplied.
I’m a climber and I’m bringing my own gear:
That’s great, but make sure you mark it! There will be dozens of climber kits scattered everywhere, so unless you want your gear to end up donated to the general ACF gear bucket, make sure you mark it and keep track of it all!
PACKING LIST:
Review the list on our blog post: Pack Me!
What about the food?
I want to eat all the food but have dietary restrictions:
We have an amazing cook crew for the weekend who will be happy to help accommodate. Just let us know your needs when you register. View our ACF Meals page for more information.
Who’s Welcome?
I’m not sure if my disability qualifies me to come?
If you have a disability, you can absolutely come! There’s no such thing as a hierarchy of disability that prevents anybody from joining us at the festival. We’re happy to have everybody, regardless of how intense your disability is or how it presents.
I haven’t been officially diagnosed, but I am disabled. Can I still come?
Absolutely! If you identify as a climber with a disability, you are welcome here.
Can I bring a plus one, or can my caregiver come along?
Yes, they are welcome here! However, space is limited and we need to know they are coming. When you’re filling out your registration, please follow the instructions given for how to register a plus one or caregiver.
Can my plus one come to the crag and climb with me?
Plus ones are not allowed to register for clinics and educational opportunities. These are designed for adaptive climbers, by adaptive climbers. If an adaptive climber needs assistance from a caregiver, that person is allowed to attend the clinic, but only to help the climber and not participate. Some of our climbing spaces have very limited physical space to hang out, and our instructors and guides may ask immediate family members to leave if they're hanging out.
What about my caregiver?
A caregiver is someone who can assist the climber with mobility and/or personal tasks. They are traveling with an adaptive climber specifically to help them out. This also include parents of adaptive climbers under the age of 18. If an adaptive climber needs assistance from a caregiver, that person is allowed to attend the clinic, but only to help the climber and not participate.