Join us for the 25th Anniversary
of the 3 Rivers Rendezvous
at the Rodeo Grounds May 16 - 19, 2025
3RR Video-last year
In 1998, the Pinch-o-Crow Creekers began hosting a weekend gathering of canoe & kayak paddlers in SW Alberta. And now we have rafters and paddleboarders joining us. With more river runs than any other region in Alberta, the opportunities to find a river suitable for you to paddle abound close by. We missed 2 years because of the Covid lockdown, so this is our 25th anniversary. We want to welcome first timers and all of you who have come down in the past. Come join us for 3 days of paddling, fun and games, good food, meeting old friends and making new ones.
Everyone loved our return last year to the Castle River Rodeo Campground for our annual paddling festival down here in SW Alberta. The rental cost for the stockade and camping over the last several years has doubled but we want this event to be affordable for everyone. Last year our Sponsors came to the rescue and kicked in some extra to help out.
If you want one of the traditional INDIVIDUAL CAMPSITES down in the cottonwoods with power hookups, firepits and picnic tables, you have to book them directly with Chuck Lee. Do it right away if you want one, we only have a few.
Send Chuck an email at pinchocrowcreekers93@gmail.com
to reserve your own site.
The cost for an individual campsite is an extra $105 for the weekend. If you decide on this option you can get the package that doesn't include camping fees in your package price.
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Hopefully you can join us for out 25th annual May Long Weekend for the 3 Rivers Rendezvous in Southwest Alberta. We were excited to be able to host everyone last year and see the numbers bouncing back. The Pinch-o-Crow Creekers has camping, meals and activities all set for a great gathering of paddlers and their families from May 16 to 19.
There will be trips on the Crowsnest, Castle and Oldman Rivers. And there is the Elk, Wigwam, Bull Rivers, Upper Oldman and Carbondale runs. There will be opportunities for beginner groups to get on the water and paddle easier stretches as well as more advanced trips. And we will have lessons for beginners, novices, intermediate and advanced paddlers. AQ Outdoors will be teaching the Intermediate and Advanced clinics and our NCCP candidates and Learning Facilitators will be teaching beginner and novice courses.
The forecast for the May long weekend is looking great. Temps at 20 C and no snow! That means we will have great water too. HaHaHa..... Okay, its always been fun and it will be fun this year too ! But as a caution, the long time Rendezvous fans refer to this as the Snofest, because it is a gamble each year, sun or snow and maybe both. Bring your sunscreen, umbrellas, shorts, toques and parkas.
Weekend Schedule
Friday, May 16
2:00 pm - Campground Opens
Saturday, May 17
7:30 am - Registration Opens & Coffee is on
8:00 am - Breakfast Service
9:00 am - Paddlers Meeting & Plans for Day
10:00 am - Groups leaving for the day
4:00 pm - Groups returning for the day
6:00 pm - Supper Served
7:00 pm - Kid's Games & Prize Draws
Sunday, May 18
7:30 am - Registration Opens & Coffee is on
8:00 am - Breakfast Service
9:00 am - Paddlers Meeting & Plans for Day
10:00 am - Groups leaving for the day
4:00 pm - Groups returning for the day
6:00 pm - Supper Served
7:00 pm - Adult Games & Prize Draws
Monday, May 19
7:30 am - Coffee is on
9:00 am - Breakfast Service
10:00 am - Paddlers Meeting & Plans for Day
11:00 am - Groups leaving for the day
Packup and Goodbyes
For camping at the Rodeo Grounds, we have designated field areas that you are welcome to set up your trailer, camper or tents south of the compound. Bring your camping chairs, tables, propane firepits and other camping items to make you comfortable. Remember to bring your own plates, bowls, mugs and cutlery.
If you want to camp in a traditional campsite, there are 35 sites north of the compound down in the cottonwoods. These sites have electrical hookups, picnic tables and firepits. I reserved as many as I could for us but there is a limited number. If you want one of these sites, please contact Chuck Lee at pinchocrowcreekers93@gmail.com to see what we have left. The cost for a campsite is $105 for 3 days.
The central hub for the weekend is the Stockade. The Stockade has been upgraded over the last 5 years and is a great facility for our event. This is the place where we do registration, prepare and serve meals, meet up to plan the days paddling, hang out, play some games, and draw for prizes. The compound has capacity for everyone to gather. There is a commercial kitchen for us to prepare our great meals. There are tables and chairs to sit down with your family and friends for meals and entertainment. The compound has flush toilets. Last year we introduced propane and electrical overhead heaters around the compound to make it more comfortable for everyone. We will have potable water trucked to the site to refill water bottles..
On Saturday night we will have children's games and draw prizes for the kids. On Sunday night we have a great games night for teens and adults and draw prizes for the older crowd.
We want to rebuild our very successful long weekend event that kicks off the summer kayak season for Alberta. Prior to the Pandemic, we had 300+ paddlers down here each year. It's a great gathering and with so many river runs around there is lots of space for everyone.
For those of you with friends or family not paddling, there are some great hikes, mountain biking, flyfishing, wonderful museums and historic sites close by (Frank Slide, Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village, Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump and the Bar U Ranch), shopping and even some cowboy adventures if you want something totally different.
All proceeds from the weekend, go to support our youth kayak programs.
We are asking people to register online to help us figure out how much food to prepare and to set aside a camping spot with your friends. If you have any questions please call or send me a note.
We have package prices for the weekend and break out pricing for meals only, camping only etc. The Full Package price includes all entries, entertainment, 3 nights camping in the field, 2 suppers and 3 breakfasts, plus prize tickets. Early bird on-line prices are shown below. After May 6th the price increased $25 and will increase again by another $15 at midnight Tuesday May 13th.
Special rates for Camping & Event Only (no meals), Meals & Event Only (no camping), and one or two days camping or individual meals.
Qty | Full Package Camp, Food, Event | 3 Night Camping & Event Fee | 5 Meals & Event No Camping |
|---|---|---|---|
Singles | 145 | 65 | 105 |
Family of 2 | 225 | 90 | 200 |
Family of 3 | 290 | 110 | 265 |
Add X's | 290 + 55*X | 110 + 20*X | 265 + 55*X |
Camping & Event | Single | Family of 2 | More than 2 |
|---|
Meals | Adults | Teens | Child |
|---|---|---|---|
Suppers Each | $25.00 | $20.00 | $15.00 |
Breakfasts Each | $17.00 | $114.00 | $11.00 |
PreSchool Meals | Free | Free | Free |
Event Fee | $25.00 | $20.00 | $15.00 |
Meal Plans
With food prices rising over the last few years, we are working out our menu. Our plan this year includes a dryrub marinated steak, corn, salad and cake one night and a chili, salad, bun and cinnamon bun the other night. Breakfast will be pancakes, eggs, bacon or sausage for 2 mornings and a breakfast wrap for the last morning.
There will be vegetarian, keto, and gluten free options for those wanting them. You must let us know if you want a special plate in advance so that we can order enough.
So register early so that we can have a great meal reserved for you.
LATE FEES: Registration fees will increase by $25 per family after May 4th and another $15 on top of that after May 13th.
Lessons and Clinics
If you are a brand new paddler, still dry behind the ears, and would like a 2 day lake and river beginner kayak course. We are making special arrangements for you this year. There will be an additional $160 cost to the weekend for you, which is a $90 savings for 2 days equipment and instruction.
If you have been in the pool this winter and want to head to the river we are offering a 2 day novice kayak clinic at a fee of $160 extra. Instructors will do a quick review on the lake before heading over to the river to introduce you to the current.
THESE COURSES HAVE TO BE PRE-REGISTERED so we can arrange to have an Instructor available to teach you. You will see the courses on the main registration page.
In Addition to our Beginner and Novice clinics, AQ Outdoors brings it's talented team of Instructors to the Rendezvous and is making them available to teach Intermediate and Advanced Paddlers over the weekend.
These Instructional Days can be booked online.
NCCP Evaluations
Alberta's NCCP Learning Facilitators are
offering an opportunity for people who want
to complete their evaluations for the:
-
Lake Kayak Instructor,
-
River Leader 2,
-
River Instructor 2
to be evaluated at the Rendezvous.
THE AWA heavily subsidizes the evaluations but there is a cost of $25 for each Leader/Instructor candidate. The Pinch-o-Crow Creekers will cover that fee if you teach one of the Beginner or Novice courses for us at the Rendezvous.
EVALUATIONS HAVE TO BE PRE-REGISTERED SO WE CAN ARRANGE TO HAVE EVALUATORS AVAILABLE FOR YOU.
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Did you know that the weekend after the 3RR, there is another whitewater festival just across the border ?
50th Annual
BIGFORK WHITE WATER FESTIVAL
MAY 23-25, 2025
BENEFITING THE MONTANA KAYAK ACADEMY!
HAPPENING EVERY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
The Bigfork Whitewater Festival will be celebrating its 50th year! We welcome you to join us for this historic, local event as either a competitor or spectator this Memorial Day Weekend in Downtown Bigfork.
Bigfork, Montana is located on the north end of Flathead Lake, where the Swan River spills into Bigfork Bay. The last mile of the Swan River, known as the "Wild Mile", is a class IV section of whitewater. This beautiful and challenging whitewater venue has a scenic nature trail paralleling the north side, giving spectators front row seats for some of the best whitewater action in the area.
The Wild Mile also flows through downtown Bigfork, which offers an eclectic variety of restaurants, shops and galleries. For more information and updates about the festival, keep checking back on our Facebook page and Instagram.
Join our crew for a 10 day tour of
SW Alberta, SE British Columbia and Northern Montana
You can tag along or dive right in with this tour that will include the 3 Rivers Rendezvous, Elk - Wigwam - Bull Rivers. Then onto the Yaak before winding up on the Swan River at Bigfork, Montana.
We will have local guides that can set up a plan for the group. With a shared food plan and travel arrangements this is a great opportunity for some great experience.
