Steve Ruth

Eastern Region

Steve Ruth grew up riding coal truck innertubes down the Russell Fork River and roaming the old logging roads and trails of the Breaks Interstate Park at Elkhorn City. He began writing about the natural wonderland in high school and later actively recruited visitors from his fellow students at Centre College for long weekends of camping, hiking and tubing.

Steve returned to his hometown in 1994 for a month-long sabbatical after 15 years making a living as a writer and media producer. An old friend put him in a whitewater kayak and his whole world changed.

Steve has become a tireless advocate for whitewater and other adventure tourism opportunities in the region. He is the organizer of the Russell Fork Rendezvous, a yearly whitewater festival in Elkhorn City; a founding member of the Pine Mountain Trail Conference board; a member of the Great Eastern Trail Conference; a board member of the Artists Collaborative Theatre; and Elkhorn City’s Adventure Tourism Liaison. His website, www.russellfork.info, has informed and promoted whitewater on the Russell Fork river for 15 years. No matter what’s happening, Steve would probably rather be boating.