Upper Pigeon River: Award-Winning Rafting Experience

Experience the thrill of Class 3 to Class 4 whitewater rapids on the Upper Pigeon River with Smoky Mountain Outdoors. Award-winning and TripAdvisor Top 10, this is the closest rafting trip to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge!

Duration: 1 hour, 45 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • 3299 Hartford Rd - The longest trip on the Pigeon River
  • 1.5 miles longer than any other rafting adventure! Take an exciting 6.5 mile ride down class 3 and 4 rapids!
    On our Upper River Trip, our certified guides will navigate your raft the entire trip, sharing their love of splashing through big waves, maneuvering around rocks, and enjoying the…
What's Included
  • All applicable taxes and fees
  • Safety instructions
  • Professional guide
  • All necessary rafting equipment
What's Not Included
  • Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
  • Gratuities
  • Food and drinks
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional Information

The Upper Pigeon River Trip by Smoky Mountain Outdoors is ranked among Tripadvisor’s Top 10 Experiences and has been honored with a Travelers’ Choice award. It’s the nearest whitewater rafting adventure to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge cities! Everybody is invited to join us - no prior experience is required. You’ll navigate through Class 3 and Class 4…

Location
3299 Hartford Rd
Hartford Road
Meet at our Riverside Outpost 3299 Hartford Road, Hartford, TN 37753. We will transport you to the put-in, and you will raft back to the Outpost. All customers are required to check in 45 minutes before your trip schedule. It is very important to be there on time .
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(1442 Ratings)
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Holly
Aug 17, 2025
Family trip - Booked this adventure due to going a lot as a child. What I remember was long leisure and exciting rides with lots of fun to be had. Our party of nine enjoyed the trip! This was a lot short then I remember. We all really enjoyed it . The guide was super friendly and the river was navigated safely through the rapids! Would absolutely return. Sounds like this activity and business has changed in the area due to recent damaging floods. Was glad to enjoy the river despite the changes since the floods … With the way the world it is a privilege to enjoy a natural “amusement ride” . This opportunity may not be around forever due to the way the world is progressing! Was glad to have a company that allowed us to experience whitewater rafting enjoyably with no issues!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sightsee27307521580
Aug 12, 2025
Family Fun - We had a BLAST. Our group ranged in age from 12-57 We had awesome guides, super well organized, knowledgeablele and fun.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
G853wbdanielt
Aug 10, 2025
Perfect Family outing - We have a family of six (kids ages- 17, 16, 13, and 11) and enjoyed ourselves immensely on this trip! The rapids are not too intense and are easy to navigate for beginners. We had an amazing guide (Eleanor) who was so knowledgeable and helpful for our experience. There are plenty of quieter and still places along the way, including a spot people can get out and briefly swim.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
P2558izjohns
Aug 6, 2025
Rained all day and had a blast - We had a great time. It literally poured rain the entire time we were on the river and our group still enjoyed the trip. You end up interacting with other companies on the water (the river is not that large), and the guides at Smoky Mountain Outdoors just seemed to be a cut above the others. The facility where you meet and then offload at the end of the trip are top notch. Bathrooms are clean with hot showers, lockers available for valuables, and a nice gift shop as well. Overall, a first class operation.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
109trishaa
Aug 5, 2025
Best family adventure! - Family trip (first time for husband and kids water rafting). Best experience. Had Megan and she was very knowledgeable of river inspire of river changing after floods. Super affordable. Even had a great BBQ food truck on-site for afterward. Able to change clothing on site (no showers).
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Z3110hasherryb
Aug 5, 2025
Best rafting - We had a great time. Brought 13 yr old grandkids. They loved it. Our guy Trevor was great. This was a first for the kids. Had a great time
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Justinmv2046zb
Jul 25, 2025
Phenomenal - Vic, our guide was the best and made our experience over the top! The waters were moving, the view was magnificent, and our guide was phenomenal! She knows what shes doing and eveytime we visit we will be requesting her. Thanks for the fun times!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Daydream117623
Jul 24, 2025
- Our guide Cade was awesome! He was friendly, knowledgeable, engaging, and professional. Truly an unforgettable experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
S2584elnicolek
Jul 23, 2025
Great time was had by all!! - We had a great time!! Chris was an amazing guide and made sure our trip was memorable:). We also had friends with us who had never been rafting before, and they had so much fun too!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lisa
Jul 20, 2025
So much fun!!!! - We had so much fun Rafting! We would definitely do this again. Our guide, TJ was spectacular! He made our trip so much fun. I highly recommend SMO!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $52
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).