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
(1474 Ratings)
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Rhondas89
Sep 4, 2026
Enjoyable experience - Hadley was great. Very confident and chill. We had fun!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
578samic
Aug 30, 2026
Great time! - We went rafting with SMO on the Upper Pigeon river this past weekend and the experience was amazing! We had a great time thanks to our guide Brady! He kept us safe but made sure we had a fun time. I would definitely go rafting with SMO again and recommend this experience to anyone visiting the area!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Stephaniekc7799yj
Aug 28, 2026
Definitely try it- you won't regret it - We absolutely loved this excursion! We spent about 2.5hrs on the river. Our guide was incredible and we made memories of a lifetime! It's a must do every time we visit! The rapids were intense at times and the scenery is unlike anything you can drive to. My kids favorite part was riding the bull! If you know, you know! The guides are very well trained and knowledgeable about the river and the area so you're in great hands! I can't say enough about this company- they really are the best. The money is well spent and you won't be disappointed!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Leahhx3716qv
Aug 14, 2026
Noah was amazing and the Staff went out of their way!!!! - Such an amazing place! Noah our guide was OUTSTANDING and we had 2- 3rd grade boys and 1- 4th grade boy and he kept calling them "Little dudes" and related to them so well! It was like he was Crush from Finding Nemo. A couple of us were very apprehensive to go and it ended up being the highlight to our trip! The Upper tour was so much fun and provided the right amount of thrill without it feeling so dangerous. The staff also went out of there way with a gift shop order and it put a huge smile on our faces. Such a great experience! We brought a group of 66 there based on a family of 4's recommendation and I would 100% bring ANOTHER group of 66 there. Just 5 stars all round!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Skinnywillett
Aug 12, 2026
Extreme wasn’t worth the price, but the Guide made the trip! - We did the Extreme tour yesterday. We went through the same rapids as everyone else for double the price, just in a smaller raft. In my opinion, the extreme is not worth the money. The facility is very nice and clean! Our guide, Drew, was phenomenal! Besides telling us when to row, he basically gave us a tour of everything on the river and how the hurricane changed the landscape. He was extremely knowledgeable and made the trip!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
137kylet
Aug 7, 2026
Great Day on the Water - This was a great whitewater rafting trip. Lots of fun, beautiful scenery. The boats are nice, the guides were fantastic and knowledgeable. And there was great whitewater sections. Nothing too scary, but definitely challenging and fun for everyone. We mostly had teenagers and parents and everyone loved it. Would highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mendez862
Aug 6, 2026
An exciting & refreshing time on the river. - Had an amazing experience. Everthing was first class. From the time you arrived we were effiently parked, told where to go, checked in, met our guide (Luca - who was fantastic). The rapids were just enough to get you soaked & refreshed on a hot summer day. Will definately do it again next year.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Triciag909
Jul 30, 2026
Smiles and adventures for the family! - Our girls trip of me and my two daughters was a fun and fantastic time with Ren as our guide today! Ren made sure our vests and helmets were safe and secure and answered our questions like a pro. We were prepared to take on the exciting adventure on the river. Thanks Ren, for making the trip fun and for keeping us giggling along the way. I recommend SMO and the super cool guide Ren. Our expectations were exceeded.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Spartyfan1998
Jul 29, 2026
Upper Pigeon River Rafting Adventure - We had an incredible experience rafting with Smoky Mountain Outdoors on the Pigeon River! From start to finish, the entire operation was professional, organized, and focused on making sure everyone had a safe and fun adventure. Our guide was fantastic, knowledgeable, entertaining, and skilled at navigating the rapids while keeping the whole group engaged. The scenery along the river was beautiful, and the mix of exciting rapids and calmer stretches made for the perfect adventure for both first-time rafters and experienced paddlers. The staff did an excellent job explaining safety procedures, providing equipment, and making everyone feel comfortable before we hit the water. We especially appreciated the positive energy and enthusiasm of the entire team. The rapids were thrilling, the views were amazing, and the memories we made will last a lifetime. If you're visiting the Smoky Mountains and looking for an unforgettable outdoor activity, I highly recommend Smoky Mountain Outdoors. We can't wait to come back and do it again!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
N718phharryw
Jul 28, 2026
You won’t be disappointed - Val was an amazing guide. We were a mixed group. Some first timers and some repeaters. She made the first timers comfortable and the repeaters want to go again and again. This place was beautiful and had thought of everything to make it a wonderful experience
Review provided by Tripadvisor