Upper Pigeon River: Premier Whitewater Rafting Experience

The Pigeon River Gorge traverses the Smoky Mountains from North Carolina to Tennessee in an east to west direction. The Upper Section of this river provides one of the most frequented rafting experiences in the U.S, serving as an excellent initiation to whitewater adventures.

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Pigeon River - The Pigeon River gorge slices from the east to the west through the Smoky Mountains, transitioning from North Carolina to Tennessee. It provides those on the water with sweeping vistas of the Great Smoky Mountains and a refreshing escape from the summer warmth.
  • Big Creek Expeditions - The premier rafting adventure on the Upper…
What's Included
  • Equipment provided: life jacket, helmet, paddle
What's Not Included
  • Lunch and Snacks are not included
Additional Information
  • Guests will then meet their personal guide and recieve the necessary equipment Including: life jacket, helmet and paddle.
  • After your guide double-checks to make sure all equipment is fitted properly, guests then hop on our bus for a short 10-minute ride to the launching point for your trip.
Location
3671 Hartford Rd
Hartford Road
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.9
(616 Ratings)
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T568ztjackies
Sep 16, 2026
What a blast of time! - Awesome time, guide was really informative, the river was level 3 to 4.Great place to spend with friends and family I would definitely say one of the best experiences.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
K2225vtflorb
Sep 15, 2026
Best time ever! - We had a blast, was a bit scary initially but our guide (Miranda) was the best, would definitely go back, highly recommend this place.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carolinebl9325uz
Sep 10, 2026
Top 3 of our vacation without a doubt - I’m late writing this review but really wanted to give Big Creek, and especially our guide, Sam, their flowers. Whitewater rafting was one of our family’s favorite activities this trip. Between this and our drive through the Smokies, our kids may finally be converted from “waterparks/amusement parks or nothing” to “wow, nature could be our amusement park”. It was my husband and kids’s first time rafting and we had so much fun. It was the perfect mix of beautiful scenery and thrills. Both kids ranked jumping into the river, holding onto the raft, and being pulled back in among their top three moments of the entire trip. Their only regret was not sitting in the front to get wetter, but there’s always next time! Sam turned a great experience into a truly amazing one He tailored the trip perfectly to our family, sharing nature and history with the adults while delighting the kids with spooky stories. He was also a great judge of how much excitement our family could handle and rowed tirelessly to give us a maximum splash effect despite the lower level of the river that day. We hope to be back in pigeon forge and will make sure to come visit again.
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K4195pdmonikah
Sep 8, 2026
Family outing - Fun, family friendly, first time for kids age 11 and 14, everyone had a blast. Experience not needed. You definitely get wet which was perfect was a hot weather we had.
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Ttodd44
Sep 7, 2026
Just the right amount of adrenaline - We had a great time. Exciting and fun.
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792stephanih
Aug 25, 2026
Core memory made!! - Fun experience!! Great for families! We loved it and our guide Darrell B. Was very knowledgeable and friendly!
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U2939kaasmaa
Aug 24, 2026
Water Rafting - Our guide Reagan was amazing. We started out scared at first but soon we loved how funny she was and how amazing she made our first water rafting experience. It was a beautiful and exciting experience. The length of the visit was about 1-2 hours and it was very worth it.
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Tammymoore24
Aug 22, 2026
Great experience - It was very easy to register online. I had previously called during off-hours to ask some questions. I received a prompt return call when the business reopened the next day. Chip was our guide. He was very good at keeping us safe and keeping us working as a team. He shared info about the river, trees, flowers, and history of the river. He was encouraging and helpful. It was a great rafting trip overall. I would recommend this company to others.
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Lindagx9696ju
Aug 21, 2026
Excellent - First time we ever done this great experience enjoyed very much and would do it again.
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Onair15086449635
Aug 17, 2026
Very good experienced guides - Very fun, had a great guide. Not quite as intense and exciting as I had expected but the trip was wonderful. More relaxing than I anticipated.
Review provided by Tripadvisor