6 Things You’ll Love About River Rafting in Gatlinburg TN
If you’re going to be visiting Gatlinburg, Tennessee, a white water rafting trip with Smoky Mountain Outdoors is an absolute must! We’ve been taking vacationers on rafting adventures since 1993, and there is nothing we enjoy more than showing first-timers the ropes. To help you get an idea of what to expect on your trip, we have put together a list of six things you’ll love about river rafting in Gatlinburg TN:
1. Getting Pumped Up on the Bus Ride to the River
When you go on an adventure with Smoky Mountain Outdoors, you’ll be having fun before you even set foot in your raft! One of our favorite parts of the rafting experience is actually the bus ride over to the river. During this brief ride, our guides will go over safety information and get your group excited for your rafting trip. You can expect a lot of call and response yelling and plenty of enthusiasm. Trust us, if you weren’t pumped up yet, you will be after your bus ride!
2. Candid (and Often Hilarious) Photographs
As you make your way down the river, one of our talented photographers will snap a photo of your rafting group. Sometimes you’ll have time to smile for the photo, but in other cases, these photographs end up capturing some candid rafting moments. After your trip, be sure to check out the photos starring your group. You may find great action shots or some hilarious photos of your family getting splashed as they go river rafting in Gatlinburg TN!
3. Thrilling Rapids
The Pigeon River is the third most popular rafting river in the entire nation, and it’s easy to see why. Our Upper Pigeon River rafting trips offer about 70 different rapids, ranging from class 1 to class 4. If you’ve never gone over a class 4 rapid before, you’re in for a real treat! When you raft the Upper Pigeon, you’ll enjoy plenty of wet and wild thrills that you won’t soon forget.
4. Surfing
When we talk about “surfing”, we’re not referring to hanging ten on a gnarly wave in California! As it applies to rafting, “surfing” is a trick you can do when you maneuver your raft into the trough of a wave. When done correctly, your raft will rest right on the wave as the water splashes you. Many guests tell us that surfing was their favorite part of the rafting trip.
5. Breathtaking Scenery
Rafting isn’t all exhilarating rapids and surfing; there are also plenty of quieter moments for you to catch your breath. The lower portion of the Pigeon River is very calm, and offers stunning scenery to enjoy. As you gently float down the river, you can admire the incredible natural beauty all around you.
6. Guides with Plenty of Personality
Here at Smoky Mountain Outdoors, we only hire the best. Our guides are some of the friendliest, funniest people you will ever meet. All of our guides know the Pigeon River like the back of their hand and are certified in Standard First Aid, so guests can feel completely safe and secure during their rafting adventure. Guides at Smoky Mountain Outdoors have plenty of personality, so you can expect to hear some great stories during your rafting trip!
Ready to go river rafting in Gatlinburg TN? Book your white water rafting trip today!
