
NAMED ONE OF THE TOP 10 EXPERIENCES IN THE UNITED STATES
Come White Water Rafting in the Smoky Mountains.
Treat yourself to an unforgettable experience at Smoky Mountain Outdoors (SMO) with one of our many white water rafting adventures in Tennessee. We’ve been setting the bar high for whitewater rafting service, safety and fun since 1993.
Experience whitewater rafting in Tennessee and be assured of an exciting adventure as you romp through some of our class III and class IV rapids this rafting season!
Cool Down with Rafting in the Smoky Mountains!
Beat the summer heat with a fun-filled day of rafting in the beautiful Smoky Mountains. Enjoy the thrill of the rapids and the refreshing water as you make unforgettable memories. Join us for an adventure you won’t forget!
UPPER RIVER RAFTING
Enjoy a fun and exciting 6.5 mile trip down the river on class 3 and 4 rapids.
Available March – October
LEARN MORE
LOWER RIVER RAFTING
Experience a scenic 5.5 mile trip on the river that’s perfect for families.
Available May – September
LEARN MORE
The rapids were not as scary as I imagined they would be, but we did know how to paddle, from kayaking, and we listened to everything Bart told us to do, so that made everything easy and fun.
It was amazing and beautiful, rafting down the river and going through the rapids. I can see how it can be addicting.
They have a great souvenir store and they sell water shoes if you don't have any, just so people know.
They have decent bathrooms and a little place outside that sells hot dogs, hamburgers, fries, drinks, and more.
There are lockers to put your belongings in, so bring cash and a few dollars in quarters.
This was an amazing experience, and I would highly recommend coming here, no matter your age or experience level. Now, onto category five rapids!
The one piece of criticism was about the restroom/changing room situation. They were definitely older. They also could have been cleaner.
Enough about Dean!!! Our experience with SMO was great. From booking, the bus driver, the other guides, the equipment… this is a first class outfitter. Don’t go anywhere else in that area!
Make sure to bring $2 cash if you need a locker for your keys, and cash to tip your guide.
Definitely do the upper river.
The guy at the picture counter that was focused on eating candy, drinking soads from the the vending fridge, and watching football on his phone was pretty useless.
But the lady at the check in counter was very nice and accommodating.
Turtle was our guide, and she was excellent. My niece fell out and turtle was on it immediately. I was quite impressed in the speed of which she got her back into the boat. Everyone in our group had an absolutely wonderful time and wanted to do it again immediately. Will definitely be back when we are in the area. Thank you so much for a great day!!!
Chuck was our spectacular crew leader today and made our experience fantastic. Thank you Chuck!!
Kendall and Ellen
It was very easy to locate the place and there is enough parking space. You can purchase the gear needed from the store and they do have a locker in case you need to keep any of your stuff. Good briefing on the way to start point, so you can enjoy every bit of it’s your first experience. Make sure to reach 30-40 mins before the schedule time. We did the pigeon river raft with 7-8 rapids of easy to moderate level in the month of April and they managed to click some good shots. The view of smoky is really beautiful. Definitely is a relaxing and adventurous experience.



You wanna know how awesome this tour was?! My 12 year old daughter who hates everything...and is also scared of her own shadow....LOVED IT. It was very painful for her to admit she had a great time with her family, but this did it. We will for sure be back next trip!!

This company partners with CLIMBWORKS and we took advantage of the zipline/whitewater rafting deal, and it was totally worth it.
Highly recommend bringing an extra pair of clothes to change into once you’re done.
You have to leave belongings at their base because you get driven up to a start point and then raft back down. They have lockers on site or you can leave it in your car (they have parking on site)
You can bring a go pro or waterproof camera if you’d like (I’d also recommend if you want to capture some awesome moments)














We made reservations the day of and had a spot 2 hours later. During booking, we asked about social distancing on the bus ride and they assured that they do separate groups with empty seat rows. The check in office had plenty glass barriers for the cashier. We had felt it would be a safe trip with only minimal exposure to one guide, and with them sitting behind us on the boat.
The bus ride back is not what was promised. At the end of the trip, the guides said we had seats with space around and we could get on, but as we boarded we saw it was packed with no social distance around our seats. We were crammed in tight with the guides standing in aisles and all seats filled. Then one of the guides (not ours) stood directly in front of our group with no mask on, in front of my 71 year old mother in law that had a mask on and made jokes, and didn't take the hints to stand back.
After the day was over, the manager apologized and promised to work on improving while giving us a refund. We didn't ask for a refund, but it indicates to me they are serious.

On the lower half we had Hayden an she was very good as well. The were lively and engaging. They were everything you would want in river guides.















Yelp

















Great Location Near Gatlinburg
Our whitewater rafting is located 45 minutes from Gatlinburg, so you will still get to experience the beauty of the Smoky Mountains!

SAFE & FUN RAFTING
All Tennessee rafting trips include an experienced guide in every raft to keep your adventure safe and enjoyable.
LEARN MORE
PIGEON RIVER CAMPING
Looking for a great place to stay before and after your whitewater rafting trip? Pigeon River Campground is right next door! Take a look at our Pigeon River Campground and our camping cabins.
LEARN MORE
White water rafting near Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and the Smoky Mountains.
Reserve Now by calling us at 865-430-3838.
Where your trip begins!
3299 Hartford Road
Hartford, TN 37753
Read Our Blog
FAQs
Cancellation Policy
Affiliations
Employment
Sign up and be the first to receive rafting discounts and special offers.
Smoky Mountain Outdoors
White water rafting near Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and the Smoky Mountains.
Reserve Now by calling us at 865-430-3838.
Outpost Address
Where your trip begins!
3299 Hartford Road
Hartford, TN 37753
Plan Your Visit
Plan Your Visit
Trips
Packages
Group Info
Coupons
Reviews
Directions
Contact Us
Helpful Info
Helpful Info
Read Our Blog
FAQs
Cancellation Policy
Affiliations
Employment
Copyright 2025 Smoky Mountain Outdoors | All Rights Reserved