At Smoky Mountain Outdoors, we want our guests to enjoy their white water rafting adventure to the fullest. Absolutely no prior experience is needed to go rafting with us, but it doesn’t hurt to prepare for your trip with a little research. To help you make the most of your time in the Smokies, we’ve put together five tips for going white water rafting in Gatlinburg:
(See Also: 7 Ways White Water Rafting in Gatlinburg Makes You Smarter)
1. Learn a little about where you are going.
All of the white water rafting trips at Smoky Mountain Outdoors take place along the Pigeon River. Spanning both western North Carolina and east Tennessee, this beautiful river is headed up by a dam which provides electricity to the area and allows for scheduled water releases. The Lower Pigeon River is characterized by gentle class 1 and 2 rapids, while the Upper Pigeon River is known for rollicking waves, with lots of class 3 and 4 rapids.
2. Understand the benefits of scheduled releases.
The Pigeon River is perfect for white water rafting because of its dam-controlled water releases. These scheduled releases from the power planet allow our guides to plan trips that coincide with the very best rafting conditions.When you raft with us at Smoky Mountain Outdoors, you can always be confident that the water level will never be too low or too high.
3. Get to know your guides.
Guests always tell us that their favorite part about rafting with us was their guides! All of our rafting guides are very experienced and certified in Standard First Aid. In addition to their qualifications, our guides are also friendly, fun people who want you to have an amazing adventure on the river. We make a special effort to put nervous guests at ease and to point out the most interesting landmarks during our trips. To see what former guests have said about our guides, check out the official Smoky Mountain Outdoors TripAdvisor page.
4. Raft as a group.
When it comes to white water rafting, the more the merrier! Rafting with your family and friends is a great way to bond, and it just makes everything more fun. Visiting Smoky Mountain Outdoors as a group is also a great way to save money. Check out our Gatlinburg White Water Rafting Group Information page to learn about our discounted rates for parties of ten or more.
5. Combine white water rafting with a zipline adventure.
When you go white water rafting at Smoky Mountain Outdoors, you will have the opportunity to take advantage of an exclusive combo deal. We have partnered with CLIMB Works Canopy Tours, so guests can save $20 when they go rafting and ziplining in the Smokies. CLIMB Works offers a nine line zipline tour featuring three sky bridges and breathtaking mountain views. The tour is designed so your feet won’t touch the ground for 2 and ½ hours! Follow the link to learn more about our Smoky Mountain Zipline & White Water Rafting Combo.
Smoky Mountain Outdoors is currently closed for the season, but we are already taking reservations for 2015. To schedule your trip, visit our White Water Rafting in Gatlinburg Reservations page or give us a call today!
