Top 4 Things to Know About Our Tennessee White Water Rafting Outpost
If you’ve been searching for the closest white water rafting outfitter near Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountain area, you just found it! Our Pigeon River outpost is situated just about 45 minutes north of Gatlinburg, making it an easy half-day trip for those seeking the best outdoor adventure in the Smokies! Here are the top 4 things to know about our Tennessee white water rafting outpost:
1. Accessing Our Specific Location
Our Tennessee white water rafting outpost is located at 3299 Hartford Road in Hartford TN, just off of Interstate 40! To access our outpost from the Gatlinburg area, simply take Highway 321 east towards Cosby and exit onto the Foothills Parkway. Follow the Foothills Parkway until I-40 East, and then take the interstate to exit 447 for Hartford Road! Although it takes about 45 minutes to reach us, you’ll hardly notice the time with so much incredible scenery along the route! In fact, you’ll find plenty of stunning overlooks to experience on your journey along the Foothills Parkway!
2. Parking Information
Another one of the top things to know about our Tennessee white water rafting outpost is that we offer plenty of free parking! Since our outpost is not located within the boundaries of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you don’t have to worry about the parking tag fee. Note that the Foothills Parkway is considered part of the National Park, so you will need a parking tag if you plan to stop at any of the overlooks for more than 15 minutes at a time (a parking tag is not required for simply driving through the area without stopping or stopping for less than 15 minutes).
3. Accommodations Near Our Outpost
Another one of the top things to know about our Tennessee white water rafting outpost is whether there are any accommodations in the area! The exciting news is that you’ll find the Pigeon River Campground right next door, which offers a fantastic selection of tent sites, RV sites and camping cabins. This convenient campground also features amenities such as a swimming pool, recreational equipment, river access, a laundry room and more. It’s the best place to stay near our outpost!
4. Hikes in the Area
When you just can’t get enough of the great outdoors, there are several excellent hikes just minutes away! The Appalachian Trail runs just 6 miles east of our outpost, so this is a unique opportunity for hikers to explore a few miles of this iconic trail that runs for 2,200 miles from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine! If you’re driving towards Cosby and interested in a challenging hike, stop at the Maddron Bald Trail. This 6.6 mile loop trail takes an average of 3.5 hours to complete and offers plenty of gorgeous scenery! Other nearby hikes include the Stone Mountain Trail, Chestnut Branch Trail and Lower Mount Cammerer Trail.
Check out all of our Tennessee white water rafting trips today to plan your adventure on the Pigeon River! We look forward to welcoming you to our rafting outpost in Hartford, TN!
