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We're Open - Come Join Us on the River!

white water rafters waving from raft
rafters floating in water next to raft
guide with a group of rafters

Spring and Fall Trips

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March - April | September - October

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8+ Years of Age

Our Spring and Fall Trips are some of the best! Since water levels are less predictable this time of year, you may experience class III to IV rapids on your trip, or you may experience a leisurely trip down the river.

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whitewater rafting over rapids on Upper Pigeon River Rafting trip
paddling through rapids on Upper River Rafting trip

Upper River Rafting

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March - October

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8+ Years Of Age

Our Upper Pigeon River Rafting Trip is one of the longest white water rafting trips on the Pigeon River that we offer. This trip is a 1.5-2 hour trip down the river on class III and IV rapids, making it one of our most popular and exciting experiences in the Smoky Mountains!

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black raft with two people plus guide going through rapids
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Extreme Upper River Rafting

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May - September

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12+ Years Of Age

For the most extreme white water rafting trip, you can go on this smaller boat adventure. With the smaller boats, your group will hit more rapids to make your ride down the river more exciting!

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Lower Pigeon River Rafting

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May - September

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3+ Years of Age

If you’re looking for a bit more of a relaxing ride down the river, we’ve got you covered with our Lower Pigeon River Rafting Trip. Kids love this ride down the river, so it’s an attraction everyone in the family can enjoy.

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Upper/Lower Combo Package

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March - September

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8+ Years of Age

With our Upper/Lower Combo Package, you can experience a longer rafting trip down both the Upper and Lower Pigeon River! This gives you the chance to hit more varieties of rapids as you make your way down the river.

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A rafting adventure for the whole family

One thing that makes Smoky Mountain Outdoors a great place for white water rafting near Gatlinburg is that it’s perfect for anyone 3 years old and up. This is the best attraction for the whole family to enjoy!

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Thrills for All Ages, Adventure for Every Heart

Join us on the Pigeon River for a one-of-a-kind white water rafting experience.

Why Choose Us

Expert Guidance, Thrilling Adventures

Our family-owned and operated rafting company is the most trusted outfitter on America’s #1 river.

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Community

White water rafting is the perfect bonding experience for families and groups.

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Explore The River

See the beauty of the Smoky Mountains all around while experiencing thrilling rapids.

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Safety

Our guides are trained to put safety first so you can enjoy a fun and safe rafting trip.

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Fun & Enjoyment

Create unforgettable memories as you navigate exciting rapids with your family and friends.

sketch of the Pigeon River

From Our Customers

Feedback & Testimonials

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Read Our Reviews
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I really feel like 5 stars isn't enough. I would 10/10 recommend this. We did the lower river which worked great for us. Grayson was our guide and did an unbelievable job. We can't wait to go back and do it again. The lower had a few mediums size rapids which made it fun and not just a float down the river.

~ Josh Elliot

Our party of 7 including kids aged 9-14 with a little whitewater experience had an absolute blast on this adventure down the Upper Pigeon River. Our guide Preston was super experienced and tailor made our experience to maximize the most fun out of the river. Do not pass up this wonderful experience!

~ Karen L

such an amazing experience!! my lady and i did the extreme version of the tour, and it was awesome! we got a smaller boat, so we were able to move quicker and whatnot, making for a super exciting experience! our guide was Gabby, and she did an amazing job! if you can, request her for your tour, and you won’t regret it! thank you SMO for an amazing experience

~ Kevin Bowen

Smokey Mountain Outdoor Rafting gets a definite thumbs up from me! Being on my bucket list for years, of things I have wanted to do, I decided, at the age of 53, to go big or go home, and paid to do the extreme rafting adventure. I was not disappointed at all. Bart was our guide and he was very experienced, knowledgeable, friendly, and engaging.

~ L Applegarth

Great experience! This was our family's first time rafting and the crew was fantastic. We felt safe the entire time and my daughters can't wait to go again! Our guide, Dan, was helpful and shared fun information about the river with us as we navigated the rapids. The class 4 rapids were a bit too intense for me, but everyone else loved them. The facility was well organized and although they obviously do a large volume of business, it wasn't crowded and the property was clean.

~ Maegan McCrea