“Great day on the river!
Upper River Rafting
Our Most Popular Trip!
The longest trip on the Pigeon River – 1.5 miles longer than any other rafting adventure! Take an exciting 6.5 mile ride down class 3 and 4 rapids!
On our Upper River Trip, our certified guides will navigate your raft the entire trip, sharing their love of splashing through big waves, maneuvering around rocks, and enjoying the beauty of being in the great outdoors. Big waves, big drops and plenty of surfing will assure that you have the time of your life.
On your trip, you’ll get to run about 70 rapids ranging from class 1 to class 4. But, never fear, the Big Pigeon River is for the inexperienced and experienced paddlers. Don’t worry Mom, we’re gonna take good care of you and the kids.
How long will I spend on the river? Approx. 1.5 – 2 hours. Please note: Trip time may vary with water levels and natural conditions.
Who can go on this trip? All rafters must be at least 8 years of age or weigh at least 70 pounds.
Do I have to make a reservation? Strongly recommended!
Please note that scheduled whitewater-level releases begin Memorial Day weekend and end Labor Day weekend. Before and after this period, water levels are dependent on natural conditions, are variable, and unpredictable.
Upper River Rafting
– 6.5 mile raft trip down class 3 and 4 rapids
– Certified guide for your entire trip
– Big waves, big drops and plenty of surfing
– Up to 7 people + the guide per raft *varies according to water level
– Trips go rain or shine!
-Must be 8 years of age or weigh at least 70 pounds
4,800 5-STAR TRIPADVISOR REVIEWS
Prasad Nair
15:06 11 Apr 21
Our Upper Pigeon River rafting was a fun experience. Be sure to reach early so you get enough time to check-in and shop... for essentials at the SMO store. You can purchase water shoes and eye glass straps at the store. There is a small locker to keep your car keys and wallets. You need a couple dollars on cash for that. The rafting itself is fun and our guide made kept us engaged throughout. Overall a great way to spend an hour and a half at the Smokies.read more
Lara Schaible
01:21 08 Apr 21
Our family went rafting on the Upper Pigeon River. What a fantastic trip! George, our guide was professional,... knowledgeable and more simply put a kind soul. He kept our group engaged. The time in between fun screams through the rapids were filled with laughter as we shared stories. Memories to hold for a lifetime! Thanks SMO!read more
Ella Seedorf
20:51 27 Mar 21
I am a 12 year old girl, and for my age range, I loved it!!! Amazing experience. Are instructor's name was Hope. She... was very nice and seemed to know a lot about the river. I trusted her completely. I very highly recommend spending your vacation here!read more
Dennis M
21:06 23 Mar 21
Lots of fun with a 16 and 12 year old. Good for beginners that want the excitement of rafting. Our tour guide, Spicy,... was great!!read more
Grace
19:05 23 Mar 21
We had so much fun at Smoky Mountain Outdoors Rafting. Our guide, Jeffrey, was really outgoing and knowledgeable on the... river. He steered us in the best places and also gave really helpful tips that saved us from falling out. It was pretty cold out but so exciting when we got splashed!!! This was by far the best experience I’ve had white water rafting. I 100% recommend going to SMO if you’re visiting the Great Smokies.read more
Dawn Young
23:45 30 Sep 20
I was so in my head and scared to death but had a wonderful time. JOSH was the absolute best. Will do again. Everyone... at SMO was great.read more
George Velez
13:59 29 Sep 20
This place is awesome!! We went on a rainy day and it made the experience that much more impressive. Our guide, Allen,... was very knowledgeable and I was confident he would get us through some class 3 and 4 rapids. This is the perfect experience for everyone. It has calm waters and exciting rapids that weren’t too difficult but a lot of fun.read more
Florencia Zavala
03:36 13 Sep 20
Cannot say enough positive things about this place. From the get go, the guy we spoke with on the phone was SUPER kind.... We got there and every staff member we encountered was dynamic, professional, knowledgeable, and kind. Our raft leader made the entire process so enjoyable by telling us what to expect before we began and communicating every step of the way. Would HIGHLY recommendread more
Carolina Andres
17:29 11 Sep 20
Visited with family from South Florida and we all enjoyed it! We originally were going to choose Wild water rafting,... since there are so many options that offer rafting in pigeon river but they had no availability so SMO was next and we had a lot of fun. The bigger kids and adults did the upper river, it can be a bit scary if is your first time or if you are someone who is not really an outdoorsy person, but the rafting is guided all through out, you take a bus from their main location then it is about a 10 min ride along with about maybe 40 or so people with you to the river and then you get into the raft and the guide explains all the different types of paddling moves, you raft back to the main location. I would recommend having smaller kids do the lower river, it is not scary at all does not require them to do any paddling. My 6 yr and 3 year old enjoyed it. Also Don't forget to tip the guide! I had to hunt mine down and could not find him so i left his tip at the tipping box in the gift store.read more
Gingah Ninja
21:39 08 Sep 20
Had an absolute blast white water rafting with you guys! Our guide D.J. was awesome! When my youngest son flew out of... the boat, he literally grabbed him in mid air as he hit the water! We will definitely be coming back again when we visit next year!read more
Erica Albert
02:28 03 Sep 20
Logan was an awesome tour guide.
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!!read more
Caitlin Barnes
13:29 31 Aug 20
Our family had such a great time on Saturday! I highly recommend to anyone. We absolutely loved our guide Renner! We've... done rafting before in other areas, a little more downtime on this river than others, but it is a longer ride time. Great experience and can't wait to do it again!read more
Lyn Curry
03:01 29 Aug 20
Neither my husband nor I had ever whitewater rafted before, and we chose the adventure option, 6.5 miles of river that... included Class III & IV rapids. Our guide was DJ and he was outstanding!! We always felt safe but still had plenty of thrilling moments. He encouraged our group to paddle with oomph, and we got to experience some unique moments that other boats didn't get to experience (I think it was called surfing). DJ also recommended a place along the river to taste Moonshine; we stopped on our way back to our campsite and that was so fun and also contributed to our unforgettable Appalachia trip.
This company partners with CLIMBWORKS and we took advantage of the zipline/whitewater rafting deal, and it was totally worth it.read more
Sabrina Mendoza
14:53 27 Aug 20
Amazing company! The raft guides are extremely helpful and so easy going. Hayden was our raft guide and she was super... funny and engaging which made our experience so much better. I would definitely go again!
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)read more
Anthony Irizarry
02:41 22 Aug 20
I wish I could give it a 5. Great experience, friendly staff. Guide was awesome! But, the guides and the shuttle bus... driver do not enforce wearing the masks on the ride to the drop off. This is a health and or safety concern. We had about 14 teenagers in the bus not wearing masks. I did not care that they were extremely loud and vaping but, not wearing masks???read more
Josh Perkins
02:11 17 Aug 20
Had a blast rafting with these guys. Great river for first timers. A little exciting but mostly just beautiful and fun.... Our guide knew every current and obstacle, so I never felt anxious even with my 12 year olds in the boat. The other company putting in near us seemed to have WAY more issues. Highly recommended this company over any of their competitors!!read more
Travis Gilmer
17:52 15 Aug 20
We had a great experience! Our guide was super engaging and the rapids were perfect for our family, which included 3rd... graders. Highly recommend and would go again!read more
Breyan Ramirez
18:42 29 Jul 20
It’s was a great time, did the 6.5 miles upper river. Not dangerous just pay attention to your guides and you’ll have... no issues. Will definitely come back again.read more
Stevie
20:46 28 Jul 20
Jean Paul was our guide this past weekend, July 25 and he was awesome. He was professional and made sure we all were... safe, while still having a lot of fun. He knew facts about the river and local wildlife which was cool. The length of this tour was perfect, not too short or too long, and well worth the money. I'm glad they take pictures! The river was beautiful and the entire tour was amazing. This experience is one we will never forget. Would definitely recommend!read more
Rachel K
16:15 19 Jul 20
Our guide “big Steve” was knowledgeable, funny, and pure-Tennessee. We really enjoyed the rafters, and the water felt... amazing! We were able to jump in the water for a bit, which added to the experience. I would have liked some bigger rapids, but overall was wonderful! 🙂read more
Victoria Burleigh
14:53 18 Jul 20
My husband and I went to white water rafting in Tennessee. We had a blast and can't wait to go back and do it again.... Stevie was our guide and was truly amazing and hilarious. Staff was great and friendly. This company is the definition of teamwork. The whole trip they helped each other and did a amazing job. Our experience was extraordinary!! We definitely will be returning next time we go back to Tennessee.read more
Samantha Paul
19:21 17 Jul 20
This was our family’s first rafting trip. As a mother, I was worried about the potential danger. I called and spoke... with a very friendly and informative person at Smoky Mountain Outdoors before booking. Our guide for the trip downriver was awesome. Aeron made me feel safe and at no time did I worry we were in any danger. She also put my young daughter at ease. She was very informative and kind and made our trip down the river a blast. We will definitely be returning on our next visit to the Smokies!read more
Brian Link
21:11 08 Jul 20
Great trip. Experienced staff. Anyone that wants to have fun can do the upper! If you arrive early be sure to check in... right away. They might be able to put you on an earlier trip. Also get on the website so you can do the online waivers to make it faster as wellread more
Melissa Mckiernan
00:35 05 Jul 20
These people are absolutely the best. We stayed at the campground right next to them and the fireworks were phenomenal,... the best we have seen in a long time. The kids loved it. The river guide Nyla was wonderful. Cannot Express how great these guys are!read more
Matthew Driewer
00:12 03 Jul 20
Great family adventure. Well run and clean. Excellent was to get a little thrill on some Class 3 and 4 rapids. Had a... great time with our guide, Tom and didn’t even miss the other guide that fell out on the Lost Guide rapids earlier in the day 😉read more
Phil Ross
21:52 01 Jul 20
We went on an excursion with SMO today and our family had a great time. Our guide, D.J., Did an excellent job and was... very entertaining on the bus ride to the drop off point. He made the rapids a little more lively with his approaches and made it exciting. We would do this rafting again.read more
justin land
13:09 01 Jul 20
This place is AWESOME! My girlfriend and I went here for our first time rafting and they did NOT DISAPPOINT!! Staff is... super friendly and funny. We had Corey as our guide and he was very knowledgeable about the river and made everyone comfortable! We will definitely be back!!read more
Ashley Organ
23:54 29 Jun 20
Great experience from the time we arrived. We all had a wonderful time on the upper river tour. The kids ages 8, 9,... 11&12 haven't stopped talking about it! Our guide was knowledgeable and very helpful too!read more
Nick Pfau
14:54 26 Jun 20
Awesome! This was my favorite thing to do. So much fun and they kept you safe. The guides know how to have a good... time while keeping you safe. Beautiful views!read more
Anna Williams
21:59 25 Jun 20
What an exhilarating and fun experience! We had a discount with this company through CLIMB Works Zip-Lining Company.... Our tour guide, Walker, was energetic, engaging, and did a great job with giving clear directions on what to do on the raft. Beautiful views down the river beside I-40. Our group of 7 (8 including the tour guide) all managed to stay on the raft! It was all of our first times going white water rafting, but would definitely be up to doing it again!read more
Mandy Sheriff
03:26 24 Jun 20
Amazing trip! Friendly and knowledgeable guides. Had the upper river ride with guide Tye who was fun and willing to... answer all my son’s questions. Did the lower river with guide Chuck who was nice. Felt safe and had a great time!read more
Michael Lang
19:04 20 Jun 20
Our guides for our party of 12 were friendly and made it as fun as possible. The lower pigeon was less rough than we... hoped, so its a great option for anyone with small kids. Compared to same rating Colorado waves it was an easy smooth ride. I would do the upper pigeon next time.
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.read more
Rob Vigh
23:09 18 Jun 20
This was a great time. The guides were Awesome. We had Brett on the rapids and he knew the river so we'll.
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.read more
Sean Thornton
02:58 17 Jun 20
My wife and I decided to go white water rafting for our anniversary and Smokey Mountain Outdoors did not disappoint.... Our guide Caleb was an amazing guide. He was a great teacher before we got started and he showed us a great time. There are many rafting companies in the area but I highly recommend Smokey Mountain Outdoors. Everything in my opinion was top notch and I can't wait to do it again.read more
Kevin McClure
12:37 14 Jun 20
Great rafting experience for the family. Option for higher or lower level whitewater rafting. Guides are really good.... Open four days a week when water is released from the dam upstream. In total, about a three hour tour. Highly recommended!read more
Jessica Schmidt
21:18 27 May 20
We were late and missed our rafting time, but they had room on the next tour. We were definitely happy for that. It was... a fun activity for our vacation, will do again if in the area! Our guide, Mika, was very friendly and professional.read more
Blake Stover
18:57 24 May 20
Great experience! Thanks to our tour guide Mike our group had a blast. The river was beautiful and the rapids are great... for beginners who have never been white water rafting before. Would highly recommend to do, and shout out to Big Mike !read more
Ryan Melkerson
19:47 22 May 20
Very highly recommend SMO for anyone wanting to raft through the smokies! This was our first time ever rafting. We had... so much fun! Entire trip lasted around 2 hours. Fantastic views throughout the trip. Our guides were awesome and fun to raft with!read more
CTS STEALTHY
22:07 21 May 20
It was a great first time experience for our family. Our guide Matt, was extremely professional. Our raft capsized... during one of the class 4 rapids (!!), and Matt as well as the other tour guides all worked together calmly and quickly to get us together. It was his first time in that situation but he was trained and quick. Although it is very unlikely, it can happen! The river is real and relentless, just as the mountains. But as long as everyone works together, even during something like that, it can be an enthralling experience. Especially with such professionalism and expertise from the guides. Kid friendly. Safe. And will make a great memory.read more
Bryan Grace
00:17 01 Jan 20
Our trip was in August we had a Great experience and Tyler our Guide was Great.. Cant wait to go again!
Heather Carmichael
17:01 08 Nov 19
Great family fun! Adventure through the mountains and down the Pigeon River with professional guides. It's a blast!
Bryce Jaggers
21:02 25 Aug 19
Went on my first rafting trip here and it was absolutely incredible. We saw a Whitetail deer walking along the bank not... 50' from us, a BALD EAGLE soar right over our heads, and had an incredible guide in Abe who not only kept incredible conversation with his humor & knowledge of the area - but also took care of the 4 of us when we fell in after a particularly tricky rapid. I could not have imagined a more perfect trip, and cannot recommend it highly enough!read more
Michele Kane
20:38 25 Aug 19
What a fun experience! My husband and I went white water rafting with Smoky Mountain Outdoors and had a blast! The... instructor that we had was so much fun and experienced and you can tell just how much he loved what he does. There are many different rafting companies in this area but I would 100% recommend using this company for your rafting experience.read more
William Hoffmann
01:07 18 Aug 19
We had an amazing time with our guide Maddie. 3/4 of our group were newbies, but her instructions were clear, and we... all had a great time and a successful run down the Pigeon River. We'll definitely be back!read more
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21:12 17 Aug 19
Our guide Makenzie made it fun for two young boys, two women, a teen girl and a grown man. No small feat. We laughed. A... lot. She taught us about history on river and asked us about us. Price was good, they ran smooth operation!read more
Evan Grady
13:24 31 Jul 19
Fun, Fun, Fun! Did I say Fun? From Maggie Valley area you will drive less than 45 minutes to this destination just off... I-40 in Tennessee. They offer multiple craft times including a 1630hrs (4:30pm) time that will save you some hillbilly dough! Lots of parking, decent bath house/changing rooms and of course a gift shop. Skip the overpriced photos that they offer. Do enjoy your trip and have a blast. Enjoy!read more
Kelli Rilley
13:04 24 Jul 19
We did the lower level course as an introductory step for our 4 kids. Our guide Judo was amazing and patient with our... family of 6. What a great overall experience. It was a fantastic way to work as a family and how the staff encourages that is amazing. Our kids are already wanting to do this again, which in my mind is far worth more than 5 stars!read more
Dave O'Connor
21:18 17 Jul 19
This whitewater rafting trip was the highlight of our family vacation. Top notch organization. Our guide, TJ was... terrific. Can't wait to do it againread more
Kaila Knies
04:04 11 Jul 19
Really great! It was our first white water rafting experience and it was a lot of fun! Our guide Jason was amazing and... super knowledgeable about the river, surrounding area, and rafting. He also have us some great tips for dinner and hiking spots. This was definitely the highlight of our trip. 10/10 would recommend.read more
Dawn Carter
13:20 16 Jun 19
Our guide John was warm, engaging and funny and made sure we had a safe and great time! Very efficiently run operation... from start to finish. I like that there are various trip options as well depending on ability and age. Will definitely be returning!read more
Brad Crall
21:48 12 Jun 19
The upper river tour was great and Brie was a great guide. I would recommend Smokey Mountain Outdoors. They were all... pros and the guides really loved their work.read more
Snufalufag Gaming
19:29 11 Jun 19
Absolutely fantastic experience here. Our guide Jean Paul was extremely experienced, funny, nice, and inclusive. Really... made the experience for the 7 of us on the raft. The river is perfect for rafting newcomers, and is quite easy for experienced rafters. Would definitely recommend Smoky Mountain Outdoor to anyone looking for a rafting trip while they are here.read more
Yelp
Cipriano M.
2020-09-22 14:44:13
I was eager to conquer my first white water rafting experience a few weeks ago. I always wanted to experience this sport first-hand but was scared. This... read more
Ashleigh H.
2020-06-15 06:14:39
My family and I went white water rafting with Logan as our guide this past Saturday and let me tell you, it was a BLAST. Not only was the water and the view... read more
Christian H.
2020-05-24 15:02:12
The rafting was extremely fun because the water was up on the river. Courtney was our guide down the river and she did a fantastic job! Me and my wife would... read more
Joseph Carlo V.
2019-09-02 09:16:04
I highly recommend this company as multiple companies use the same river to raft in Hartford, TN. You get more with your money as the route is longest with... read more
What’s included in the Upper River Rafting trip?
Here are some of the things you can expect to experience when you go on one of our Upper River Rafting trips:
Trip Format
Rafters are asked to arrive at the outpost 45 minutes prior to their scheduled trip time. You’ll gear up and take a 10-minute bus ride to the put-in that includes a short safety talk, and get ready for your adventure! This is the longest trip on the Pigeon River! You’ll have an exciting 6.5-mile ride down about 70 rapids ranging from class 1 to class 4. After about 1.5-2 hours on the river, your trip will end back at the outpost.
Professional Guide
We have a professional guide accompany you on your trip so the only thing you have to focus on is having fun! The guide is there to help keep you safe and guarantee you have a great time. Our guides will share information about the area, tell jokes, and calm any nerves you have about rafting. Each of our guides has completed a training program that includes at least 15–20 trips down the river, and is First-Aid Certified.
Trip Times/Water Releases
For cooler temperatures: For optimum comfort – synthetic, quick-drying layers. We don’t recommend cotton – it holds water and wicks away body heat. Secure shoes with a heel strap are required. (tennis shoes, water shoes, sports sandals with a heel strap). Wool or fleece socks will help keep you warmer.
Summer: Swimsuits and shorts work best. Secure shoes with a heel strap are required (tennis shoes, water shoes, sports sandals with a heel strap). Bare feet and flip-flops are not allowed. Don’t forget to bring a change of clothes and a towel.Cancellation Policies
Click here to view our most up-to-date policy information.
- April – May: Non-guaranteed water releases. Water levels vary. Trip times and dates vary.
- May – September: Guaranteed water releases Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday & Holiday Sundays.
- September – October: Natural flow trips. Trips vary based on water levels.
For cooler temperatures: For optimum comfort – synthetic, quick-drying layers. We don’t recommend cotton – it holds water and wicks away body heat. Secure shoes with a heel strap are required. (tennis shoes, water shoes, sports sandals with a heel strap). Wool or fleece socks will help keep you warmer.
Summer: Swimsuits and shorts work best. Secure shoes with a heel strap are required (tennis shoes, water shoes, sports sandals with a heel strap). Bare feet and flip-flops are not allowed. Don’t forget to bring a change of clothes and a towel.Cancellation Policies
Click here to view our most up-to-date policy information.
4,800 5-Star Reviews
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Smoky Mountain Information
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Smoky Mountain Outdoors
White water rafting near Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and the Smoky Mountains.
Reserve Now by calling us at 1-800-771-7238.
Outpost Address
Where your trip begins!
3299 Hartford Road
Hartford, TN 37753
Smoky Mountain Outdoors
White water rafting near Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and the Smoky Mountains.
Reserve Now by calling us at 1-800-771-7238.
Outpost Address
Where your trip begins!
3299 Hartford Road
Hartford, TN 37753
Our Affiliates
Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce, Pigeon Forge Chamber of Commerce, Sevierville Chamber of Commerce, Gatlinburg Hospitality and Tourism Association, and Pigeon Forge Hospitality and Tourism Association.
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