White Water Rafting on the Pigeon River

The Pigeon River gorge cuts east to west across the Smoky Mountains from North Carolina and into Tennessee. As one of the most popular rafting trips in America, the Upper Section of the Pigeon River offers guests with the best introduction to whitewater anywhere.

Trips on this section launch at the TN/NC state line, surrounded by views of the mountains as well as the hydroelectric powerhouse feeding water into the river. And it doesn't take long to get into the whitewater. Within minutes of the put-in, guests find themselves paddling into their first Class III rapid of the day; the aptly named Powerhouse. With the help of an experienced guide, your group will continue through a total of 10 Class III rapids and 3 Class IV rapids, before finishing the trip back at our outpost. With rapid names like Lost Guide, Double-Reactionary, and Snapdragon, guests can expect plenty of excitement on this trip. But don't worry, there will still be time between the rapids to take in the views, soak up some sun and have a swim. This is the ideal trip for those wanting to enhance the beauty of the Smokies with the thrill of whitewater rafting.

Each trip on the Upper Section finishes back at our outpost, where guests can quickly take a warm shower and change into dry clothes. But, don't forget about the pictures! Each group has a series of photos taken of them paddling through an exciting Class III rapid. You and your group can check out your pictures in our outpost after your trip.