Pigeon River
Save $25/person and spend more time on the river by combining our Upper Section White Water Rafting trip with our Lower Pigeon River Rafting Scenic Float river trip for one full day rafting adventure. We commonly hear guests say, “The trip was great! I only wish it was longer,” and we couldn’t agree more. Don’t leave yourself unfulfilled and wishing for more. Experience the best the Smoky Mountains have to offer by spending a day on the Pigeon River, surrounded by breathtaking views of the Smoky Mountains.
Thirsty for more adventure? By combining our White Water Rafting trip with our Scenic Float trip, you can spend a day with us on a Smoky Mountain rafting excursion that you will talk about for years to come. Take a short drive from the Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville area to our outpost. After all guests are checked in, you'll receive a safety and orientation talk and meet your guide. Now it's time to get suited up in safety gear. Depending on your reservation time, you will either start with Whitewater Rafting at 10:30 AM followed by a Scenic Float at 2:30 PM or start with a Scenic Float at 12:30 PM followed by Whitewater Rafting at 4:30 PM.
For Whitewater Rafting, you'll hop on the bus for a ten minute ride to the put-in, nestled right on the Tennessee and North Carolina border. A historic hydroelectric powerhouse and mountain views are the backdrop as your guide goes over some rafting basics. Then it's time to get your boat in the water to launch on the adventure of a lifetime. Surrounding you as you navigate through the Class III-IV rapids are panoramic views of the Smoky Mountains and all the trees, wildflowers and wildlife that make the Smoky Mountains magical. You will paddle 6.5 miles of thrilling whitewater and have chances to swim in calm water before heading back to our outpost where you put up your gear.
For your Scenic Float, you will get geared up and head on down to the Pigeon River's banks where your boats will be waiting. After a brief talk with your guide on some rafting basics, you'll launch downstream on a 6.5 mile trip. Take a swim, splash some friends, soak up the sun and sit back and relax as you are guided down the most scenic Class I-II stretch of river in the Smoky Mountain area. See peaks upwards of 5,000 feet in elevation as the river calmly winds its way through the gorge. Hop on the bus to head back to the outpost and put up your gear.
Between your trips, enjoy a roughly 2 hour break. Head into the office and check out your pictures and shop our retail store. Hungry? Enjoy a packed-lunch riverside or check out some of our local food trucks or restaurants. After putting up your gear for the last time, you can take a shower in our bathhouse, get dry, and check out your photos from the day in the check-in office.
Any shoes with a heel strap, like:
Anything you're comfortable getting wet in, like:
Optional:
Age: Participants must be 8 years of age or weigh at least 70 pounds to go on a full day adventure.
Weight: Guests must be able to wear a Type V PFD, fitting chest measurements of 52".
All participants must wear a helmet and shoes with a heel strap.
We strongly recommend that you avoid relying too heavily on your GPS to reach our outpost. Experience has taught us that GPS will often suggest routes that we do not recommend. Check below for the recommended directions to get to our outpost. These directions will be included in your confirmation email. Please note: Total Drive Time for each route is an approximate drive time and is subject to change depending on your exact departure point, traffic, and personal driving preferences.
From Gatlinburg: From downtown Gatlinburg, you can find US-321 North at traffic light #3. Continue on US-321 for approximately 20 miles until you come to the first stop sign in Cosby, TN. At the stop sign, you will turn left and follow for 1.8 miles. After 1.8 miles you will see the brown National Park sign for the Foothills Parkway. Turn right onto Foothills Parkway. You will be on the Foothills Parkway for about 6 miles until merging onto I-40 East. Continue of I-40 East to exit # 447 Hartford Rd. (the first exit after merging onto I-40 East). At the bottom of the exit ramp, turn right at the stop sign. Go 0.3 miles and be on the lookout for the sign for Big Creek Expeditions and Foxfire Campground. Turn left down the drive at the Fox Fire Campgrounds. You have arrived at our outpost (the check-in office is to your right). Please follow the parking signs and then head to the office to check-in for your trip! Total Drive Time »» 45 minutes
Note: The Foothills Parkway offers beautiful views of the mountains and several pull-offs to stop and bask in the glory of these ancient mountains. A great opportunity for photographs!
From Pigeon Forge: Take US-411 North for approximately 20 miles to I-40 East toward Asheville. You will be on I-40 for approximately 20 minutes until getting off at exit #447 Hartford Rd. At the bottom of the exit ramp, please turn right at stop sign. Go 0.3 miles and be on the lookout for the sign for Big Creek Expeditions and Foxfire Campground. Turn left down the drive at the Fox Fire Campgrounds. You have arrived at our outpost (the check in office is to your right). Please follow the parking signs and then head to the office to check-in for your trip! Total Drive Time »» 1 hour
From Sevierville: Take US-411 North for approximately 20 miles to I-40 East. You will be on I-40 for approximately 20 minutes until getting off at exit #447 Hartford Rd. At the bottom of the exit ramp, please turn right at stop sign. Go 0.3 miles and be on the lookout for the sign for Big Creek Expeditions and Foxfire Campground. Turn left down the drive at the Fox Fire Campgrounds. You have arrived at our outpost (the check-in office is to your right). Please follow the parking signs and then head to the office to check-in for your trip! Total Drive Time »» 45 minutes
From Asheville, NC: Take I-40 West for approximately 50 miles, just across the NC/TN State Line, to exit #447 Hartford Rd. At the bottom of the exit ramp, please turn left at stop sign. Go under the interstate, to the next stop sign (approximately 0.2 miles) , and turn right. Go 0.4 miles and be on the lookout for the sign for Big Creek Expeditions and Foxfire Campground. Turn left down the drive at the Fox Fire Campgrounds. You have arrived at our outpost (the check in office is to your right). Please follow the parking signs and then head to the office to check-in for your trip! Total Drive Time »» 1 hour
From Knoxville, TN: Take I-40 East toward Asheville for approximately 60 miles until getting off at exit #447 Hartford Rd. At the bottom of the exit ramp, turn right. Go 0.3 miles and be on the lookout for the sign for Big Creek Expeditions and Foxfire Campground on your left. Turn left down the drive at the Fox Fire Campgrounds. You have arrived at our outpost (the check-in office is to your right). Please follow the parking signs and then head to the office to check-in for your trip! Total Drive Time »» 1 hour 15 minutes
The time slot that you reserve is your check-in time. There is no need to arrive any sooner, but please give yourself enough time to arrive for your scheduled trip time. The orientation talk will begin as soon as all guests are checked in and ready to raft. Depending on how you'd like to spend your day with us, you can either reserve a 10:30 AM/2:30 PM trip or 12:30 PM/4:30 PM trip.
We offer this trip Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from May 25, 2020 through September 7, 2020.
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