Pigeon River Rafting: Upper Pigeon Gorge
Distance: 5 Miles
Duration: 2.5 Hours
Price: From $40
Age: 8+ years
Weight Range:70+ Pounds
Intensity: Intermediate
The Pigeon River provides a popular whitewater rafting option for guests staying in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, or the national park in Eastern Tennessee. Its fast shuttle and quick 5 miles of splashing wave trains and bouncy hydraulics make this the most convenient river tour NOC offers. With nearly-continuous Class II-IV rapids like Lost Guide and Accelerator and views into Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Upper Pigeon delivers. This trip on the Pigeon can be combined with a visit to Big Creek—one of the Smokies’ most impressive campgrounds.
NOC provides all the necessary gear and equipment.
What our Guests are Saying:
Related Activities
River Guides
Alex Wolff
Experienced kayak and registered nurse, Alex spends his summers on the Pigeon River.
Tim Brainard
Tim is a Pigeon River Head Guide and a designer of the 2013 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Cup Feature.
Jonny Horton
Jonny boasts the record for the fastest check-out on all 7 NOC rivers.
Outpost Overview
NOC's Pigeon River Outpost in Hartford, Tennessee has a park-like setting, with convenient parking, an impressive picnic pavilion, a shady riverside path, and a gigantic field for playing volleyball or a simple frolic. Pigeon rafting trips meet at this outpost.
Onsite facilities include:
- Clean restrooms
- Private changing facilities
- Hot showers
- Picnic tables
- Outpost store with t-shirts, snacks, drinks, sunblock, and other sundries
- Digital slideshow of your rafting trip
Directions
All Pigeon River trips depart from our Pigeon Outpost, located just off of I-40 on the northeastern border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
From Asheville:Take I-40 West towards Knoxville. Eight miles after the NC/TN state line, take Exit 447 (Hartford Rd). At the bottom of the ramp, turn left and go under I-40. Then turn right onto Hartford Rd. Drive 1/4 mile and turn left at the NOC sign, just as the road starts to bend left. Follow the gravel driveway to our Pigeon River Outpost. Welcome!
From Knoxville: Follow I-40 East towards Asheville, then take Exit 447 (Hartford Rd). If you pass the TN/NC state line, you've missed the exit. At the end of the exit ramp, turn right onto Hartford Rd. Drive 1/4 mile and turn left at the NOC sign, just as the road starts to bend left. Follow the gravel driveway to our Pigeon River Outpost. Welcome!
From Gatlinburg: Take Hwy 321 North to Cosby (light #3 in Gatlinburg). At stop sign in Cosby, make the left turn to stay on 321 (this is a T intersection). Continue on 321 until you reach I-40. Take I-40 East towards Asheville, then take Exit 447 (Hartford Rd). If you pass the TN/NC state line, you've missed the exit. At the end of the exit ramp, turn right onto Hartford Rd. Drive 1/4 mile and turn left at the NOC sign, just as the road starts to bend left. Follow the gravel driveway to our Pigeon River Outpost. Welcome!
