Rafting in Gatlinburg

RareBreed

RareBreed

Throwing the deuces
Has anyone tried rafting with any of these places? What were the pros/cons of your experience? Any other sites I should look into that you've had a pleasurable experience with? TIA

Rafting Tennessee pigeon river rafting gatlinburg rafting tennessee white water rafting rafting in tennessee rafting tn

Rafting in the Smokies - East Tennessee Whitewater Rafting in the Smoky Mountains on the Big Pigeon River near Gatlinburg, TN

Tennessee Rafting Trips with Smoky Mountain Outdoors - Go White Water Rafting in Tennessee on the Big Pigeon River - Experience Tennessee Whitewater Rafting

Five Rivers Adventures Home Page

Pigeon River white water rafting - Whitewater rafting on the Nantahala, Ocoee, Chattooga, Pigeon, French Broad, Nolichucky, Cheoah, New and Gauley Rivers with NOC
 
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migtig

migtig

aka Mrs. Giant
Do you have experience rafting? If so, then I totally recommend rafting the Nantahala! It is awesome. Water's cold though!

I wouldn't do the Pigeon River personally. Really dirty at sections - high pollution due to paper mills and smells bad.
 
RareBreed

RareBreed

Throwing the deuces
migtig said:
Do you have experience rafting? If so, then I totally recommend rafting the Nantahala! It is awesome. Water's cold though!

I wouldn't do the Pigeon River personally. Really dirty at sections - high pollution due to paper mills and smells bad.
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No, no experience. It's part of our family vacation so there will be me, my husband and our two kids, ages 5 and 8.
 
migtig

migtig

aka Mrs. Giant
RareBreed said:
No, no experience. It's part of our family vacation so there will be me, my husband and our two kids, ages 5 and 8.
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They do guided runs with groups for the Nantahala. It does have some faster class runs with a kayak, but as a group on a raft with an experienced guide, it's not a problem. I was thinking you were doing it on your own with a kayak. :lol: I still suggest it. It's beautiful and clean. It runs through a gorge/national protected area. Very nice. I suggest you get the family "water shoes" if they don't have them already. The kids will have a blast. I started running rapids as a kid. Awesome time.
 
RareBreed

RareBreed

Throwing the deuces
belvak said:
Maybe you should stick with this...

Smoky Mountain River Rampage: Rides & Attractions: Dollywood

:lmao:
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We did that the last time we went to Dollywood. It was pretty fun but hubby wanted to up the excitement level for this trip. It was exciting enough for me with my then 2 1/2 yr old strapped in his own seat, trying to keep him in the raft. :lol:

migtig said:
They do guided runs with groups for the Nantahala. It does have some faster class runs with a kayak, but as a group on a raft with an experienced guide, it's not a problem. I was thinking you were doing it on your own with a kayak. :lol: I still suggest it. It's beautiful and clean. It runs through a gorge/national protected area. Very nice. I suggest you get the family "water shoes" if they don't have them already. The kids will have a blast. I started running rapids as a kid. Awesome time.
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We'll look into it. The kids have water shoes.
 
RareBreed

RareBreed

Throwing the deuces
migtig said:
:ohwell: Most rapids have a weight requirement just so nobody gets tossed out. What's your child's weight and I'll send out a few emails for you.
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I don't know off hand. I'll have to weigh him when I get home around 3pm. I want to say about 56lbs but I'm not positive. Some of the sites I listed in my original post has age requirement at 3yrs old so they must be really tame water for that one.
 
Larry Gude

Larry Gude

Strung Out
migtig said:
Do you have experience rafting? If so, then I totally recommend rafting the Nantahala! It is awesome. Water's cold though!

I wouldn't do the Pigeon River personally. Really dirty at sections - high pollution due to paper mills and smells bad.
Click to expand...

Mig, you done the lower Yough? We went two weeks ago with some dudes who said they'd been in Tenn, don't remember where they went. They said the Yough was more better. Just curious for curiosity and comparisons sake.

:buddies:
 
migtig

migtig

aka Mrs. Giant
RareBreed said:
I don't know off hand. I'll have to weigh him when I get home around 3pm. I want to say about 56lbs but I'm not positive. Some of the sites I listed in my original post has age requirement at 3yrs old so they must be really tame water for that one.
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Well depending on when you go and how much food you stuff him with between now and then...J/k. :smile:

I'm going with your guesstimation and emailing a few folks and I'll get back with you.
 
RareBreed

RareBreed

Throwing the deuces
migtig said:
Well depending on when you go and how much food you stuff him with between now and then...J/k. :smile:

I'm going with your guesstimation and emailing a few folks and I'll get back with you.
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Thanks!! I really appreciate it. :huggy:
 
migtig

migtig

aka Mrs. Giant
Larry Gude said:
Mig, you done the lower Yough? We went two weeks ago with some dudes who said they'd been in Tenn, don't remember where they went. They said the Yough was more better. Just curious for curiosity and comparisons sake.

:buddies:
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The lower Yough is perfect if you are inexperienced. No rough water, very smooth. I think it's highest class rapid is a 1.6.

Now the upper Yough does have Class 5 rapids and is mo better for someone with experience. Perhaps that's what your friends were referring too.

My all time favorite is the Chattooga. I'd also like to try the Gauley in WVa. It's on my list, and one day I'll make it for one of their 22 day seasons.


RareBreed said:
Thanks!! I really appreciate it. :huggy:
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Considering the area you are going (western NC/eastern TN) I was told you need to choose a rafting trip for the lower Pigeon Forge River. Class 1 and 2 rapids, nothing too bumpy. The water's controlled by a dam so it makes it more serene. It should still be fun for little people and I was told it's far enough down the river to not have any of the stinky paper mill odor to it. I was told that you may want to look at one that also includes a lunch/picnic service so the smaller people get a "break". I have no real company recommendations from my personal experience. However, when you are looking, keep in mind that all trips for the lower Pigeon leave out of Hartford, TN. So it would be best to get a company in that area.
 
Larry Gude

Larry Gude

Strung Out
migtig said:
The lower Yough is perfect if you are inexperienced. No rough water, very smooth. I think it's highest class rapid is a 1.6. Nope. That's the middle. The lower is class III and IV. When we ran it, it had raiend the day before and the guides told us it was pretty much all IV's. The upper is all IV's and V's.

Now the upper Yough does have Class 5 rapids and is mo better for someone with experience. Perhaps that's what your friends were referring too.

My all time favorite is the Chattooga. I'd also like to try the Gauley in WVa. It's on my list, and one day I'll make it for one of their 22 day seasons.
Click to expand...

Have you done the Yough, upper or lower?
 
RareBreed

RareBreed

Throwing the deuces
migtig said:
The lower Yough is perfect if you are inexperienced. No rough water, very smooth. I think it's highest class rapid is a 1.6.

Now the upper Yough does have Class 5 rapids and is mo better for someone with experience. Perhaps that's what your friends were referring too.

My all time favorite is the Chattooga. I'd also like to try the Gauley in WVa. It's on my list, and one day I'll make it for one of their 22 day seasons.



Considering the area you are going (western NC/eastern TN) I was told you need to choose a rafting trip for the lower Pigeon Forge River. Class 1 and 2 rapids, nothing too bumpy. The water's controlled by a dam so it makes it more serene. It should still be fun for little people and I was told it's far enough down the river to not have any of the stinky paper mill odor to it. I was told that you may want to look at one that also includes a lunch/picnic service so the smaller people get a "break". I have no real company recommendations from my personal experience. However, when you are looking, keep in mind that all trips for the lower Pigeon leave out of Hartford, TN. So it would be best to get a company in that area.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info!!
 
RareBreed

RareBreed

Throwing the deuces
We decided to go with "Rafting in the Smokies". We're doing the Lower Pigeon Forge River. I spent all day setting up reservations and buying tickets for everything we're planning on doing that week.

Finally got our schedule set.

Sun: Ripley's Aquarium and NASCAR go-karts
Mon: Dollywood
Tues: Great Smoky Mountain Railroad train ride
Wed: Water rafting trip
Thurs: Knoxville Zoo
Fri: Helicopter ride and muscle car museum

Whew! I'm tired already and we haven't even gone!! :lol:
 
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