Smoky Mountain White Water Rafting
Families that vacation in the Smoky Mountains love adventure and the great outdoors. One of the main attractions is rafting. There are two sections of Big Pigeon River that offer families the fun of traveling down a river together and working with the waves to their final destination.
(See Related: How To Get Free & Discounted Tickets To Smoky Mountain Attractions)
The upper Pigeon River offers a higher intensity but does not require experienced rafters to enjoy. The lower Pigeon is a bit quieter but still just as exciting. There are tours available to ensure your family chooses the right rafting experience as well as provide you with an exciting adventure like no other.
Upper Big Pigeon River Rafting
Most companies will ask that children be at least eight years of age to raft on the upper Pigeon. The whitewater rafting experience is not strenuous but can be very intense at time. The entire rafting adventure will take 2 hours with one hour on the river. The company you choose will normally provide you with the equipment you need including paddling jacket, helmet, personal floatation device, paddle, and raft. Each raft will have their own guide on this dam-controlled river and allow you to experience a fun adventure in the summer months.
The water levels on the upper Pigeon vary according to how much rain the area has seen but are from class I – II and does include class IV rapids.
Lower Big Pigeon River Rafting
The lower portion of the river is great for families that have small children and want to share the experience of rafting with the whole family. The age limit for the lower section of the river is 4 years and is listed as a fun intensity level without the need for any whitewater rafting experience. The trip will take 2 ½ hours with most companies with an entire 1 ½ on the river. The same equipment is provided for this tour as for the upper Pigeon river tour.
As far as water levels, the lower Pigeon River has five miles of Class I and II rapids that the entire family will certainly enjoy.
Tips for Rafting
You can have an amazing Smoky Mountain white water rafting experience with professional guides on each raft to ensure your trip will be one that is fun and exciting as well as safe for the entire family. However, they may not give you all the tips you need to make the rafting experience complete. A few tips that will ensure your family stays comfortable and safe during your adventure are below.
What to wear
Wear a bathing suit that you can easily add a wetsuit if the time comes to wear one. Do not wear any item made from cotton as it retains moisture and can make you very cold once you are wet. If you wear sunglasses, use a device to ensure you do not lose them. Always bring an extra set of clothing for every member of your party so they can change after the trip. Wear a pair of water shoes, it will help in case you fall out of your raft. Wear a visor to protect your face from the sun.
Protection from the sun
Wear sunscreen. The water reflects the light, which means you will be receiving double exposure to the sun. You should wear plenty of waterproof sunscreen and also lip protection. As you are on the adventure, add more as needed to ensure you do not burn. As mentioned above using a hat to protect your face and do not put sunscreen above your eyes as it may run.
Your rafting guide
Listen to your guide. They are trained and skilled regarding the hazards on the river. They know the routes and know what to do if anything goes wrong while rafting. Your raft was created so it will not tip and cannot be punctured, so all you have to do is pay attention to your guide and enjoy bouncing around the river.
One of the most important things your guide will do is provide you with a bit of training prior to starting your adventure. Your guide will remind you that you have to wear your personal floatation device at all times during the trip, explain how to sit, how to hold the paddle, how to avoid falling into the river and if you do fall, what to do.
Outdoor Adventures offers Guided Smoky Mountain White Water Rafting on the Big Pigeon River. If you book the tour on-line you can save $10.00.