About Smoky Mountain Outdoors Gatlinburg
Smoky Mountain Outdoors is one of the largest whitewater rafting and outdoor adventure companies in the greater Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area, running guided rafting trips on the Upper and Lower Pigeon River as well as paintball, zipline, and ATV excursions from their base near Hartford, Tennessee. The company has been operating since the late 1990s and has scaled into a high-volume operation capable of handling large groups, corporate outings, and school field trips alongside individual walk-up customers.
The Upper Pigeon River trips deliver Class III-IV rapids through a forested gorge that marks the boundary between Tennessee and North Carolina — a thrilling experience for intermediate and advanced paddlers. The Lower Pigeon offers a family-friendly Class I-II float suitable for children as young as three, making it one of the most accessible whitewater experiences in the Southeast. All trips include certified river guides, PFDs, helmets, and shuttle transport. The company also runs a ropes course and canopy zipline tour through the treetops above the Pigeon River valley, featuring multiple zip lines, sky bridges, and rappelling stations.
ATV tours through the mountain trails above the Pigeon River gorge provide a land-based adrenaline option for guests who prefer engines to paddles. Combo packages that pair rafting with ziplining or ATV riding in a single day are popular with bachelor/bachelorette parties and family reunions, and the company's event coordination team handles groups up to 200 people. Their proximity to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge — about 25 minutes east on I-40 — makes it an easy half-day add-on for Smoky Mountain vacationers looking for adventure beyond the tourist strip.
