Home to Smoky Mountain River Rat, Townsend is a small city that lies in the shadow of the Great Smoky Mountains. Known for being one of three gateways into Great Smoky Mountain National Park — the other two being Gatlinburg, TN, and Cherokee, NC — Townsend is home to 448 people, and has a rich…
DetailsWith the stunning mountain views and incredible wildlife, one of the most popular outdoor activities in the Smoky Mountains is hiking — and the changing leaves of September and October make fall the perfect season to go. There are around 80 different scenic trails in the Smoky Mountains, but here are three of our favorite…
DetailsWhile the 2016 tubing season may officially be over, it’s never too early to start planning your next vacation to the Smokies. When you make your next spring or summer trip down to Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge, we think you should highly consider a river tubing adventure on the Little River! Tubing in the Smokies…
DetailsThe cooler fall weather is officially here, and some people may mistakenly view that as a reason not to plan a trip to Gatlinburg. While it may be the end of the 2016 rafting and tubing season, there are still many great things going on in the cities of Pigeon Forge, Townsend, and Gatlinburg. With…
DetailsThere is a lot of incredible wildlife in Smoky Mountain National Park. A drive through the park could yield sites of deer, turkeys, and various other woodland creatures. But there is nothing more exciting than seeing a black bear. It’s a heart-pounding, adrenaline-inducing moment that you will remember your whole life. What makes seeing a…
DetailsSituated in the picturesque forests and foothills between Tennessee and North Carolina’s borders, the Pigeon River has what every outdoor adventurer and angler wants — sweeping vistas, solitude, and bountiful fishing opportunities! Flowing northward from North Carolina to Tennessee, the Pigeon River itself skirts along the eastern side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park…
DetailsStretching from North Carolina to East Tennessee, the Pigeon River runs 70 miles from its mouth at the French Broad River, to its discharge location in Newport, Tennessee. The river is impounded by the Walters Hydroelectric Dam in Haywood, NC, and flows through the Great Smoky National Park and into Tennessee. The Pigeon River also…
DetailsSummer is now at its peak. It’s hot, and you’re probably looking for something fun to do with your family and friends. Well, look no further. At River Rat, we offer a wide variety of fun, outdoor activities that are suitable for groups of all ages. From our signature rafting adventures to kayaking and zip…
DetailsSitting at the foothills of the Smoky Mountains and the Cherokee National Forest is Newport, Tennessee — the largest city in Cocke County. Even with this designation, it’s a small city compared to the large cities it lies between on Interstate-40: Knoxville, Tennessee, and Asheville, North Carolina. While Newport (found just off I-40 exit 435)…
DetailsWhat is more fun than an exhilarating, heart-pumping, potentially soaking wet, warm-weather afternoon? Whitewater rafting is one of the most fun activities to do on a hot summer day. Whether it’s a family vacation, team-building exercise with coworkers, or a group of friends on an afternoon trip; whitewater rafting is a great activity for people…
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