River adventure season has arrived in the Smoky Mountains as River Rat Whitewater kicks off their 2024 season! Their first trip down the Pigeon River in Hartford, Tennessee is March 2nd.
The off-season has been filled with hard work and preparation as the spring approaches – now it’s time for River Rat’s best season yet!
New Splash Gear – Free to Use & Available Upon Request!
River Rat doesn’t let chilly weather in Spring stop their adventures. New water-resistant Splash Guard jackets are free for all guests upon request during the Spring months. Splash Guards are sure to keep you warm and focused on all the excitement of each rapid.

Spring Adventures
During the spring, they offer their Upper Rafting Adventure (ages 8+) which is five miles of fun, navigating Class III-IV rapids through the Cherokee National Forest and Great Smoky Mountains, making this the perfect experience for sightseers and thrill-seekers of all experience levels. This section of the Pigeon boasts moderately difficult to difficult rapids, yet don’t let that deter you! You’ll be guided by their top-notch guides, who uniquely customize every trip to fulfill the customers’ every want and need. This two hour adventure is the closest rafting experience to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.
Note that Spring (March-April) and Fall (September) whitewater rafting trips are unique. The Pigeon River is dam-controlled and as it does not run a regular schedule in the Spring, it relies mostly on natural water flow. This means that trip times and dates may vary. Go ahead and book your adventure, then if anything changes as the date approaches their Management staff will reach out to you with updates.
Spring Sale 2024
Their reservation system is open to book your Spring break adventure at a discounted Spring Rate! If you have a group of 20 or more, you can even combine this discount with the already discounted group rates! The larger your group – the better your discount. See their Rates & Packages page for more details.