About Us

River Rat Whitewater: #1 Whitewater Outpost in the Smokies | Hartford, TN
Adventure-enthusiasts of ALL experience levels, look no further! River Rat Whitewater is home to the Smokies' #1-Rated Rafting Adventures on one of the most popular rafting rivers in America.
Adventure-lovers, this one's for you. Our Upper Pigeon Adventure combines class III and IV rapids with the natural beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains and the Pisgah National Forest for an unforgettable river-bound expedition (ages 8 and older).
Once our guests try out our Xtreme rafts, they never go back! Want to take your expedition up a notch? Take on all the thrills this section of the river has to offer in our specialized Xtreme rafts. No experience necessary! Our Xtreme Upper Pigeon Adventure takes on the same route in our specialized, smaller rafts. These boats' smaller size provides rafters more agility to experience the full excitement of every rapid.
Rafting with young ones, or just want to take it easy? The Lower Pigeon Adventure has plenty of rapids to satisfy your craving for excitement, but mellow enough for even the youngest thrill-seekers with gorgeous mountain views on class I and II rapids (ages 3 and up).
Our team of highly experienced guides are ready to uniquely cater your rapids expedition to the adventure type that you’re looking for. Take your pick of half or full-day expeditions at the River Rat, ranging from serene to extreme.
River Rat Whitewater is the closest rafting to Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Knoxville. We’re located just 25 miles from Gatlinburg and 30 miles from Pigeon Forge.