Nantahala Outdoor Center Whitewater Rafting

Description

Nantahala Outdoor Center runs guided whitewater rafting trips on the Pigeon River near Gatlinburg, with Class III-IV rapids that deliver genuine thrills without requiring prior experience. Corporate groups raft in 6-person boats with a professional guide, tackling rapids with names like Roostertail and Double Reactionary. The Upper Pigeon section runs about 2 hours on the water, and the outfitter provides all gear including wetsuits in cooler months. This is the highest-energy option in the area and consistently ranks as a retreat highlight.