Pigeon
River Information Sheet
Printer Friendly
Click Here
Listed below
you will find the names and descriptions of the different
trips that USA Raft runs on the Pigeon River located
in Hartford, Tennessee. You will meet at our outpost
which has showers, changing rooms and ample parking.
Trips start on time: Please check in
30 minutes prior to your scheduled trip time. If you
arrive after your scheduled trip time, you will be accommodated
on the next trip with available space. A Word
of Warning: Space on our trips is usually totally
reserved in advance. Do not expect to arrive late and
be able to go down the river the same day.
Upper Pigeon River Express
- Adventure Class. No experience required. Minimum
age 8 years. The Pigeon boasts some of the most fun
whitewater in the region. This trip offers you a refreshing
alternative to crowded hotel pools
as you paddle your way towards our outpost at the takeout.
With continuous class II-IV whitewater nestled in the
heart of Tennessee's most spectacular mountain setting,
the Pigeon is becoming one of the most popular rafting
trips in the country. Each of our self bailing rafts
holds seven customers and there is a guide in every
raft. The run down the Upper Pigeon River covers about
5 miles and you will generally spend 2 to 3 hours with
us (including trip, transportation, gearing up, and
pre trip speech). The Pigeon River is usually run on scheduled recreational
dam release providing ample water for a thrilling ride. Beginning May 1 these releases
on the Pigeon River will be on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.
|
For reservations:
1-888-USA-Raft
(304)454-2475
(304)454-2452 fax
raft@usaraft.com
For local information:
3630 Hartford Road
Hartford, TN 37753
(423)487-4303
|
On days that we don't get releases, a ThrillKat
is the perfect way to experience this river. At these minimum
flows, this trip is continuous class II-III whitewater. In
ThrillKats, you will generally spend 3 to 4 hours with us
(including trip, transportation, gearing up, and pre trip
speech). If we unexpectedly get higher water, the trip will
be run in rafts.
Lower Pigeon River
Express - Family Class. No experience required. Minimum
age 4 years. This trip is an excellent introduction to rafting.
Put in at our Pigeon outpost and in no time you'll be winding
through a beautiful river gorge bordered by the Cherokee National
Forest on one side and the Great Smoky Mountains on the other.
There is great potential for wildlife viewing as you head
downstream. Each of our self bailing rafts holds seven customers
and there is a guide in every raft. There is also a limited
number of one person inflatable ThrillKats available. ThrillKat
option is based on availability and cannot be reserved in
advance. The run down the Lower Pigeon River covers about
5 miles and you will generally spend 2 to 3 hours with us
(including trip, transportation, gearing up, and pre trip
speech). Trips run March through November.
| The Pigeon Forge Convention & Visitors
Bureau 800-221-9858 and/or the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce
800-568-4748 both can help with additional info on things
to do and places to stay in the area.
Hotels/Motels/Cabins:
Family Inns, Cosby Hwy, Newport, TN, 423-623-6033; I-40,
615-623-2626
Holiday Inn, I-40, Newport, TN, 423-623-8622 Grand Resort
Hotel & Convention Center, Pigeon Forge, TN 423-453-0056
or 800-251-4444
Family Inns of America, Pigeon Forge, TN, 800-582-1177
Days Inn, Gatlinburg, TN, 800-362-9522
Comfort Inn, Gatlinburg, TN, 800-233-0325
Econo Lodge Mountain House Motor Inn, Gatlinburg, TN,
800-462-7238
Econo Lodge, Gatlinburg, TN, 800-933-8670
Quality Inn, Gatlinburg, TN, 800-933-8671
Best Western, Gatlinburg, TN, 800-933-8675
English Mountain Retreat - Sevierville, TN, 800-633-1281
Cosby Creek Cabins - Cosby, TN, 800-508-8844
Wildwood Acres Log Cabins - Cosby, TN, 423-487-5670
|
Camping and RV Sites:
Riveredge RV Park, Pigeon Forge 800-477-1205
Fox Den Campground - Cosby 888-FOX-DEN1
Arrow Creek Campground - Gatlinburg 1-888-382-7769
Area Attractions:
Guinness World Records Museum - Gatlinburg, TN, 423-436-9100
Cherokee Indian Reservation - Cherokee, NC, 800-438-1601
Unto These Hills, Cherokee, NC, 704-497-2111
Dixie Stampede, Pigeon Forge, TN, 800-356-1676
Dollywood Theme Park, Pigeon Forge
Ripley's Motion Master Moving Theater, Gatlinburg, TN,
423-436-9763
Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum, Gatlinburg, TN 423-436-5096
Chimney Rock Park - Chimney Rock, NC, 800-277-9611
English Mountain Llama Treks - Newport, TN, 423-623-5274
Smoky Mountain Stables - Gatlinburg, TN, 423-436-5634
Muscle Car Museum - Sevierville, TN, 423-908-0882
Flyaway Indoor Skydiving - Pigeon Forge, TN, 423-453-7777
|
Directions: USA's
Pigeon Outpost is on Hartford Road in Hartford, Tennessee
If you are traveling east on I-40:
You will exit the interstate at Hartford, Exit
447. Turn left. We are located approximately mile south
on Hartford Road.
If you are traveling west on I-40:
You will exit the interstate at Hartford, Exit 447. Turn left
and proceed to stop sign. Turn left on to Hartford Road. We
are located approximately mile south on Hartford Road.
What to Wear:
No Cotton! (No sweatshirts, no sweatpants, no jeans)
Spring
and Fall
- Swimsuit
- Waterproof windbreaker or rainjacket (paddling
jackets are available at the headquarters on the day
of your trip. No reservations accepted)
- Wool or polypropylene sweater
- Feet: Wetsuit booties or wool socks and tennis shoes
- Hands: Wetsuit mittens or wool or polypropylene
gloves covered with dishwashing gloves
|
Summer
- Swimsuit
- Shorts
- T-Shirt (for protection from sun)
- Baseball cap or visor
- Sunscreen
- Waterproof windbreaker or rainjacket (paddling jackets
are available at the headquarters on the day of your
trip. No reservations accepted)
- Wool or polypropylene sweater
|
Also
bring for after your trip:
- Towel
- Dry clothes
- Dry shoes
|
Terms and Conditions
Equipment: You will be provided
with U.S. Coast Guard approved Type V Personal Flotation Devices(Life
Jackets), paddles and helmets.
Terms: Within ten days of your phone call,
you must confirm your reservation with a non-refundable deposit.
Half day and Express trips require a $5 per person, per day
deposit with the balance due 30 days prior to the trip. Day
trips require a $10 per person, per day deposit with the balance
due 45 days prior to the trip. World class rivers require
a $20 per person per day deposit and the balance due 60 days
prior to the trip. No personal checks accepted within 30 days
of scheduled trip; MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American
Express welcome.
Cancellations: If a cancellation must be
made and is given with more than 30 days notice, a refund
will be granted, less the per person, non-refundable deposit.
Otherwise the following schedule applies: Cancellation with
20-30 days notice - 50% refund; 10-19 days notice - 25% refund;
less than 10 days notice - no refund.
Liability: Outfitter and reservations services
assume no liability for personal injury or loss of equipment.
You will be required to sign a personal injury and photo waiver
before your trip. A copy of the waiver is available on request.
Minors: All participants under the age of
18 must have a completed release form signed by parent or
legal guardian. Contact USA Raft for forms.
Consumption of alcohol or drugs is not permitted on
raft trip: Intoxicated persons will be refused, without
refund.
Rates: All rates are stated per person. Prices
include regulatory agency fees but do not include applicable
sales taxes. Prices are subject to change without notice.
Weather: Trips go rain or shine. (You are going to
get wet anyway!)
Outfitters reserve the right to move to a
different section of the river or to another river for reason
of safety or low water, in which case price difference will
be refunded. No refund or rainchecks will be issued unless
outfitter completely cancels the day's events. No cash refund.
All of the forgoing terms and conditions shall be interpreted
under the laws of the State of West Virginia.
<< Return to Pigeon
River
|
