Warm summer temperatures mean mobs of people are running to the beaches, but there are more ways to enjoy staying cool while surrounded by incredibly beautiful mountain terrains when you stay in the Smoky Mountains! Thousands of miles of rivers and streams creep through the thick mountain forestry, varying from quiet, peaceful running water to the turbulent waves of the Class III and IV rapids of the Upper Pigeon River.
Spend the day relaxing on a river just a few footsteps from your Pigeon Forge, TN cabin’s back door or suit up with a life jacket and paddle before an adventurous ride in a whitewater raft. Whatever your perfect day on the river looks like, it’s best spent in the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains!
- Tubing
Quiet forest views, cool mountain waters, and warm summer sun…what more could you ask for on a dreamy day in the Smokies? Tubing is a Southern pastime just as much as BBQ and bluegrass music! Floating down the river is fun for all ages, because while it’s laid-back and peaceful as your group bobs down the river laughing and hanging out, the kids will love splashing, paddling, riding down the light rapids, and swimming with the fish. River Rage Tubing provides tubes, river pickup and drop off, and 3 different routes to choose from for the perfect, hassle-free summer day activity with the family.Another awesome perk to river tubing: it’s super affordable! Tubing with River Rage provides you with all the necessities for a great day on the river for under $10 per tuber! Your ticket provides an unlimited All-Day Shuttle, so if you get to the end of your river route and find yourselves wishing it wasn’t over, simply get back on another river route – it’s a 3 in 1 river tubing trip! River Rage also offers great tubing packages each season that include dinner and go-karts to pair up for a great day on the river.
- Whitewater Rafting
Strap into your life jacket, grab a paddle, and get ready for an exhilarating adventure down the Pigeon River as you raft the swirling class III and IV rapids! Whitewater rafting is an adrenaline-pumping expedition and tons of fun for families with older children or groups of friends vacationing together. Not only will whitewater rafting get your blood pumping, but it will also afford you some incredibly gorgeous views of the Smoky Mountains from a fun vantage point. Pass stoic rock formations, towering mountains, lush forestry, and maybe even glimpses of wildlife drinking from the river.Rafting in the Smokies has been guiding visitors down the Pigeon River for over 3 decades! With Rafting in the Smokies’ certified, experienced raft guides coaching you along the bumpy waves and foamy rapids, you are guaranteed the most fun with safety as priority. No experience necessary and rafters as young as 8 years old can join the whitewater adventures. Be sure to check out the schedule on Rafting in the Smokies’ website because put-in days and weather affect what days you can take your whitewater rafting expedition.
- Fishing
It is pretty obvious why the Smoky Mountains would be a great place to fish, with so many streams (almost 3,000 miles within the park boundaries!) and peaceful spots to set up your tackle box and lawn chair. There is another fact you wouldn’t instantly get from the alluring pictures of rivers and waterfalls: the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to one of the last wild trout habitats in the Eastern United States! Thanks to wildlife conservation efforts, the streams stay fully stocked with brown, rainbow, brook trout, and more.Wake up, make your morning coffee, and walk out the back door of your cabin to begin your relaxing day of fishing when you stay in a Pigeon Forge Tennessee Cabin right on the river. If you aren’t staying next to a river, no worries! You won’t have to travel far to find a stream to cast your line in. Pack a cooler with snacks and take the kids on their first fishing trip or pack the cooler with your favorite brews to enjoy a laid-back guys’ day on the river.
Before your fishing trip, be sure to acquire your Tennessee fishing license online and plan for fishing anytime from 30 minutes prior to sunrise and 30 minutes before sundown.
- Kayaking
All the thrills of whitewater rafting in a solo adventure! Kayaking lets you take your trip down the river at your own pace while enjoying the sights and experiencing the excitement of the rapids of the Pigeon River. Kayaking is another great way to spend a day on the river if you have older children or if you are vacationing in the Smoky Mountains, having a romantic getaway, or escaping to the mountains with a couple friends.No experience is necessary when you paddle down the river in an inflatable kayak with Smoky Mountain Outdoors! Their inflatable kayaks are easier to maneuver for beginners while still thrilling to ride for experienced kayakers. Either way, you will be accompanied by an experienced, fun guide to ensure your safest and most exciting adventure down the Pigeon River. Splash your way through the cool waters on a warm, sunny afternoon while your guide leads the way through the best rapids and teaches everyone different kayaking moves like spinning, sliding, and surfing!
- Riverside Picnic
Sometimes all you need to have fun is a blanket, snacks, and the river! The Smoky Mountains are full of prime picnicking spots by water, where the temperatures are cooler and the scenery is heavenly. Bring your favorite outdoor games from home like croquet, cornhole, or horseshoes to play after cooling off in the river and eating a delicious homemade lunch under the shade of the trees. A riverside picnic is budget-friendly while still enjoying outdoor water fun and the beauty of the Smoky Mountains!With so much fun on the rivers at a reasonable cost, stay cool while soaking up some summer sun in the Smoky Mountains! And, unlike the beach, there is more than one view to choose from! Stay right on a peaceful river, relax on the back deck of a secluded cabin surrounded by lush, green forests, or escape to a mountain ridgeline with breathtaking views. Begin planning your summer fun in the Smoky Mountains with Pigeon Forge, TN Cabins today!
