The Great Smoky Mountains has a reputation of unspoiled beauty and natural landscape. One of its best attractions is the wild and natural Pigeon River. Located near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and in the Cherokee National Forest in Hartford, twelve companies raft the river in two sections. The “upper” section consists of class III and IV rapids. The “lower” section offers flat water with some class I and II rapids. Neither require experience. Commercial outfitters must abide by strict codes and laws. The age limit is 8 or older on the
upper and 3 or older on the lower. Even individuals 90-years-old and above often raft the Pigeon.
UPPER SECTION
All 12 companies enter the river at the North Carolina state line at Progress Energy’s Powerhouse, which releases water for 6-hours every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The power company offers different release days and times before and after the standard scheduled release. Your rafting company will have the information, which depends on the weather and other factors.
When Progress Energy opens the gates to release water for the rafting community, and subsequently uses the water to produce clean energy for North Carolina, the river begins to rise from somewhere around 200 CFS (cubic feet of water per second) to 1200 or 1300 CFS. The small rapids quickly turn into whitewater fun!
Your day will start at the company’s check-in station. You will then receive a life jacket, helmet, paddle, a safety talk, and be introduced to your guide. All that is left is a short bus ride to the powerhouse. Expect bad jokes from the guides on the ride up.
Once you are in the water, you learn your skills fast. Within 30-seconds, you enter the long class III rapid called “Powerhouse.” Once you get past the first mile, and go beneath the bridge, the elevation begins to drop at a much faster pace. You immediately go through the vegomatic rapid. It slices and dices…well, not really, but it sounds good anyway. It is one of my favorite rapids to kayak through.
Closer to the end of your trip is where you find the class IV rapids with larger drops. You will also understand where the rapids like “Lost Guide,” “Double Reactionary,” “Accelerator,” and “Superglue” get their name.
Once you hit superglue, it is time to surf, Smoky Mountain style! If you are lucky enough to enter the rapid at the perfect spot, you may able to keep the boat in the rapid all day with 
water swirling around you. After the water finally kicks you out of the rapid, it is easy to float back to and try again.
After hitting a few class IV rapids in a row and surfing, it is time for a swim. The section of river known as “swimmers stretch” is the only part of the upper portion deep enough to swim safely. After your swim, there are a couple small rapids and you are almost back to your car. Don’t forget to view the photos your rafting company shot, usually taken at Powerhouse or Vegomatic, and enjoy a hot shower. Some rafting companies, like Rafting In The Smokies, offer photos on a CD that is not copyrighted. These photos are perfect to add to MySpace,
Facebook, and share with your friends. Well worth the money
After this experience, you can easily see why the tourism office says the area is “Where Mountains Reign and Rivers Roar.”
THE LOWER
This is a great family float trip. On this trip, you have more time to view the Great Smoky Mountains National Park from the valley. Ask your guide to turn the boat around just past “The Ledges” rapid for the best view of the Smokies.
OTHER NOTES
-Your guide will design the trip around you. Just tell them how you want it. Rough? Easy? No surfing? If you like a wilder ride, they can hit several rapids sideways or even spin the boat. If you want an easy ride, they will make it smooth and safe.
-The guides are like entertainers. They have great personalities and put on a show for you. Oscar, for example, often runs powerhouse standing on his head. Literally! You should be entertained by their characters. Some have PHDs, master degrees, are college professors, or own companies, but on rafting days, they go by other names. So when you hit the water, you might be along for the ride with someone calling themselves Chewy, Hobbit, Ewok, or Crispy. Yes, Chewy is tall with a beard and Hobbitt and Ewok are short. I am not sure if Crispy
is crispy or not. Guides like Brody and Drew, among others, are very popular with the women. But don’t worry guys. There are fiery river hotties like Melissa, Mo, and the rock-climbing Elise, among others, for you.
-What happens on the river, stays on the river
HOW TO GET TO THE RIVER
Exit 447 off Interstate-40. Do NOT use a GPS. Using a GPS in the mountains to find the outpost could take you across mountains on dirt
roads and you will not make your trip.
WHO TO RAFT WITH
Rafting In The Smokies – 1-800-PRO-RAFT – www.raftinginthesmokies.com Tell them Kevin Flint and hometownsevier.com sent you to receive a discount!
WHAT TO WEAR
Spring – Nylon cloths. No cotton! Use your rafting company’s nylon rain gear. Look at what the guides are wearing.
Summer – What makes you comfortable. Shorts, swim trunks, tank tops, bikini, etc…
Fall – Fall in East Tennessee can range in temperature from 40- to 90- degrees and everywhere between. Be prepared.
Winter – Rent a wetsuit and put on nylon rain gear on top of that. It is not as cold as you would think, even in the snow!
WHAT TO EXPECT
To get soaking wet and have fun!
Spring – Usually bigger water and rapids. Spring break fun.
Summer – More people. The cool water feels great.
Fall – Foliage that no camera could ever accurately capture.
Winter – No guaranteed water level. Usually bigger water.
WHAT TO BRING
-A change of cloths
-A towel
-Secure shoes. No flip flops, crocks, or bare feet.
-Your signed wavers. You can find them on your rafting company’s
website.
-These guides work primarily off tips. So don’t forget your wallet.
WHAT NOT TO BRING
Anything you do not want wet or lost! What is not permanently attached to you will be wet and in the river. The river loves to eat things. Lock everything else in your car.
-Keys – Each company has a box to keep them in.
-Rings & jewelry – Cold Mountain water shrinks fingers.
-Glasses – The river is full of them. If you must wear them, companies offer cheap retainer straps.
-Worries. Just relax and have a great time.
RIVER CLASSES DEFINED BY ME
I – A bump. Not enough to wake up your rubber ducky in the bath tub.
II – A bigger bump. You might even get splashed. No obstacles.
III – Large waves moving in different directions in an irregular pattern. Medium size drops with maneuvering required by the guide.
IV – More difficult and powerful waves. Larger drops. Hard currents. More maneuvering.
V – Very difficult. Long and violent rapids. Large drops with violent current.
VI – Niagara Falls. In other words, a class VI is not a runnable rapid.
WHERE TO EAT IN HARTFORD
There are three local restaurants
The Bean Trees Cafe – Locally owned. Cooks healthy. I recommend the chicken quesadilla
Pigeon River Smoky House (inside BP) – Great BBQ
Citgo – Great Philly cheesesteaks, chicken strips, and similar items
WHERE ELSE TO EAT
Exit 435 off Interstate-40 is the next closest place
Most fast food restaurants (Wendy’s, KFC, McDonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell, etc…)
Sagebrush Steakhouse (The best cheese fries)
Two Subway locations (Turn left or right)
Two Mexican restaurants (Turn left or right)
Ruby Tuesday
Cracker Barrel
Shoney’s
And many more!
TO CONTACT KEVIN
E-mail Kevin for rafting, kayaking, and other Smoky Mountain water sport recommendations at kevin@hometownsevier.com. You can find him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kevinflinttn/ or on MySpace at www.myspace.com/kevinflinttn/
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