Some of the best whitewater in the country is right here in East Tennessee. Indeed, four great rivers for whitewater adventures are easy day trips from Knoxville. The Pigeon River near Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge; The Ocoee River east of Cleveland, (site of the 1996 Olympic whitewater course); the Watauga River near Elizabethton; and the Nantahala River just across the border in North Carolina.
High time for whitewater is May through September. Whether your jam is kayaking, canoeing, rafting, or tubing, the region has you covered. Prepare for adventure, and prepare to get wet.
Outfitters
River Sports Outfitters
Knoxville, TN
riversportsoutfitters.com
Rock Creek Outfitters
Chattanooga, TN
rockcreek.com
Uncle Lem’s Outfitters
Knoxville, TN
unclelems.com
Pigeon River
River John’s Outfitters
Townsend, TN
riverjohns.com
Rapid Expeditions
Hartford, TN
rapidexpeditions.com
Nantahala River
Nantahala Outdoor Center
Multiple locations in Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee
noc.com
Ocoee River
Cascade Outdoors
Ocoee, TN
cascadeoutdoors.com
Raft One
Ducktown, TN
raft1.com
Watauga River
Watauga Kayak
Elizabethton, TN
wataugakayak.com