Welcome to Big Creek Expeditions!

Felisha Rorabeck • Mar 04, 2024

Join The Big Creek Family

If you are visiting the Gatlinburg area we strongly encourage you to make the 45-minute scenic drive over to our quiet little town of Hartford, TN. Here you can find us nestled alongside the beautiful Pigeon River. While we are known for our thrilling whitewater rafting and scenic float trips, our main goal at Big Creek Expeditions is to provide lifelong memories for everyone that chooses to adventure with us. From the moment you walk in the door we hope that you feel welcomed and feel at ease about your rafting choice. Our check-in staff is there to assure your process goes smoothly and that all your questions are answered thoroughly before starting your rafting adventure. 


The 11 mile stretch of Pigeon River is broken into two sections that you can choose to raft on. The Whitewater Rafting Trip features class III-IV rapids and is for our thrill-seekers out there that are looking to get drenched while on the river. The Scenic Float trip features class I-II rapids and is ideal for those looking for a simple, relaxing trip down the river.  There are some restrictions for the trip: guests have to be at least 8 years old to go on the Upper Pigeon Whitewater Raft and 3 years old to go on the Lower Pigeon Scenic Float. No previous experience is necessary, for either section! Our River Guides on average of TEN years of rafting experience, so they know what it takes to provide a quality trip! Rafting is the Smoky Mountain way to cool off from the summer heat, bond with your family and friends by creating life lasting memories, and truly experience the absolute best that the Great Smoky Mountains has to offer—by playing outside. People often say that rafting adventures are the highlight of their trips.  


So why choose Big Creek Expeditions? As a smaller company, we are owner-operated with a staff that feels more like family than co-workers. Passionate people that love what they do are never truly working, and for the folks at Big Creek, they love what they do, and it shows. You can easily find other companies that offer the same trips as we do alongside the Pigeon River and we are positive they can provide you with a fun, safe trip down the river. But at Big Creek Expeditions we strive to provide personable experiences to every single person that rafts with us, and we hope that everyone that leaves here has a new love for whitewater rafting, has lifelong memories to share with family and friends, and that they now feel like they are part of our Big Creek family. 

Upper River Trip

Experience our most popular adventure.  Raft the Upper Pigeon River.

Scenic Float Trip

Enjoy the scenery of the Lower Pigeon River. Relax and take in the views of nature.

Book the full river experience.  Navigate both the upper and lower Pigeon River sections.

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