Outdoor Adventures

Whitewater Rafting

The Pigeon River offers some of the best whitewater in Tennessee. The Upper Pigeon features Class III and IV rapids for thrill seekers (spring through fall when dam releases create optimal conditions). The Lower Pigeon offers gentler Class I and II rapids, perfect for families with kids or first timers.

• Rafting in the Smokies: Multiple trip options from mild to wild
• Smoky Mountain Outdoors: Half day and full day adventures
• Big Creek Expeditions: Guided trips for all experience levels

Ziplining

Soar through the forest canopy with zipline tours throughout the area:

• CLIMB Works at Anakeesta: Dueling ziplines where you race side by side
• Legacy Mountain Ziplines: Seven ziplines including one stretching 1,500 feet
• Zip Gatlinburg: Multiple lines through the tree canopy
• Rowdy Bear Mountain: Steepest zipline in the area

Horseback Riding

Explore the Smokies on horseback with guided trail rides:

• Sugarlands Riding Stables: Inside the national park, 1 hour trail rides
• Cades Cove Riding Stables: Rides through the historic valley
• Smoky Mountain Riding Stables: Multiple locations, sunset rides available

Mountain Coasters

Control your own speed as you race down the mountain:

• Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster: Mile long track, night rides with LED lighting
• Anakeesta Rail Runner: Scenic mountaintop location
• Rowdy Bear Mountain Coaster: Over 3,300 feet of track
• Goats on the Roof: Family friendly coaster in Pigeon Forge

More Adventures

• Zorbing: Roll downhill in a giant ball at Outdoor Gravity Park
• Fly Fishing: World class trout fishing in park streams
• ATV Tours: Guided off road adventures
• Helicopter Tours: Scenic flights over the mountains
• Skiing & Snowboarding: Ober Gatlinburg in winter

How to pick an adventure from our cabins

All five of our cabins sit on the same ridge, about 8 minutes from downtown Gatlinburg and about 7 minutes from the national park entrance. That means you can book a 9 a.m. rafting shuttle, a 10 a.m. zipline, or a 2 p.m. horseback ride without moving lodging. After the trip, the hot tub is on your own deck, not a hotel hallway.

Use this rule of thumb when you are building a 3- or 4-night stay:

• One "wet" day: Upper Pigeon rafting (Class III-IV, typically late spring through early fall when dam releases run) or Dollywood's Splash Country in summer. Splash Country's 2026 season runs mid-May through September 20. Check the park calendar for current hours and ticket prices.
• One "high" day: Ziplining or a mountain coaster. CLIMB Works at Anakeesta is the closest to downtown. Legacy Mountain and Rowdy Bear are the longer, more scenic lines. Coasters are the better pick for mixed-age groups because riders control speed.
• One "quiet" day: Horseback riding inside the park (Sugarlands or Cades Cove stables) or a half-day of trout fishing. These fill slower than rafting on summer Saturdays, but weekend morning slots still go first.
• Rain plan: Indoor snow tubing at Pigeon Forge Snow, Ripley's Aquarium, or a movie in the cabin theater. Do not assume outdoor ziplines stay open in lightning or high wind.

Drive times from our cabins (no traffic)

• Downtown Gatlinburg outfitters and Anakeesta: about 8 minutes
• Pigeon River rafting check-in (Hartford / Cosby area): about 25 to 35 minutes depending on the company
• Pigeon Forge coasters, The Island, and Splash Country: about 20 minutes
• Cades Cove Riding Stables: about 50 to 60 minutes
• Ober Gatlinburg aerial tram: about 12 to 15 minutes to the downtown tram base

Book outfitters midweek when you can. Weekday trips run smaller groups and often cost less. Confirm current prices on each company's site. We do not quote attraction tickets here because they change by season.

Families with kids under 8 usually do better with a mountain coaster, the Lower Pigeon (Class I-II), or a one-hour stable ride than with a full zipline canopy tour. Groups of 8 to 12 should pick one cabin with a game room and theater (Big Sky Lodge or Funky Bear Lodge) so the "recovery evening" is as planned as the adventure day.

Related guides: whitewater rafting, ziplining, horseback riding, mountain coasters, zorbing, and hiking trails.