Rapid Expeditions

Rapid Expeditions Rapid Expeditions is a full service whitewater rafting outfitter and kayaking school located on the Pigeon River in Hartford, TN. Come raft with us in 2025!
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We are a small local business that has been in continuous operation since 2007! Book your summer getaway today! Offering Upper and Lower Pigeon River rafting trips on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and some Sundays (call ahead) during Spring, Summer, and Fall! We are located a short drive from Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville. The Pigeon River boasts Class II, III, and IV rapids on the border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Join us tomorrow for the second annual at !Rivers have stories. These folks know how to read them.Join our Paddling Rou...
05/01/2026

Join us tomorrow for the second annual at !

Rivers have stories. These folks know how to read them.

Join our Paddling Roundtable, WATER TALES - The Ones That Splash, for real talk on access, safety, stewardship, local routes, and where paddling culture is headed.

Panelists:
Noell Lewis — climber turned kayaker who found a whole new community on the water
Dave Crawford - owner of Rapid Expeditions
and longtime whitewater instructor
& Ed McAlister - founder of River Sports Outfitters and local legend in getting people outside
Andrew Gunnoe - educator, conservation advocate, and lifelong explorer of Southern Appalachian rivers
Moderator: Marcy Souza - trail biker, river paddler, and outdoor enthusiast keeping the conversation moving

Where and When: ljams Visitor Center, 10 AM, May 2nd

Whether it’s your first season or your fiftieth, pull up a chair.

Rafting season is officially a month away, and we are ready to make a splash this season with the best team on the Pigeo...
05/01/2026

Rafting season is officially a month away, and we are ready to make a splash this season with the best team on the Pigeon River!

Looking for Memorial Day weekend plans on the water for the adventure-seekers in your life? Reserve your spot now and let us be the highlight of your Smokies getaway!

Learn more through the link in our bio…

The temps coming up this week have us looking forward to opening weekend for the 2026 rafting season here in Hartford!Lo...
04/26/2026

The temps coming up this week have us looking forward to opening weekend for the 2026 rafting season here in Hartford!

Located in the heart of the Smokies in Hartford Tennessee, our crew is gearing up for an amazing season ahead! Mark your calendars for Memorial Day weekend, and we will see you soon!

Hard to believe it’s been more than a week since we celebrated a beautiful race day with all of our Waucheesi friends!To...
04/08/2026

Hard to believe it’s been more than a week since we celebrated a beautiful race day with all of our Waucheesi friends!

To say it was a perfect day is an understatement — great weather, fun gravel, incredible food, and lots of sweat and grit! We had record turnout, and can’t thank everyone enough who was involved. To our amazing sponsors, hosts, aid station and course volunteers, and every single person who came together to make this the best Waucheesi yet — THANK YOU!

In case you haven’t seen the post-ride email tha went out from Chris at darkhorse race productions, check your inbox, because there are a few things you don’t want to miss.

One, the link to our amazing race photos from Rachel at Rachel Woods | Appalachian Photographer (instructions on how to purchase images is included in the email).

And TWO, a special discount code to register for our sister race the HARDford Gravel Grinder coming up in August. The discount code expires THIS COMING SUNDAY, so be sure to check your email and register!

See you soon!!!

Tomorrow kicks off April…which is almost May...which is opening month for rafting season!If you’re making plans for Memo...
04/01/2026

Tomorrow kicks off April…which is almost May...which is opening month for rafting season!

If you’re making plans for Memorial Day in the Smoky Mountains, be sure to book a whitewater rafting trip on the Pigeon River with our crew at Rapid Expeditions!

Why choose us? We’re family owned, have the best staff, and our trips are smaller for the best experience on the river.

Send us a message or check the link in our profile to start planning your summer now!

It’s and we hope you found yourself on an adventure today!Whether you’re looking to add a bike or paddling outing to y...
03/30/2026

It’s and we hope you found yourself on an adventure today!

Whether you’re looking to add a bike or paddling outing to your calender, our crew has something for you!

Spring paddling is in full swing, and we have some epic whitewater in our backyard that highlights the beauty of Appalachia. Book your solo or group outing with us — shoot us a DM or give us a call!

Are you ready for the epic Waucheesi weekend ahead? If you’ve already registered, check your email for a note from our r...
03/26/2026

Are you ready for the epic Waucheesi weekend ahead? If you’ve already registered, check your email for a note from our race co-director with a few highlights to make sure you’re prepared.

Schedule of Events!

Saturday

2 PM Shake-Out Ride with .race.productions and . Riders meet at to caravan to the start at Baby Falls parking on Tellico River Rd. (see RWGPS for route and event RSVP).

6 - 8 PM — Sign-In at and hangout

Sunday

6 AM — Sign-In open. Coffee and Pastries available!

7:50 AM — Racer Line-Up and Meeting at Start/Finish

8 AM SHARP — Race Start!!
* 2:30p… Podiums Part A (tenatively/TBD)
* 4:00p… Podiums Part B (tenatively/TBD)

Reminder — the course will NOT be marked, so you MUST download the route!  PLEASE don’t wait until race morning to make sure it works! Course Marshalls will be on course at important intersections when possible, but responsibility to stay on course and adhere to safety considerations is your responsibility!

We will have a course sweep for all distances, but this is NOT a SAG situation.  

We will have lead-out by the PD, then Moto lead-out will take over for the W63 and W88.  While this helps for visibility and safety, please be aware that the course is OPEN to all vehicle traffic.

And finally, while the weather forecast is looking favorable, this is REAL mountain gravel — you will find much cooler temperatures at elevation, and there’s no telling what the weather could do in the depths of Citico!  

Come prepared, or come ready to endure…it’s up to you.

See you soon!

We hope everyone had an adventurous Spring Break! The early bouts of warm weather have given us many of opportunities to...
03/24/2026

We hope everyone had an adventurous Spring Break!

The early bouts of warm weather have given us many of opportunities to get out on the trails and on the water this spring. If you’re looking for an opportunity to brush up on your Whitewater paddling skills before summer is here, now is your chance!

If you’re wanting to enjoy yourself on some mountain gravel, don’t forget that this weekend is the Waucheesi bike race in — with three different distances, there is something for everyone looking for an adventurep

Learn more about how you can paddle or bike with our crew at Rapid Expeditions through the link in our bio!

We are less than a week away from race day, and we are getting last minute details lined up! The weather forecast is loo...
03/23/2026

We are less than a week away from race day, and we are getting last minute details lined up! The weather forecast is looking great and the gravel is ripping — all that’s left for you to do is register!

The Waucheesi is a beast that wouldn’t be possible to pull off without the support of our amazing bike shops and awesome volunteers that run our aid stations. On course you’ll find (aid station one), (aid station two), (aid station three), and (aid station four), as well as , volunteer bike friends and family cheering you on!

If you’re not dialed in for race day yet, make sure to stop in and see our local shops for all your tuneup and gear needs before the big day on Sunday!

We are stoked to offer CASH payout for Overall podiums for the 63 and 88! this is possible through the sponsorships of , , and our good friend (and cycling legend) .

Running our timing again this year is Eric Weaver and crew of — thanks for making us official and organized at the start and finish!

And of course, to our friends that keep us fed and happy, . We are already drooling thinking about the post-race meal waiting for us on the other side.

Again, NOW is the time to register if you’ve been waiting for a sign! Head to the link in our bio or find us on to claim your spot for the Waucheesi on Sunday!

Tellico Plains will be the place to be next Sunday for the Waucheesi, but it’s also the perfect spot to spend the whole ...
03/21/2026

Tellico Plains will be the place to be next Sunday for the Waucheesi, but it’s also the perfect spot to spend the whole weekend! Downtown has a cool vibe, with the perfect blend of access to the outdoors with local shopping, great spots to grab a bite and coffee, and camping nearby.

For folks that want to make a weekend of it, we’ve planned a fun, no-drop shake out ride on Saturday to loosen the legs and touch some gravel!  We will meet at (one of our favorite outdoor stores around) at 2 PM to caravan to the start at Baby Falls parking area — or you can meet at Baby Falls at 2:30 PM. As a bonus, you’ll get to see the newly renovated access to Bald River Falls as you drive up, or if you tag on a tiny bit to your ride!

The ride will be lead by .race.productions and our friends at at a social pace, but if you need to rip ahead or feel froggy, you’re welcome to add on some extra as you see fit!

Check out the link in our bio and stories to preview the ride route, and to RSVP to our Ride with GPS event!

Our team is stoked to see everyone soon for the 2026 Waucheesi, and we wanted to take a moment to introduce the faces be...
03/17/2026

Our team is stoked to see everyone soon for the 2026 Waucheesi, and we wanted to take a moment to introduce the faces behind the scenes making this happen!

Chris Joice, one of our co-directors and the man behind scouting the OG HARDford route, making courses (H75, Waucheesi, ScruffyCat, and countless others), and the creation of .race.productions. If he’s not on a crazy bike route in the wilderness, he’s probably coaching as head coach for their successful program for youth rippers.

Dave Crawford is the owner of Rapid Expeditions, which opened in 2006 in Hartford on the Pigeon River. He took up whitewater kayaking in 1995, and on top of being a Level 4 kayak instructor, he is also a member of National Ski Patrol. The revamped HARDford launched in 2014 with his help, along with the Waucheesi in 2021. You can find him kayaking, on the slopes, or on a bike with his son Bear.

Stuart Shull, is co-owner of Tellico Grains Bakery, our hosts for the Waucheesi! With a long background in baking and an impressive resume to back it up, he loves feeding our riders after a long day on a bike. Our riders always enjoy wood-fired pizza, sandwiches on fresh bread, pastries and more from TGB on race day!

Rachel Woods of Smoke Signal Photography will be behind her camera during check-in, along the route, and at the finish, capturing the day.

Meet these fine folks and others on race day! Link in bio to register…

Address

3605 Hartford Road
Hartford, TN
37753

Opening Hours

Tuesday 8am - 10pm
Wednesday 8am - 10pm
Thursday 8am - 10pm
Saturday 8am - 10pm

Telephone

+18885047238

Website

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