Tubing in The Smoky Mountains: The Ultimate Guide

For visitors seeking to experience the Great Smoky Mountains National Park from a different vantage point, like floating or riding white water down a mountain’s stream, tubing is a fantastic option! The rivers and streams in and around the park offer a variety of wild white water rapids as well as gentler floats to enjoy the majesty of the mountains.

Not only can you lounge back and let the water do the work, but visitors can bask in the cool waters and roll down some ancient riverbeds while taking in the grandeur of lush forests, and towering mountain peaks. There are a wealth of tubing sports in The Smoky Mountains so you can select just the right trip for you!

The Little River – Townsend “Y’ Area

A favorite location for tubing and splashing, the “The Townsend Y,” where the Little River and the Middle Prong of Little River join is one of the most easily accessed and popular tubing areas in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Located just beyond the Townsend entrance to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, the “The Townsend Y,” is where many tubing trips begin their float trips back towards and through Townsend, Tennessee.

Deep Creek – Near Bryson City, NC

Deep Creek is considered some of the more adventurous tubing and is a popular area for swimming. With water that originates in the mountains springs and flows through the rich and dense forests of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, these waters too are known to be some of the purest and cleanest water in the Southeastern United States.

The Deep Creek Section of the park is located just outside Bryson City has been described as “Nature’s Water Ride” and consists of 2 sections. The upper “whitewater” section of Deep Creek is known for its rougher, wilder waters, especially after a good rain. This bumbling ride ends in a deep and wide swimming hole. The upper “whitewater” section flows from where Indian Creek joins Deep Creek through the narrow Deep Creek gorge.

The Oconaluftee River – Near Cherokee, NC

For visitors wishing to experience a pristine river near the historic town of Cherokee, North Carolina the Oconaluftee River offers a fun and scenic float from this side of the park. Like other rivers in the park, the Oconaluftee River is considered one the cleanest and clearest rivers in the southeastern United States.

Flowing forth from the Cherokee side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, these pure waters travel up and out of the park and through the town of Cherokee, NC.

Greenbrier: Little Pigeon River

Located just up the road from Gatlinburg on 321, The Greenbrier area is a lesser known recreation area for tubing and swimming holes in the Smoky Mountains. While this isn’t an official tubing route, you will see pull-offs along Greenbrier Road where many locals and “tourists in the know” pull off to take a dip or hop in a tube.

Tubing Rental Companies Near Gatlinburg

While some people rent their own tubes and create their own tubing adventure, numerous tubing companies near Gatlinburg that offer guidance on specific routes provide shuttles, tube safety tips and more.

JJs Tube Rental

Located in the Deep Creek area, JJs Tube Rental is well known for their old-fashioned tubes, more like truck tire material that have hard plastic seats tied in the middle with rope. These more durable tubes are fit to ride and tame the rapids and keep you comfortable along the way. They also offer tubes without seats in the middle for those who want to dip their bottom, and tubes in kid and adult sizes.

Deep Creek Lodge & Creekside Tubing

Deep Creek Lodge and Tubing Center has continued the legacy of offering family-fun and the tubing gear needed to enjoy the beauty and wonder of the park. Located directly adjacent to the Deep Creek section and entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Deep Creek Lodge and Tubing Center offers a takeout spot right from the flowing creeks just as you exit the National Park. 

For tubers who have worked up an appetite battling the rapids or just lounging about, Deep Creek Lodge and Tubing Center offers a snack shop and pavilion where tubers can have a lunch, snack or meal located right beside the creek. There are also plenty of restaurants in Gatlinburg to refuel. 

Cherokee Rapids

Cherokee Rapids is popular for offering one of the longest trips in the area and their famous “Big Cove” Route. This float trip starts two miles upstream from Cherokee Rapids Little Princess Location. Visitors are shuttled into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and dropped just beyond the Cherokee Visitors Center

For guests with smaller children, seeking a more relaxing float trip Cherokee Rapids offers the “Island” Route. This family-friendly Smoky Mountain attraction includes a 2-mile that begins at the Little Princess location and floats down through the town of Cherokee to Oconaluftee Islands River Park.

Smoky Mountain River Rat

Located in Townsend, The Smoky Mountain River Rat offers two river trips on The Little River, on an upper and lower section. The Upper section is considered the more adventurous and scenic route, with rolling rapids and swimming holes along the way. The lower section is a more relaxed ride and family-friendly float with a rock jump, rope swing, and gentler rapids than the upper float.
Tubing is an excellent way to experience the beauty and excitement of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Visitors can choose from a variety of tubing options, ranging from gentle floats to thrilling white water rapids. Elk Springs Resort is a perfect place to stay for those looking for easy access to the best tubing spots in the area. Whether you are looking for an adventurous day on the water or a relaxing float with family and friends, tubing in the Great Smoky Mountains is a must-try experience for any nature lover