Our Story — All About Rapid Expeditions

Welcome to our site, and thanks for stopping by! The Rapid Expeditions story is quite simple. An entrepreneur with a passion for outdoor adventure decided to make his dream a reality by opening a one-of-a-kind Smoky Mountain whitewater rafting and kayaking outfitter. Soon after, Rapid Expeditions took shape in the beautiful town of Hartford in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. Visit our NEW SALES OFFICE IN GATLINBURG - register for whitewater rafting in Gatlinburg at our booth in the Ober Aerial Tram office. Located in downtown Gatlinburg at traffic light #9.

PLEASE NOTE: If you're visiting the Smoky Mountain area, chances are you've seen lots of advertisements for whitewater rafting. The ONLY place in the area you can do this is on the Pigeon River. Some raft outfitters have business offices in Gatlinburg, TN, but be aware that you will be bussed over to the Pigeon River in Hartford - there is no whitewater rafting in the national park or in Gatlinburg.

Hartford is located right off of I-40, halfway between Knoxville, TN and Asheville, NC. Rapid Expeditions is less than 500 yards off the exit — a quaint outpost decorated with colorful kayaks and located directly on the banks of the Pigeon River. In fact, Rapid Expeditions may very well have the most prime piece of property of any outfitter in the area, with a raft take-out literally steps from their front door. Translation: guests can jump off their boats and not worry about any bus rides in their wet clothes. Instead, we suggest a nice hot cup of coffee from the restaurants next door or simply relaxing on our covered patio area with picnic benches and beautiful views of the mountains and river.

Meet the Owner

Rapid Expeditions whitewater rafting and kayaking is owned and operated by Dave Crawford of Knoxville, TN. His love for everything outdoors led to the purchase of an abandoned rafting outfitter, which with the helps of friends and family, was resurrected into arguably the finest looking rafting outfitter in Tennessee. Go ahead and click the photo — you'll be impressed!

Dave's outdoor experience goes back... way back. In fact, he's been involved with outdoor adventure sports as long as he can remember. A veteran kayaker, mountain biker, skier, snowboarder and overall outdoorsman, Dave excels at introducing and instructing novices to the world of whitewater rafting and kayaking. As a certified kayak instructor, he'll make sure that you leave Rapid Expeditions with a smile on your face and the confidence and skills needed to master whitewater. During the off-season, Dave is head of ski patrol at the Ober Gatlinburg ski resort.

Rapid Expeditions' Business Philosophy

Above all, our guests are here to have fun. It is our primary goal to show men and women of all ages an absolutely wonderful time out on the water, no matter what their skill level. From beginners who have never stepped foot in a boat to advanced paddlers who are looking to hone their skills in a particular area, choose Rapid Expeditions for rafting, kayaking and everything outdoors in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee!

Further, we understand that the sport of whitewater rafting and kayaking is a natural experience — one that should not be rushed. While others may push as many people down the river as possible to maximize profits, we take a more relaxed approach and allow our guests to stop along the way to enjoy the scenery, challenge themselves in the rapids, or cool off with a nice swim in the river. In a nutshell, you won't feel like you're on a conveyer belt or assembly line when rafting with us. Instead, we'll give you a one-of-a-kind whitewater rafting experience with just a bit of Southern charm. We know that your happiness will lead repeat business, and more importantly, marketing via word of mouth. We know that when we show guests a good time they'll be sure to tell their friends at school or work all about it come Monday morning!

A young paddler enjoys a private kayak lesson with Dave (left).
Dave Crawford enjoying some trails in the Pisgah National Forest (middle).

This is Just the Beginning

Hold your horses... we're not finished yet! While the primary focus of Rapid Expeditions is to give East Tennessee residents and Smoky Mountains visitors a taste of whitewater adventures on the Pigeon River, we also have plenty more to achieve. You'll notice a handful of links at the bottom of every page — from climbing and biking to fishing, camping and hiking. Why? Because we want to promote all facets of outdoor activities in the beautiful Southern Appalachians. East Tennessee and Western North Carolina are blessed with some of the finest outdoor activity venues in the nation. Because of this, we want everyone to have access to all the beautiful trails, rivers and rocks that experts and novices alike are enjoying every day of the year.

Bookmark our website and come back often. You'll find plenty of postings on organized group mountain bike rides, information on the latest cycling hotspots, and maybe even some free kayak lesson postings. We won't rest until everyone in the area is enjoying everything East Tennessee has to offer in the way of adventure sports. Now get off that computer and give us a call!  1-888-504-RAFT

Reserve Your Gatlinburg Rafting Trip NOW >>