Tubing In Townsend On Little River

Tubing In Townsend On Little River

Tubing in Townsend is a great way to cool off. Its summertime, it’s hot and you are in the Great Smoky Mountains. A great way to cool off is to enjoy a cool splash in the Little River. The Little River runs tight thru Townsend, Tn. Parts of the river are calm pools of cool water while other parts are fast rapids and swirling pools. The water is clean, cool, and clear. No matter what your level of fun, tubing on the Little River is a lot of fun for the whole family. Townsend has several tubing companies where you can rent tubes. There are also several campgrounds next to the river. 

Tubing in Townsend

While tubing the Little River enjoy the beautiful scenery along the river banks. You are in the Great Smoky Mountains! The river rambles around the quiet town of Townsend and into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Parts of the Little River run parallel to Hwy 321 thru the town of Townsend. Another section runs parallel to E. Lamar Alexander Parkway which leads towards Cades Cove.

The lower part of the river is very calm. It’s a great place to enjoy a relaxing gentle float on a hot summer day. And it’s perfect for families with younger children. Upstream the rapids are more challenging. The water runs faster around more rocks. Upstream is a great place for a more thrilling adventure. Before you head out you might want to take along some water/river shoes, bug spray, sunscreen, towels, and bottles of water. Do not drink the river water.

Townsend Tubing Companies

There are many tubing companies in the area that can provide equipment and guidance for a day of tubing. Here are just the names of a few.

Smoky Mountain River Rat Tubing 205 Wears Valley Rd (865) 448-8888

Cowboy Tubin 8351 State Hwy 73 (865)448-6858

Tube River Rage  US 321 Townsend, TN  (865) 448-7243

Smoky Mountain Outdoor Center 209 Wears Valley Road (865) 448-3500

Little River Campground    7261 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway  (865)738-3665

Swimming at The Townsend Wye

If tubing isn’t for you, there is also swim in the Little River. In the summer the water is warm and there are many swimming holes located along the river. The most popular swimming hole is the Townsend Wye swimming hole. The Townsend Wye is where the Little River divides into two prongs. This location is a popular place. The Townsend Wye is a great place to have fun in the water without a tube. The river here is relatively calm at the swimming hole so it’s an ideal place for a cool deep in this mountain river in the Great Smoky Mountains. The swimming hole is located at the end of E. Lamar Alexander Rd where it turns into Laurel Creek Rd toward the south and Little River Gorge Rd that heads toward Gatlinburg.

Here’s a youtube video from Smoky Mountain River Rat in Townsend…

River tubing looks like fun doesn’t it?