05/27/2026
If you're looking for relaxation, plan on a trip just down the road aways for this. Let's discuss your summer vacation at TNcabin230.com and come up with more things to do.
As of May 23rd in Tennessee, you can hop on a tube and float the Hiwassee River as beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains tower as your backdrop! This warm-weather adventure with Hiwassee Outfitters sends you into the cold, clear water of the Hiwassee River for a self-guided tubing trip through the Cherokee National Forest. After you check in at the outpost, a shuttle carries you about 5.5 to 6 miles upstream, then you float back downriver toward your vehicle at the facility. Most trips last around three hours, though the full ride can take anywhere from about 2.5 to 4 hours depending on river conditions and the tube.
This is not a lazy-river-style float at a waterpark. The Hiwassee has real mountain current, cold early-summer water around 54 degrees, and a fun run of Class I and Class II rapids that splash, bump, and carry you through the gorge. The river’s scenery is part of what makes it so special, with forested hillsides, mountain views, and long calmer stretches between the faster water. A 23-mile section of the Hiwassee became Tennessee’s first managed river under the Tennessee State Scenic River Program, and the river itself begins in Georgia before flowing 147 miles to the Tennessee River. Tubing is for ages 14 and up, and you must be 18 or older to float alone.
Life jackets are included, but paddles are not, and guests should wear shoes other than flip-flops because of the rocky river bottom. Bring clothes that can get wet, water shoes, sunscreen, a water bottle, and a cooler if you’d like, as long as it is not Styrofoam. Glass, Styrofoam, and alcohol are not allowed on the river. Weekday tube rentals are $35, weekend rentals are $40 plus tax, and you should arrive 30 minutes before your booking so you do not miss your shuttle. Tube rentals must be on the water before 3 p.m., and weekends and holidays are usually the busiest times.