White water rafting, or simply rafting, is one of the most popular recreational activities among adventure-seekers worldwide. This recreational sport has been popularized in the later part of the 20th century, and is enjoyed by those who are in pursuit of extra thrill and excitement. From Asia to America, this sport is popular because of the fun and exciting activities associated with it.

This challenging recreational activity uses an inflatable raft for navigating rivers or other bodies of water. It's usually done on white water or different degrees of rough water, depending on the passengers' preference. The raft is a simple structure with many independent air chambers in it. The materials used for these inflatable boats are durable vinyl or multi-layered rubberized fabrics that offer superior safety and support.

Rafts come in different forms, depending on a specific locality's geographical factors. Rafts in Europe are commonly symmetrical ones steered with paddles, while others are asymmetrical, rudder-controlled with central oars.  Rafts typically hold 4 to 12 people, and are navigated by pairs of paddlers. Catamaran-style rafts are popular in both Russia and the US.

Levels of difficulty in white water gatlinburg rafting involve ranges from simple to very dangerous and potential serious injuries. Grade 1 areas require slight maneuvering skills and are intended for those with very basic skill levels while Grade 6 rapids are considered dangerous. Grade 6 rapids usually involve substantial whitewater, huge waves, rocks, and hazards, as well as significant drops that may impart severe impacts. Those allowed for Grade 6 rapids are highly-skilled people with years of experience.

Maneuvering skills for gatlinburg white water rafting involve punching and high siding. Punching involves paddling the raft to give it enough speed to push through the river hydraulics without getting stopped. High siding on the other hand is applicable if a raft is caught on a hydraulic. To stop the raft from flipping on its side, rafters can climb to the side of the raft furthest downstream to use the draw stroke and pull the raft out of the hydraulic.

 Gatlinburg whitewater rafting can be a leisure activity involving great thrill and excitement, but those who are into it also have to strictly follow some basic precautions. Two types of risks involved with whitewater rafting are environmental dangers and improper behavior. People who are into whitewater rafting have to learn about these two before they can participate.