ABOUT HARTFORD

Hartford, TN is the beginning of your TN Adventures. Hartford offers adventures for the entire family. Whitewater rafting, zip lines, camping and more.

Nestled on the banks of the Pigeon River at the base of the Smoky Mountains is the settlement of Hartford in Cocke County, Tennessee. Strategically located between Knoxville and Asheville just off Interstate 40. The area of Hartford was first inhabited by Native Americans in settlements scattered over the region. The town of Hartford was founded in 1853 as primarily a lumber town and first called Pigeon Valley. In the early 1900’s, Pigeon Valley was given the name “Hartford” in honor of John Hart, co-owner of the Tennessee and North Carolina railroad. With the onset of the Great Depression in the 1930’s, the timber market dried up and Hartford would not recover until the construction of Interstate 40 in the 1960’s.

Today Hartford is primarily a refueling stop and an outdoor adventure hub. Hartford is home to white water rafting, zip lines, hiking, camping, fishing, biking, and birding.