Rainbow Falls
!
Rainbow Falls is massive and beautiful.Jim Bob Tinsley in The Land of Waterfalls
If any waterfall in North Carolina is suited to verbose and flowery language, it's Rainbow, But Tinsley sums it up nicely with just these two ordinary adjectives.
This waterfall and I go way back. My mother took me there as a child and it’s one of the select few that I keep going back to even though I must have hiked to it over a hundred times. It’s probably my all-around favorite waterfall in North Carolina.
Rainbow Falls and most of the other waterfalls on Horsepasture River have had more than their share of troubled waters flowing over them. Most people who visit the waterfalls have no idea that for a time it looked like they would disappear, with the river’s flow diverted for a hydroelectric scheme. And for a while, public access was in question. I’ll soon be adding a special page about Horsepasture River that talks about all this and more.
It’s impossible to talk about Rainbow Falls without mentioning several other waterfalls close by. On the trail to Rainbow you pass a side path that provides access to Stairway Falls and Sidepocket Falls. A little farther along is a side path (sort of) leading to Waterfall on tributary 1 of Horsepasture River. Just downstream from Rainbow is Hidden Falls and just upstream is Turtleback Falls. A little above Turtleback is Drift Falls. I’ll be mentioning all these to some extent on this page.
This is an old film shot, probably from the late 1990s or early 2000s. The view hasn't changed much since then. (060C-1099F)
Driving Directions
The trailhead is the same for Rainbow Falls, Turtleback Falls, Drift Falls, Hidden Falls, stairway falls, Sidepocket Falls, and Waterfall on tributary 1 of Horsepasture River.
From US 64, drive south on NC 281 for 0.9 mile and turn left at the entrance for Gorges State Park. Drive 0.95 mile to a stop sign at the visitor center. Turn left and drive 0.8 mile to the Grassy Ridge Parking Area, on the right.
Hiking Directions
I’m providing directions here for all the major waterfalls accessed from Rainbow Falls Trail except Stairway Falls and Sidepocket Falls. This includes Hidden Falls, Rainbow Falls, Turtleback Falls, and Drift Falls.
Quick Glance
Hike the trail from the kiosks to a T-junction. Turn right and follow the trail to Rainbow Falls, then Turtleback Falls, then Drift Falls. Hidden Falls is accessed by a short side path downstream from Rainbow Falls.
Detailed Look
Begin at the kiosks at the far end of the parking area. At 0.3 miles you’ll reach a T-junction. Turn right on the orange-blazed Rainbow Falls Trail. Descend moderately for about 0.4 miles to an easy creek crossing. At about 0.1 miles from the creek, you’ll see trail signs indicating that you’re leaving Gorges State Park. The remainder of the hike will be in Pisgah National Forest.
At a quarter mile from the creek crossing, the trail makes a sharp right turn, with a side trail on the left. (This side trail descends to Stairway Falls and provides access to Sidepocket Falls.) A little over 0.1 miles farther you’ll come to another creek crossing. This one is larger and requires a rockhop (easy) or a shallow wade if the water’s up. A few yards beyond the creek is a campsite on the right. (Behind the campsite is an overgrown forest road leading to Waterfall on tributary 1 of Horsepasture River.)
Beyond the campsite, Horsepasture River becomes a close companion. You’ll make a short, steep ascent, then descend, then go on a long moderate ascent. At about 0.3 miles from the creek crossing, you’ll come to an obvious side path on the left. This path descends a short distance to the river with a view of Hidden Falls upstream. Stay on the main trail for a better view. In another 200 feet you’ll come to another side path. This one descends to a much better and closer view of the falls.
From this side path it’s a steep climb for a little over 0.1 miles to an open view of Rainbow Falls at a split-rail fence. The trail forks at the far end of the fence. The path to the left descends to a lower observation area for the falls. Take the right fork to continue the hike. You’ll reach a point near the top of Rainbow Falls in less than 0.1 miles. A fence is here, designed to keep you on the main trail and away from the top.
Continue about 400 feet to reach a point directly in front of Turtleback Falls. A side path here leads a few feet to a large rock with an open view of the falls.
From here, the trail swings around to the top of Turtleback Falls where the trail forks. The trail to the right ascends to NC 281. To see Drift Falls, take the left fork. You’ll come to a fence at a little under 0.2 miles from the top of Turtleback Falls.
The fence marks the boundary between Pisgah National Forest and private property that you do not want to cross into. Please, trust me on this. You can follow the path along the fence down to the river and get out in the riverbed for a decent view of Drift Falls, but if you walk up to the edge of the plunge pool, you’ll be trespassing. I recommend that you do not do this.
| Accessibility: | Hiking trail |
| County: | Transylvania |
| River Basin: | Savannah |
| Watercourse: | Horsepasture River |
| Watershed: | Medium/large |
| Type and Height: | Near vertical cascade measuring 146 feet high Height measured with rangefinder. |
| Landowner: | Pisgah NF, Pisgah RD |
| Beauty Rating: | 10+ |
| Elevation: | 2760 feet |
| USGS Map: | Reid NC/SC |
| Hike Difficulty: | Moderate+ |
| Hike Distance: | 1.55 miles |
| Waterfall GPS: | 35.09066, -82.96579 |
| Trailhead GPS: | 35.088764, -82.95187 |
Photo Gallery
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Historical Gallery
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