Rainbow Falls Trail (#499)
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Route map of the Rainbow Falls Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app and depicted a la Google Earth...
Route map of the Rainbow Falls Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app...
Rainbow Falls Trailhead (Gorges State Park) -- 2,940'
The trailhead for Rainbow Falls is located within Gorges State Park at the south end of the park loop road. Though this upper portion of the trail isn't within Pisgah National Forest, there's no other way to access it so the album will start from here...
Rainbow Falls Trailhead (Gorges State Park) -- 2,940'
You pass a full barrage of park and forest information at the Rainbow Falls Trailhead...
Rainbow Falls Trailhead (Gorges State Park) -- 2,940'
Looking back at the upper end of the Rainbow Falls Trail at Gorges State Park...
Beginning the gradual descent into the gorge...
Rainbow Falls /Raymond Fisher Trail Junction -- 2,820'
In 1/3-mile the T-junction with the Raymond Fisher Trail is reached. To continue on the Rainbow Falls Trail follow the arrow to the right...
The popularity of the trail is evidenced in its wide, smooth cut through the forest...
Most guidebooks rate this trail as strenuous, that's really just regarding the return hike. Many people hike down this trail without considering the fact that, after seeing the waterfalls, they still have to walk out...
Rainbow Falls Trail (National Forest Boundary) -- 2,640'
Crossing the park boundary line...now you're on an official Pisgah National Forest trail...
Rainbow Falls Trail (National Forest Boundary) -- 2,640'
Looking at the State Park/National Forest boundary from the return direction...
Continuing the easy downhill walk...
No two ways about it...the forest surrounding the trail is impressive...
Rainbow Falls Trail @ Stairway Falls Spur Path -- 2,570'
At around the one-mile mark an old forest service stake marks the unmaintained side trail to Stairway Falls, descending off the ridge to the left at a sharp right hand bend. This spot is easy to miss, so keep a sharp eye out...
The side trail to Stairway Falls is much narrower, and quite a bit steeper than the main trail. It's not a family-friendly side-trip by any means but more seasoned hikers will find it rewarding. This is the view of the falls from the bottom of the spur...
A short vid of the beautiful Stairway Falls...
The main trail again, as it winds its way through the beautiful forest down into the gorge...
The Rainbow Falls Trail bottoms out, about a half-mile prior to reaching its namesake, at this small stream crossing. It's typically no trouble to cross. After a heavy rain, however, it can be a thigh-deep barrier to going any further...
Just past the stream crossing is a huge open area in the forest with numerous comfy logs strewn about where the weary hiker can rest his/her legs...
The last half mile or so before Rainbow Falls offers quite a few places where one can walk down to the edge of the Horsepasture River...
The trail steepens as it approaches Rainbow Falls, sporting a few steps help with the ascent...
Just below Rainbow Falls is the aptly named Hidden Falls. Thus named because it is so often missed along the trail, but also likely because (in these parts) it's kind of generous to call this a waterfall...
Morning sunshine gleams off the Horsepasture, downstream from Hidden Falls...
Starting the final, steep, push to Rainbow Falls...