Rainbow Falls Trail

Rainbow Falls Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, climbs through old-growth cove hardwood forest along LeConte Creek to an 80-foot free-falling waterfall that produces a visible rainbow in afternoon sunlight. The trailhead is at the end of Cherokee Orchard Road, approximately 1 mile from downtown Gatlinburg in Sevier County. Parking at the trailhead is limited; the lot fills by 8 AM on summer and fall weekends, and walking or using the Gatlinburg trolley from downtown is a practical alternative during peak periods. No trail permit is required, and entry to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is free.

From the trailhead at roughly 2,500 feet, the route follows LeConte Creek upstream through a mature forest of tulip poplar, yellow buckeye, and American beech—one of the finest old-growth cove hardwood examples in the Smokies. The path is unpaved, rocky, and root-covered throughout its length, requiring sturdy footwear with ankle support. Eleven creek crossings on stepping stones and log bridges punctuate the first half of the trail; after heavy rain or during snowmelt, some crossings may require wading in ankle-deep water.

At approximately mile 1.5, the valley narrows into a steep sandstone canyon where the creek accelerates and the forest canopy shifts to hemlock and rhododendron. The gradient increases noticeably through this section, and the footing becomes more demanding on wet or mossy rock surfaces. Rainbow Falls appears at mile 2.7 as a single 80-foot ribbon of water spilling over a wide sandstone lip into a shallow pool at the base. On clear afternoons, the mist at the base catches sunlight at an angle that produces a consistent rainbow effect above the pool—the feature that gives the trail its name. Water flow peaks from March through May when snowmelt swells LeConte Creek.

The full 5.4-mile round-trip gains 1,685 feet and takes most hikers 3 to 4 hours. Trekking poles significantly ease the rocky and root-covered descent. No potable water is available on the trail.