Rainbow Falls (Smokies) Hike
Waterfall · about 80 ft high | Tennessee
5.6 mi round trip
1,500 ft
Hard
Rainbow Falls (Smokies) Hike at a Glance
The Rainbow Falls (Smokies) hike via the Rainbow Falls Trail is 5.6 mi round trip with 1,500 ft of elevation gain.
| Falls height | About 80 ft |
|---|---|
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 4,290 ft |
| Trail | Rainbow Falls Trail |
| Distance | 5.6 mi round trip |
| Elevation gain | 1,500 ft |
| Difficulty | Hard |
Your time: about 2 h 35 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 3 h 15 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 1,480 kcal.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 5.6 mi distance and 1,500 ft of gain for this hike are verified (nps.gov), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About Rainbow Falls (Smokies)
Rainbow Falls (Smokies) is a waterfall in Tennessee, about 80 feet high, on land managed by Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Its height is from gatlinburg.com.
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Rainbow Falls Trail: 5.6 miles round trip with about 1,500 feet of elevation gain, from Rainbow Falls Trailhead, Cherokee Orchard Road. Distance from nps.gov. By the National Park Service difficulty formula (distance against climb) that puts it at Hard.
Before You Go
- A parking tag is required to park in the Smokies for more than 15 minutes. (nps.gov)
- Dogs are not allowed on this trail. (gatlinburg.com)
- The trail is very steep and rocky. (nps.gov)
- Countless injuries have resulted from people swimming, climbing around waterfalls, and riding inner tubes in park waters. (nps.gov)
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check Great Smoky Mountains National Park for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to Rainbow Falls (Smokies)?
The Rainbow Falls Trail to Rainbow Falls (Smokies) is 5.6 miles round trip with about 1,500 feet of elevation gain.
Where does the Rainbow Falls (Smokies) hike start?
It starts from Rainbow Falls Trailhead, Cherokee Orchard Road.
How tall is Rainbow Falls (Smokies)?
Rainbow Falls (Smokies) is about 80 feet high.
Is there a fee to hike to Rainbow Falls (Smokies)?
A parking tag is required to park in the Smokies for more than 15 minutes.
Are dogs allowed on the Rainbow Falls (Smokies) trail?
Dogs are not allowed on this trail.
Safety Information
Current Hazards
- Slippery wet rock near the falls
- Fast, high water after rain or snowmelt
- Check weather before departure
Turn-Around Time
1:00 PM (2:00 PM summer)
Plan to reach the falls by this time so you are back before dark.
Essential Gear Checklist
* Critical items - do not hike without these
Emergency Contacts
Emergency / Search & Rescue
911Point Forecast
NWS Point Forecast →In most of the US, backcountry search and rescue is dispatched through 911 — tell the operator you have a hiker emergency and your GPS coordinates.
Downloads
Sources for The Rainbow Falls (Smokies) Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- nps.gov
- Distance
- nps.gov
- Falls height
- gatlinburg.com
- Falls location
- waterfallhikes.com
- Elevation
- ≈ Copernicus GLO-90 elevation model at the falls coordinates (via Open-Meteo)
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.
Nearby Hikes
Other hikes within 30 miles of Rainbow Falls (Smokies).