Tennessee · Hiking

Rainbow Falls Trail

5.8 mi
one way
3,352 ft
climb
5,976 ft
high point
Point to point
route
Sep
best months

Is Rainbow Falls Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It doesn't name Rainbow Falls Trail, so check the source for the area it covers (4 listed).

As of · Source: NPS · Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Rainbow Falls Trail is a hard hike in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, managed by the National Park Service. The route is about 5.8 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 3,352 feet, and it rises from a low point of 2,611 feet to a high of 5,976 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 1.3 miles in, with a grade of 34 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Mt Leconte, which sits about 500 feet higher than the trail's high point, show July highs around 66°F with lows near 50°F. Winter is cold, with January highs around 33°F. The trail is a point-to-point route, and it is not open to bikes or horses. Plan for about 3.5 hours on foot. Alum Cave Trail and Cliff Top Trail both start within a mile, and Chimney Tops Trail is about 2.5 miles away. For an overnight base, Twin Creeks Picnic Pavilion is about 3.6 miles off.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Sep

    Best time to visit Rainbow Falls Trail

    Best months: September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      33° / 17°

      13 wet

    2. Feb

      35° / 20°

      12 wet

    3. Mar

      41° / 24°

      13 wet

    4. Apr

      50° / 32°

      14 wet

    5. May

      56° / 40°

      16 wet

    6. Jun

      63° / 47°

      17 wet

    7. Jul

      66° / 50°

      17 wet

    8. Aug

      65° / 49°

      16 wet

    9. Sep

      61° / 44°

      12 wet

    10. Oct

      53° / 36°

      11 wet

    11. Nov

      44° / 27°

      11 wet

    12. Dec

      37° / 21°

      13 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mt Leconte, TN, 0.5 mi away at 6,493 ft. The station sits about 500 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors