Hiking to Rainbow Falls – Great Smoky Mountains

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A hike in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to a pretty waterfall en route to Mt. LeConte.

Nestled in Great Smoky Mountains National Park are many waterfalls – this one a favorite of ours, preceded by a pleasant hike through the smoky mountainside south of Gatlinburg, TN.

A 5.2 mile roundtrip hike to the falls from the trailhead is moderately steep and travels through a wide variety of terrain, crossing a stream several times along the way. 1 to 1.5 hours is required for each way of the journey – or keep traveling as we did through to Mt. LeConte, a 4 hour hike in each direction, gaining nearly 4,00o feet in a little over 6.5 miles.

The hike from the trailhead starts out relatively flat before commencing a series of switchbacks as the climb to the falls begins – and several log bridges provide a dry crossing of the stream that winds to cross the trail several times during the hike.

The roaring sounds of the stream accompany hikers throughout most of the hike. A third crossing of the stream brings Rainbow Falls into view – the highest single-drop waterfall in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The trail continues behind the falls, providing a chance to dip into the falls on a hot summer day as a cool off before beginning the ascent to Mt. LaConte – or if your journey ends at the falls – before your hike back down to the trailhead.

Following the trail past Rainbow Falls, the trail begins to ascend quickly as the journey to Mt. LeConte, the sixth highest mountain east of the Mississippi – continues. Hike through forests of balsam, spruce, ash and rhododendron as the air begins to thin in the ascent – and feel the temperatures cool quickly (even in the summer) as the altitude climbs through sandstone outcrops to the lodge at Mt. LaConte.

Getting there: take Airport Road/Cherokee Orchard Road south out of Gatlinburg to the well-marked Rainbow Falls Trail parking area. The trailhead is located at the edge of the parking area.