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© 2026 Roaming.Camp · Data from NPS, Recreation.gov, BLM, USFS, NWS, and the FCC.Operating on ceded ancestral land.Photography via Unsplash.

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Rainbow Falls California

Hike

Rainbow Lake

Ends at Rainbow Lake
Inside Sierra National Forest
3,199 ft of climbing

14.3 mi out & back · 3,199 ft gain · 9,311 ft high point · Very hard

From Fernandez Trailhead via the Theodore Solomons Trail, California Riding and Hiking, and Lillian Lake (5.6 mi)

In Sierra National Forest · California · U.S. Forest Service

About Elevation Highlights Map Camp near here More hikes

About this hike

Rainbow Lake is a 14.3 mile out and back trail from Fernandez Trailhead in Sierra National Forest gaining 3,199 feet to reach a lake.

Elevation

3,199 ft of gain round trip.

Camp near here

The closest places to sleep, measured from the trailhead.

See all on the map

11.9 mi from the trailhead
Sweetwater
Campground · California
12.8 mi from the trailhead

More hikes nearby

Ranked the same way, within twenty-five miles.

19 mi from you
Half Dome Trail
- Summits Half Dome
- Inside Yosemite National Park
- 5,934 ft of climbing
13.5 mi out & back · 5,934 ft gain · Very hard
Yosemite National Park · Camp under a mile away

Out: 2,350 ft up, returns the same way. Source: USGS 3DEP.

Highlights

What the trail reaches, measured from the start.

Rainbow LakeDestination · 7.2 mi in
Twin LakesNearby · 5.0 mi in
Flat LakeNearby · 6.9 mi in
Ruth LakeNearby · 7.2 mi in
Fernandez LakesNearby · 7.2 mi in

Nearby reading

Blackie Lake
Gale Peak

Map

The hike from its start, the approach dashed. Drag with two fingers, or hold a key to zoom.

Trail data: USFS, NPS, © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Elevation: USGS 3DEP via Mapzen terrain tiles. Nearby reading: Wikipedia. Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors, licensed as shown on each photo. Download the trail and feature data.

At a glance

Length: 14.3 mi
Shape: Out & back
Gain: 3,199 ft round trip
High point: 9,311 ft
Low point: 7,517 ft
Difficulty: Very hardFrom 14.3 mi and 3,199 ft of climbing
Managed by: U.S. Forest Service
State: California
Camps within 15 mi: 5
Start: Fernandez Trailhead
Trailhead: 37.5317° N · 119.3007° W

Get directions Open the map

Onion Springs Overflow Camping Area

Campground · California

13.0 mi from the trailhead

Mammoth Pool

Campground · California

22 mi from you

Upper Yosemite Fall Trail

Summits Lost Arrow Spire
Inside Yosemite National Park
3,928 ft of climbing

6.6 mi out & back · 3,928 ft gain · Very hard

Yosemite National Park · Camp under a mile away

Fish Creek

Ends at Rainbow Falls
Inside Ansel Adams Wilderness
4,455 ft of climbing

19.3 mi one way · 4,455 ft gain · Very hard

Ansel Adams Wilderness · Camp 3 mi away

Mariposa Grove Trail

Summits Wawona Point
Inside Yosemite National Park
2,088 ft of climbing

10.9 mi out & back · 2,088 ft gain · Hard

Yosemite National Park · Camp 1 mi away

Bernice Lake Trail

Ends at Bernice Lake
Inside Yosemite National Park
3,676 ft of climbing

21.8 mi out & back · 3,676 ft gain · Very hard

Yosemite National Park · Camp under a mile away

Mist Trail

Ends at Nevada Fall
Inside Yosemite National Park
2,727 ft of climbing

5.3 mi out & back · 2,727 ft gain · Very hard

Yosemite National Park · Camp under a mile away

More like this

Hikes that read like this one, wherever they are.

Rainbow
- Ends at Rainbow Lake
- Inside Sierra National Forest
5.2 mi out & back · 937 ft gain · Moderate
Sierra National Forest · Camp 6 mi away
Rutherford Lake
- Ends at Rutherford Lake
- Inside Sierra National Forest
- 3,766 ft of climbing
15.4 mi out & back · 3,766 ft gain · Very hard
Sierra National Forest · Camp 12 mi away
Lady Lake
- Ends at Lady Lake
- Inside Sierra National Forest
- 1,981 ft of climbing
10.6 mi out & back · 1,981 ft gain · Hard
Sierra National Forest · Camp 12 mi away
Lillian Lake
- Passes Vanderburgh Lake
- Inside Sierra National Forest
- 2,788 ft of climbing
14.3 mi out & back · 2,788 ft gain · Very hard
Sierra National Forest · Camp 12 mi away

Weather

7-day forecast

Sun41°28°Light Snow Likely
Mon54°39°Sunny
Tue51°33°Mostly Sunny
Wed52°35°Sunny
Thu53°35°Mostly Sunny
Fri55°37°Sunny
Sat60°Sunny

Sun: Light Snow Likely · wind 0 to 5 mph SW

National Weather Service · refreshed hourly

Signal

Cell coverage here

VerizonLTE · Good
AT&TLTE · Poor

FCC coverage data · signal varies in remote terrain