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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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Hike

Rainbow Falls Trail

Passes Turtleback Falls

3.9 mi out & back · 975 ft gain · 2,938 ft high point · Moderate

NC · OpenStreetMap contributors

About Elevation Highlights Map Camp near here More hikes

About this hike

This 3.9 mi out and back route passes Rainbow Falls, Turtleback Falls, and Drift Falls in Gorges State Park.

Elevation

975 ft of gain round trip.

Camp near here

The closest places to sleep, measured from the trailhead.

See all on the map

12.1 mi from the trailhead
Burrells Ford
Campground
12.3 mi from the trailhead

More hikes nearby

Ranked the same way, within twenty-five miles.

20 mi from you
Old Butt Knob Trail
- Passes Old Butt Knob
- Inside Shining Rock Wilderness
- 3,433 ft of climbing
8.4 mi out & back · 3,433 ft gain · Very hard
Shining Rock Wilderness · Camp 2 mi away

Out: 470 ft up, returns the same way. Source: USGS 3DEP.

Highlights

What the trail reaches, measured from the start.

ViewpointAlong the way · 0.0 mi in
Drift FallsAlong the way · 0.0 mi in
Turtleback FallsAlong the way · 0.2 mi in
Rainbow FallsAlong the way · 0.3 mi in
Rainbow FallsAlong the way · 0.4 mi in
Sidepocket FallsNearby · 0.9 mi in
Stairway FallsNearby · 1.0 mi in

Nearby reading

Gorges State Park

Map

The route at the trailhead. 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. Download the trail and feature data.

At a glance

Length: 3.9 mi
Shape: Out & back
Gain: 975 ft round trip
High point: 2,938 ft
Low point: 2,488 ft
Difficulty: ModerateFrom 3.9 mi and 975 ft of climbing
Managed by: OpenStreetMap contributors
State: NC
Camps within 15 mi: 4
Trailhead: 35.0937° N · 82.9687° W

Get directions Open the map

Balsam Lake Lodge

Campground · NC

12.5 mi from the trailhead

Cherry Hill Campground

Campground · SC

17 mi from you

Black Balsam Knob Trail

Summits Black Balsam Knob
Inside Pisgah National Forest
Camp 4 mi away

1.7 mi out & back · 373 ft gain · Easy

Pisgah National Forest · Camp 4 mi away

Station Cove Falls Trail

Ends at Station Cove Falls
2,155 ft of climbing

14.4 mi out & back · 2,155 ft gain · Very hard

SC · Camp 5 mi away

Sassafras to Caeser's Head Spur Trail

Summits Sassafras Mountain
3,787 ft of climbing

14.1 mi one way · 3,787 ft gain · Very hard

SC · Camp 11 mi away

Art Loed Trail

Passes Stairs Mountain
Inside Pisgah National Forest
3,324 ft of climbing

16.0 mi out & back · 3,324 ft gain · Very hard

Pisgah National Forest · Camp 4 mi away

Greasy Cove Trail

Ends at Lower Greasy Cove Falls
Inside Pisgah National Forest
2,837 ft of climbing

11.5 mi out & back · 2,837 ft gain · Very hard

Pisgah National Forest · Camp 4 mi away

More like this

Hikes that read like this one, wherever they are.

Triple Falls Trail
- Passes Triple Falls
2.2 mi out & back · 342 ft gain · Easy
NC · Camp 7 mi away
Bearwallow Falls Trail
- Ends at Upper Bearwallow Falls
0.5 mi out & back · 207 ft gain · Easy
NC · Camp 12 mi away
Rainbow Falls Trail
- Passes Rainbow Falls
- Inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- 3,679 ft of climbing
11.6 mi out & back · 3,679 ft gain · Very hard
Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Camp 1 mi away
Picnic Connector Trail
- Ends at Upper Bearwallow Falls
0.8 mi out & back · 125 ft gain · Easy
NC · Camp 12 mi away

Signal

Cell coverage here

VerizonLTE · Poor

FCC coverage data · signal varies in remote terrain

Weather

7-day forecast

Tue66°45°Mostly Sunny
Wed63°48°Mostly Sunny
Thu55°36°Mostly Sunny
Fri42°29°Mostly Sunny
Sat45°28°Sunny
Sun50°34°Sunny
Mon51°Mostly Sunny

Tue: Mostly Sunny · wind 2 mph W

National Weather Service · refreshed hourly