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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

Ends at Rainbow Lake
Inside Sierra National Forest

5.2 mi out & back · 937 ft gain · 9,408 ft high point · Moderate

From Dinkey Lakes Trailhead via Dinkey Lakes and Mystery Lake (2.2 mi)

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

About Elevation Highlights Map Camp near here More hikes

About this hike

Rainbow is a 5.2-mile out and back route from Dinkey Lakes Trailhead via Dinkey Lakes Trail and Mystery Lake to Rainbow Lake, gaining 937 feet and passing two waterfalls.

Elevation

937 ft of gain round trip.

Camp near here

The closest places to sleep, measured from the trailhead.

See all on the map

6.3 mi from the trailhead
A Group Group Campground
Campground · California

More hikes nearby

Ranked the same way, within twenty-five miles.

17 mi from you
John Muir Trail
- Summits Mount Whitney
- Inside Yosemite National Park
- 49,977 ft of climbing
208.9 mi one way · 49,977 ft gain · Very hard
Yosemite National Park · Camp under a mile away

Out: 820 ft up, returns the same way. Source: USGS 3DEP.

Highlights

What the trail reaches, measured from the start.

Rainbow LakeDestination · 2.6 mi in
WaterfallAlong the way · 0.0 mi in
WaterfallAlong the way · 0.1 mi in
Swede LakeAlong the way · 2.2 mi in
South LakeNearby · 2.2 mi in
Eastern Brook LakeNearby · 2.6 mi in

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: 5.2 mi
Shape: Out & back
Gain: 937 ft round trip
High point: 9,408 ft
Low point: 8,606 ft
Difficulty: ModerateFrom 5.2 mi and 937 ft of climbing
Managed by: U.S. Forest Service
State: California
Camps within 15 mi: 18
Start: Dinkey Lakes Trailhead
Trailhead: 37.1526° N · 119.1041° W

Get directions Open the map

6.5 mi from the trailhead

Dinkey Creek

Campground · California

6.8 mi from the trailhead

Summit Camping Area

Campground · California

25 mi from you

Minnow Creek

Ends at Lake of the Lone Indian
Inside John Muir Wilderness
4,410 ft of climbing

20.1 mi out & back · 4,410 ft gain · Very hard

John Muir Wilderness · Camp 5 mi away

Goodale Pass

Ends at Lake Thomas A Edison
Inside John Muir Wilderness
4,384 ft of climbing

19.9 mi out & back · 4,384 ft gain · Very hard

John Muir Wilderness · Camp 8 mi away

Lake Italy

Ends at Italy Pass
Inside John Muir Wilderness
3,438 ft of climbing

13.2 mi out & back · 3,438 ft gain · Very hard

John Muir Wilderness · Camp 7 mi away

Sharktooth Lake

Ends at Iva Bell Hot Springs
Inside John Muir Wilderness
4,789 ft of climbing

13.2 mi loop · 4,779 ft gain · Very hard

John Muir Wilderness · Camp 6 mi away

Lamarck Col

Passes Upper Lamarck Lake
Inside Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
4,031 ft of climbing

11.2 mi out & back · 4,031 ft gain · Very hard

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks · Camp 4 mi away

More like this

Hikes that read like this one, wherever they are.

Rainbow Lake
- Ends at Rainbow Lake
- Inside Sierra National Forest
- 3,199 ft of climbing
14.3 mi out & back · 3,199 ft gain · Very hard
Sierra National Forest · Camp 12 mi away
Lower Rainbow Falls
- Ends at Lower Rainbow Falls
- Inside Inyo National Forest
- Camp 2 mi away
3.4 mi out & back · 522 ft gain · Moderate
Inyo National Forest · Camp 2 mi away
Rainbow Trail
- Ends at a viewpoint
- Inside Eldorado National Forest
- Camp under a mile away
0.7 mi loop · 29 ft gain · Easy
Eldorado National Forest · Camp under a mile away
Rainbow Falls Trail
- Ends at Lower Rainbow Falls
- Inside Inyo National Forest
- Camp 2 mi away
3.6 mi out & back · 573 ft gain · Moderate
Inyo National Forest · Camp 2 mi away

Weather

7-day forecast

Thu43°30°Sunny
Fri48°34°Mostly Sunny
Sat50°36°Sunny
Sun50°35°Sunny
Mon47°34°Mostly Sunny
Tue47°34°Sunny
Wed47°Sunny

Thu: Sunny · wind 0 to 5 mph NW

National Weather Service · refreshed hourly

Signal

Cell coverage here

No carrier reports signal at this spot.

FCC coverage data · signal varies in remote terrain