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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 Rainbow Falls
Inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park
3,679 ft of climbing

11.6 mi out & back · 3,679 ft gain · 5,977 ft high point · Very hard

From Rainbow Falls Trail Trailhead

In Great Smoky Mountains National Park · TN · OpenStreetMap contributors

About Elevation Highlights Map Camp near here More hikes

About this hike

Rainbow Falls Trail travels 11.6 miles out and back past Rainbow Falls with 3,679 feet of climb to 5,977 feet in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Elevation

3,679 ft of gain round trip.

Camp near here

The closest places to sleep, measured from the trailhead.

See all on the map

1.2 mi from the trailhead
Twin Creeks Picnic Pavilion
Campground · TN

More hikes nearby

Ranked the same way, within twenty-five miles.

21 mi from you
Baxter Creek Trail
- Summits Mount Sterling
- Inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- 4,186 ft of climbing
12.0 mi out & back · 4,186 ft gain · Very hard
Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Camp under a mile away

Out: 3,430 ft up, returns the same way. Source: USGS 3DEP.

Highlights

What the trail reaches, measured from the start.

Rainbow FallsAlong the way · 2.6 mi in
Rainbow FallsAlong the way · 2.9 mi in
Bull HeadNearby · 0.4 mi in
Balsam PointNearby · 2.0 mi in
Cliff TopNearby · 5.6 mi in
ViewpointNearby · 5.6 mi in
West PointNearby · 5.8 mi in

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: 11.6 mi
Shape: Out & back
Gain: 3,679 ft round trip
High point: 5,977 ft
Low point: 2,611 ft
Difficulty: Very hardFrom 11.6 mi and 3,679 ft of climbing
Managed by: OpenStreetMap contributors
State: TN
Camps within 15 mi: 16
Start: Rainbow Falls Trail Trailhead
Trailhead: 35.6751° N · 83.4865° W

Get directions Open the map

5.3 mi from the trailhead

Spence Cabin

Campground · TN

5.5 mi from the trailhead

Elkmont Campground

Campground · TN

3 mi from you

Alum Cave Trail

Passes Cliff Top
Inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park
3,105 ft of climbing

9.8 mi out & back · 3,105 ft gain · Very hard

Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Camp 5 mi away

Little Greenbrier Trail

Ends at Wear Cove Gap
Inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park
3,698 ft of climbing

14.6 mi out & back · 3,698 ft gain · Very hard

Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Camp under a mile away

Chimney Tops Trail

Summits Chimney Tops
Inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park
1,416 ft of climbing

3.7 mi out & back · 1,416 ft gain · Moderate

Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Camp 4 mi away

Deep Creek Trail

Ends at Juney Whank Falls
Inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park
4,115 ft of climbing

13.9 mi one way · 4,115 ft gain · Very hard

Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Camp under a mile away

Cliff Top Trail

Passes Cliff Top
Inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park
3,497 ft of climbing

10.8 mi out & back · 3,497 ft gain · Very hard

Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Camp 5 mi away

More like this

Hikes that read like this one, wherever they are.

Laurel Falls Trail
- Passes Laurel Falls
- Inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- 1,458 ft of climbing
6.1 mi out & back · 1,458 ft gain · Hard
Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Camp under a mile away
Cove Mountain Trail
- Passes Phils View
- Inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- 3,334 ft of climbing
17.4 mi out & back · 3,334 ft gain · Very hard
Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Camp 2 mi away
Abrams Falls Trail
- Passes The Horseshoe
- Inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- 1,352 ft of climbing
8.4 mi out & back · 1,352 ft gain · Hard
Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Camp 4 mi away
Stairway to Heaven Trail
- Ends at Green Gap
- Inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- 3,579 ft of climbing
15.7 mi out & back · 3,579 ft gain · Very hard
Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Camp 4 mi away

Weather

7-day forecast

Today66°59°Showers And Thunderstorms
Thu69°52°Chance Rain Showers
Fri65°46°Mostly Sunny
Sat56°38°Mostly Sunny
Sun57°38°Mostly Sunny
Mon58°40°Sunny
Tue62°43°Sunny

Today: Showers And Thunderstorms · wind 10 to 30 mph S

National Weather Service · refreshed hourly

Signal

Cell coverage here

No carrier reports signal at this spot.

FCC coverage data · signal varies in remote terrain