The 2.7 mile trail to Rainbow Falls climbs over 1600 feet in elevation. The over 11% grade is continuous from start to finish. If that weren't enough, rocks and roots in the trail require constant attention for almost every step. While that might sound like enough reasons to take another hike, the 75 foot high waterfall at the end draws numerous visitors. I chose one of the more popular times to visit the falls on a Sunday afternoon in June 2014.
To reach the trailhead from Gatlinburg, turn off of US 441 at traffic light #8 onto Historic Nature Trail / Airport Road. At 0.6 miles stay to the right as the road merges into Cherokee Orchard Road. Drive another 2.1 miles before the two-way road splits into a one-way loop. Continue another 0.6 miles to a parking area, vault toilets and a parking area on the right. If the parking area is full, additional parallel parking is available at marked locations along Cherokee Orchard Road and another parking lot is only ¼ mile down the road.
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| Trail route |
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| Trail elevation profile |
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| The rocky trail climbs beside rocky Le Conte Creek |
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| A quiet place along the stream and trail |
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| Boulders jumbled in the creek |
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| A typical lower section of the trail with lots of rocks in the open forest |
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| Park maintenance personnel have expertly removed many trees that fell across the trail |
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| In places, the trail seems to be made of rocks |
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| In other places, the trail seems to be made of roots |
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| Switchback at 1.2 miles |
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| Footbridge over Le Conte Creek at 1.9 miles |
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| Le Conte Creek from the footbridge |
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| Downstream from the footbridge |
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| A typical section of the trail with rocks and roots |
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| Erosion caused by people seeking shortcuts to the established trail |
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| More erosion created by people seeking to save time instead of saving special places |
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| The second switchback at 2.2 miles |
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| A rock staircase leads the trail ever higher |
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| A small waterfall on an unnamed branch at 2.4 miles |
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| A closer view of the 8 to 10 foot falls |
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| Looking back at the waterfall and the rock-hopping stream crossing |
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| More rocks on the trail |
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| The second crossing of Le Conte Creek is by rock hopping |
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| Remains of the bridge that crossed Le Conte Creek |
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| Le Conte Creek at its second intersection with the trail |
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| The creek bed is a massive jumble of boulders |
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| This is not a trail for those seeking solitude |
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| Rainbow Falls |
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| Le Conte Creek falls over a small rock ledge near the trail |
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| Rosebay rhododendron along the trail |
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| View from on overlook on Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail |
There is no entry fee at Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The park website is http://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm.
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