American Travel Journal: Rainbow Falls - Gorges State Park / Pisgah National Forest

One of the more intriguing aspects of Gorges State Park is its cooperation and collaboration with the Pisgah National Forest. Years ago, access to the waterfalls on the Horsepasture River was from a dirt road that looped off of NC 281. Drift Falls is only about 200 feet from the highway and about 600 feet from the northern end of the dirt road. The falls were so popular that parking along the dirt road would fill up and spill out onto the shoulders of the highway. The combination of traffic entering and exiting the dirt road and parking on the shoulder of NC 281 apparently caused some safety issues for the dump trucks entering and exiting the quarry across the highway. When the property containing Drift Falls was offered for sale, the quarry owner purchased it, closed the dirt road, posted no trespassing signs, and patrolled the property with violators being taken to court.

While Rainbow Falls is in the Pisgah National Forest, the only legal access to Rainbow Falls or Turtleback Falls is by way of the Rainbow Falls Trail in Gorges State Park. The old trail to Rainbow Falls was about 1.2 miles round trip, while the current hike is listed as 3.0 miles round trip. The boundary between the state park and the national forest is clearly marked.

To reach the large, paved trailhead parking area from the visitor center, turn right out of the visitor center parking lot keeping right at the next intersection. Drive a total of 0.7 miles on Grassy Ridge Road to the trailhead parking area. This is the first parking area along the road. Currently, Grassy Ridge Road is closed at the south end of the parking lot as work continues on constructing an RV campground further along the road. There are about 45 parking spots plus four accessible spots in the lot. The lot is also used for backpack campers who camp about ¾ mile away at the Raymond Fisher home site. There were less than a half dozen vehicles when I arrived to hike, but the lot was full and a ranger was directing visitors to overflow parking on the closed section of the road when I returned from my hike. Quarry operations were clearly heard at the parking lot and along much of the trail.

Note that the topographic map denotes the land as part of the Nantahala National Forest. In 2007, the Highlands and Wayah Ranger Districts in Nantahala National Forest were combined into the new Nantahala Ranger District. As part of the consolidation, all the Transylvania County lands within the former Highlands Ranger were transferred to the Pisgah Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest.

Also note that walking on wet rocks, wading, and swimming above waterfalls is inherently dangerous. Wet rocks can be slippery and one misstep can prove fatal as it has at least four times in the last decade at Rainbow Falls. Use extreme caution and watch children closely.

The 3.0 mile route is listed as strenuous as the trail descends about 400 feet to the river before climbing over 200 feet to reach Rainbow Falls. I hiked to the falls in July 2017.