Rainbow Falls
- Height
- 80 ft
- Hike
- 5.6 mi round trip
- Elevation gain
- 1500 ft
- Road
- Paved
- Permit
- Not required
- Dogs
- Not allowed
Rainbow Falls drops about 80 ft on LeConte Creek in Sevier County, Tennessee. Reaching it is a 5.6 mi hike round trip with 1500 ft of elevation gain.
Closures and warnings
Steep rocky climb (~1,500 ft gain). Trail often icy in winter. NPS does not recommend water recreation in the park; drowning is a leading cause of death. As of September 28, 2026.
The falls
| Height | 80 ft |
|---|---|
| Flow note | Highest single-drop waterfall in the Smokies; named for the misty rainbow that often appears at its base on sunny afternoons. |
Access
| Hike | 5.6 mi round trip |
|---|---|
| Elevation gain | 1500 ft |
| Road | Paved |
| Parking | Rainbow Falls Trailhead on Cherokee Orchard Road (upper or lower lot). Expect extreme crowding; NPS suggests a shuttle. |
| When it fills | Expect crowds and full parking at Rainbow Falls Trailhead. |
| Fee | Parking tag: $5 daily, $15 weekly, $40 annual (over 15 min). America the Beautiful passes do not replace it. |
| Reservation or permit | Not required |
| Wheelchair access | Trail is very steep and rocky. |
| Managed by | National Park Service (Great Smoky Mountains National Park) |
| Restrooms | Yes |
|---|---|
| Note | Pit toilets at trailhead. |
Rules
| Dogs | Not allowed |
|---|
Common questions
Common questions
Is Rainbow Falls open?
Steep rocky climb (~1,500 ft gain). Trail often icy in winter. NPS does not recommend water recreation in the park; drowning is a leading cause of death. As of September 28, 2026.
How tall is Rainbow Falls?
Rainbow Falls drops about 80 ft.
How long is the hike to Rainbow Falls?
It's a 5.6 mi hike round trip with 1500 ft of elevation gain. The road in is paved. Parking: Rainbow Falls Trailhead on Cherokee Orchard Road (upper or lower lot). Expect extreme crowding; NPS suggests a shuttle. Expect crowds and full parking at Rainbow Falls Trailhead.
Do you need a reservation for Rainbow Falls?
No reservation or permit is required.
Is there a fee at Rainbow Falls?
The fee is Parking tag: $5 daily, $15 weekly, $40 annual (over 15 min). America the Beautiful passes do not replace it.
When is Rainbow Falls flowing?
Highest single-drop waterfall in the Smokies; named for the misty rainbow that often appears at its base on sunny afternoons.
What facilities are at Rainbow Falls?
Restrooms. Pit toilets at trailhead.
Nearby
Camping nearby
Public land
Rainbow Falls is inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park .
Sources
4
- https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/hike-to-rainbow-falls.htm (accessed September 28, 2026; backs manager / access.hikeDistanceMi, access.hikeDistanceBasis / access.amenities.restrooms / rules.dogs / access.wheelchairAccess / access.roadSurface, waterfall.flowNote)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Smoky_Mountains_National_Park (accessed September 28, 2026; backs waterfall.heightFt)
- https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/fees.htm (accessed September 28, 2026; backs access.fee, access.permitRequired)
- https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/waterfalls.htm (accessed September 28, 2026; backs hazardNote)
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