Rainbow Falls Trail
Trails Tennessee Rainbow Falls Trail
Tennessee · Sevier County

Rainbow Falls Trail

Follow LeConte Creek up to the Falls

Rating
Length
5.4 mi
Difficulty
6
County
Sevier

About This Trail

This trail follows LeConte Creek up the mountain providing views of Large Hemlocks and in winter time a view back to Gatlinburg. There is a 1500 foot elevation gain and along with the Rocky Terrain makes this a more difficult hike. The switchback about a mile into the trail provides a good view of Gatlinburg during the winter months. The falls does not have a lot of water so the 80 foot falls provides a steady mist during it's decent.

Location

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Coordinates: 35.675642, -83.486814 Open in Google Maps

Getting There

Turn at light #8 in Gatlinburg and follow the Airport Road 1 mile out of Gatlinburg into the Great Smoky Mountains ational Park. The name will change from Airport Road to Cherokee Orchard Road. About 2.5 miles after entering the Park, Cherokee Orchard Road approaches the Rainbow Falls parking area. You will find the trail head at one edge of the parking area.

Trail Reports

Leconte Summit via Rainbow Falls

Day Hike October 31, 2021

THIS RATING IS ONLY TO AND FROM FALLS. (For full summit run via this trail, I would rank this 5 and you can find the whole trip account to summit at http://nicotye.blogspot.com/2011/06/hiking-mount-leconte-summit-run-i-had.html) The hike to Rainbow Falls is moderate. The incline is steady but the scenery is great and the path terrain is relatively easy. The trail to the falls follows a mountain brook that is quite scenic and the ancient trees are amazing. The flow of water over the falls is not extremely impressive, but the height of the falls is very impressive.

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Little River Road Trail

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Appalachian Trail (Newfound Gap to Charlies Bunion)

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