Rainbow Falls from Gorges State Park parking area
Drive into the new Gorges State Park
entrance off Hwy 281 and follow several
miles in to the last parking area.
Copyright 2009 by Tony Austin
Rainbow Falls offers a
dramatic 80-ft drop
Difficulty (1-5):
Distance (round trip):
Elevation change:
Trail time:
Driving time:
4
3.5 miles
400 feet
2.5 Hours
30 min (round trip)
Directions to trailhead.  From the main entrance from Lake Toxaway Estate go east, toward Cashiers, for
about a mile to the junction with SR 281 south.  Turn left and go one mile to the entrance to Gorges State
Park. Turn and go a couple of miles to the parking area for Rainbow Falls.
From there take the trail
which descends 1.5 miles
to the Horsepasture
River. Bear right as the
trail follows the river and  
begins to climb. You'll
round a bend and there
is magnificent Rainbow
Falls. You can stand at
the wooden railing, and if
you wish walk down to
the bottom of the falls.
On a  hot day the mist
feels great.
Printer friendly version
Continue upstream to
Turtleback Falls.
Across from the falls
are several giant
boulders that make
perfect bleachers for
watching the
adventurous swimmers
slide over the falls to
the pool below.  
Rainbow Falls 2009
Rainbow Falls 2009
Rainbow Falls 2007