Rainbow Falls
North Carolina • 200 ft
By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026
LiDAR & 3D terrainBefore you go
There is no public access to the falls itself. You can view it from across the gorge at Inspiration Point on the Skyline Trail, inside the paid Chimney Rock attraction area; in summer and during dry spells it may not be visible.
Photo Credits (5)
About Rainbow Falls
Rainbow Falls is a multi-tiered waterfall of roughly 200 feet that drops off the gorge wall between Bald Mountain and Round Top Mountain, across Hickory Nut Gorge from Chimney Rock. The Nature Conservancy bought the tract in 2003 and later transferred it to Chimney Rock State Park, but the only road and trail to the falls are private and the land around it is private, so there is no public route to it. Visitors see it from a distance at Inspiration Point and other viewpoints in the park's Chimney Rock attraction area, which charges admission.
The Setting
Rainbow Falls sits at 2,241 feet within Chimney Rock State Park, in the hills of North Carolina. At 200 feet, it is among the taller waterfalls in North Carolina.
Height: 200 feet
Trail & Hike Details
Trail Description
The closest public view is Inspiration Point on the Skyline Trail, reached from the upper parking area of the Chimney Rock attraction. NC Waterfalls lists that walk as about 0.3 mile with 376 steps.
What to Expect
The falls plunge 200 feet. Dogs are welcome.
Accessibility
The trail is not wheelchair accessible due to uneven terrain and elevation gain.
Frequently Asked Questions
🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Rainbow Falls?
✅ Dogs are allowed
Dogs are allowed in the Chimney Rock attraction area on a six-foot leash, but not in the elevator.
Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?
🤑 Fees are required
🏊 Is There Swimming at Rainbow Falls?
❌ Swimming is not allowed
When to Visit
Winter, early spring and the days after heavy rain, when the falls carries more water and leaves do not block the view.
Seasonal Access
The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, and Fall. Winter access may be limited.
Safety Information
Stay on the Skyline Trail and the overlooks. Reaching the falls directly would require a steep off-trail route across private land.
Current Water Conditions
These readings come from the USGS gauge on Cove Creek, 8.3 miles away, not on Rainbow Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.
83 ft³/s
Current discharge — how much water is flowing
About average for this time of year
Based on 75 years of record
2.13 ft
Water depth at gauge
7-Day Discharge Trend
What does this mean for your visit?
Flow is about average for this time of year.
About This Gauge
This gauge is on a nearby waterway and may not reflect exact conditions at the falls.
7-Day Flow Outlook
Based on the USGS gauge COVE CREEK NEAR LAKE LURE, NC (13 km away).
Today
Barely Flowing
83 cfs
5/10Tomorrow
Barely Flowing
81 cfs
5/10Sat
Barely Flowing
85 cfs
5/10Sun
Barely Flowing
84 cfs
5/10Mon
Barely Flowing
91 cfs
5/10Tue
Barely Flowing
90 cfs
5/10Wed
Barely Flowing
87 cfs
5/10Best window: Today — barely flowing flow, mostly sunny (trip score 5/10).
Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from mid February to late April, peaking in April.
How we calculate this
This is a transparent outlook, not a precise forecast. We take the waterfall's current flow strength (how it ranks against its historical normal for today, from the nearest USGS stream gauge), carry that ranking forward along the gauge's seasonal curve, and nudge it for forecast rain. Confidence is highest for the next day or two and falls further out. Always check official conditions and your own judgment before visiting — high flows can be dangerous.
Know when to go.
Get a free email alert when waterfalls near Chimney Rock Village hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.
Is Rainbow Falls Frozen?
Updated about 6 hours agoNot frozen highs above freezing lately
Rainbow Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 65°F to 48°F.
- Days below freezing
- 0 of the last 14
- Current cold streak
- 0 days
- Freezing days ahead
- 0 of the next 7
- Flow
- 83 ft³/s
Winter safety. Frozen falls are the one waterfall trip with a documented injury pattern: falling ice, and ice-glazed rock and trail. Wear microspikes, keep well back from the base and from overhangs, and never walk out on ice over moving water.
Estimate from Open-Meteo daily temperatures at the falls, the LiDAR-measured facing direction, and the nearest stream gauge. It is a likelihood, not a report from the trail.
Weather Forecast
The Terrain, Seen by LiDAR
Aircraft-mounted lasers measured this ground to within inches. Trees and buildings are digitally stripped away, leaving the bare shape of the land the water has carved.
Along the line through the falls, the bare ground drops about 401 feet, most of it in one sheer step, the signature of a plunge waterfall. The falls are listed at 200 feet; the extra comes from the ravine that continues below the base. The ground at the falls is roughly 2,241 feet above sea level.
Steep ground runs through the entire stretch: about 208 feet of descent in the 500 feet above the pin and 212 feet in the 500 feet below it. Facing southwest, the falls sit in full sun for most of the day, best photographed early or late.
Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.
- Ground elevation
- 2,241 feet
- Measured by 1-meter lidar
- Drop at the falls
- About 401 feet
- Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
- Faces
- Southwest
- Sunlit most of the day. Go early or late for softer light.
A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading southwest).
Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.
Location & Access
Getting There
Enter the Chimney Rock attraction area of Chimney Rock State Park from US 64/74A in Chimney Rock Village, drive the entrance road to the upper parking area, and walk the Skyline Trail to Inspiration Point. This is not the Rainbow Falls in Gorges State Park, which is about 45 miles southwest.
Get Directions on Google MapsParking
Park in the upper lot near the end of the Chimney Rock entrance road. Reservations are recommended on busy weekends, holidays, July weekends and October through early November.
Elevation
2,241 feet above sea level
Coordinates
35.449060° N, -82.256252° W
Land Management
Managed by UNK Restricted Access
Visitor Tips & Gear
Bring binoculars. The Skyline Trail closes at 5 PM and the park gates close at 7 PM.
Where to Stay
1850s Settlers Cabin at Wethero Ridge
Lake Lure Inn and Spa
Fox Run at Lake Lure
The Chimney Rock Inn & Cottages
Browse vacation cabins and private rentals nearby
Unique outdoor stays — tents, yurts, and treehouses
Rent a campervan or RV for your waterfall road trip
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Nearby Campground
CURTIS CREEK CAMPGROUND (NC)
16 miles away · 24 sites
Overview Curtis Creek Campground is nestled in the mountains at the base of the Blue Ridge just minutes from the quaint town of Old Fort and less than an hour from the popular city of Asheville. Located in the first tract of National Forest land in the eastern US at the site of an old Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) camp, the campground is surrounded by old growth forests and roaring trout streams. The gravel road through the campground ascends to the Blue Ridge Parkway, providing easy access to
Book on Recreation.govNearby Hot Springs
Hot springs near Tryon, North Carolina
Looking for a soak after your hike? Explore more hot springs near Tryon, North Carolina on SoakingSprings.
Explore North Carolina springsAdditional Information
Nearby Attractions
Hickory Nut Falls, which has its own trail, and the Chimney Rock outcrop are in the same attraction area, and Lake Lure is just down the gorge.
Wildlife
The area is home to a variety of wildlife, including birds, deer, and small mammals. Be cautious of snakes and avoid disturbing the natural habitat.
Cities near Rainbow Falls
Nearby Waterfalls
LiDAR
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