Rainbow Falls

Rainbow Falls: crowds and conditions

Typical pattern: moderate; weekends busier. Been there recently? Post today’s status and it shows here for the next traveller.

Status options for this waterfall: Water flowing well · Low flow / trickle · Dry, no water · Entry closed.

Best time to visit Rainbow Falls

Season: July to January, best August to November right after rains; most dry up from February to June.

Busiest days: Weekends and long holidays.

Crowd: Moderate; weekends busier.

Typical week: Mon light · Tue light · Wed light · Thu light · Fri light · Sat busy · Sun busy.

How to reach Rainbow Falls — distance from nearby cities

Coordinates: 35.44910, -82.25630. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.

Places to visit near Rainbow Falls

• Bluerock Mountain · viewpoint · Henderson · ~3 km · Must-see
• Bluerock Mountain · viewpoint · East Tennessee · ~3 km · Must-see
• Lake Lure · lake · East Tennessee · ~7 km · Must-see
• Lake Adger · lake · East Tennessee · ~16 km · Must-see
• Swannanoa Gap · viewpoint · East Tennessee · ~24 km · Must-see
• Arrowhead Monument · sanctuary · East Tennessee · ~26 km · Must-see
• Andrews Geyser · park · McDowell · ~28 km · Must-see
• Andrews Geyser · sanctuary · East Tennessee · ~29 km · Must-see
• North Fork Reservoir · lake · East Tennessee · ~32 km · Must-see
• Lake Julian · lake · East Tennessee · ~32 km · Must-see
• Pisgah National Forest · sanctuary · Buncombe · ~34 km · Must-see
• McAlpine Mountain · viewpoint · Greenville · ~35 km · Must-see
• Lake Summit · lake · Greenville · ~36 km · Must-see
• Biltmore Estate · attraction · Buncombe · ~37 km · Must-see
• Saint Lukes Church · church · Buncombe · ~38 km · Must-see
• Craven Gap · viewpoint · East Tennessee · ~38 km · Must-see
• Mountains-to-Sea Trail · trek · Buncombe · ~38 km · Must-see
• Beaucatcher Mountain · viewpoint · East Tennessee · ~39 km · Must-see

See everything within a day’s drive of Rainbow Falls

Other waterfalls near Rainbow Falls

• Raven Cliff Falls · waterfall · Greenville · ~66 km · Must-see
• Lower Whitewater Falls Trail · waterfall · Oconee · ~103 km · Must-see
• Norton Falls on Lake Glenville · waterfall · Pickens · ~106 km · Must-see
• Falls Creek Landing At Keowee · waterfall · Oconee · ~115 km · Must-see
• Grotto Falls Smokey Mountains · waterfall · East Tennessee · ~144 km · Must-see
• Mitchell Falls · waterfall · East Tennessee · ~150 km · Must-see
• Rainbow Falls · waterfall · Rutherford · ~0 km
• Silver Falls · waterfall · Rutherford · ~2 km
• Hickory Nut Falls · waterfall · East Tennessee · ~2 km
• Hickory Nut Falls Trail · waterfall · Rutherford · ~2 km

All waterfalls in Tennessee

Frequently asked