Rainbow Falls is a waterfall

Waterfall

A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...

 in Western North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...

, located near Brevard

Brevard, North Carolina

Brevard is a town in Transylvania County, North Carolina, United States. The 2005 population estimate by the United States Census Bureau was 6,643. It is the county seat of Transylvania County....

. The falls is located on the Horsepasture River

Horsepasture River

The Horsepasture River is an National Wild and Scenic river in the U.S. states of North Carolina and South Carolina. The river rises in Jackson County, North Carolina, and flows through the Jocassee Gorges area and ends at Lake Jocassee in South Carolina...

. It is on Pisgah National Forest

Pisgah National Forest

Pisgah National Forest is a National Forest in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina. It is administered by the United States Forest Service, part of the United States Department of Agriculture. The Pisgah National Forest is completely contained within the state of North Carolina...

 land just outside Gorges State Park

Gorges State Park

Gorges State Park is a North Carolina state park in Transylvania County, North Carolina in the United States. The land, along Jocassee Gorges, was purchased by the state from Duke Energy Corporation in 1999. It is North Carolina's westernmost state park and one of the state's newest. The park is...

.

History

A proposal to route the flow of the river around the falls in the mid 1980's for a hydroelectric power plant was thwarted by public opposition. On October 27, 1986, the Horsepasture River

Horsepasture River

The Horsepasture River is an National Wild and Scenic river in the U.S. states of North Carolina and South Carolina. The river rises in Jackson County, North Carolina, and flows through the Jocassee Gorges area and ends at Lake Jocassee in South Carolina...

 was designated a national Wild and Scenic River, protecting the falls from future development.

Geology

The rock face over which the river flows is not vertical, but the large volume of water during normal river flows cause it to leap many feet out from the rock and a deep plunge pool lies at the bottom of the falls. It creates large amounts of wind and mist that race up the hillside opposite the falls. If the sun is in the right position, a rainbow

Rainbow

A rainbow is an optical and meteorological phenomenon that causes a spectrum of light to appear in the sky when the Sun shines on to droplets of moisture in the Earth's atmosphere. It takes the form of a multicoloured arc...

 is easily observed here, giving the falls its name.

Visiting the Falls

The falls is accessible by a short hike over an unofficial trail on Pisgah National Forest

Pisgah National Forest

Pisgah National Forest is a National Forest in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina. It is administered by the United States Forest Service, part of the United States Department of Agriculture. The Pisgah National Forest is completely contained within the state of North Carolina...

 property. Visitors may park in the nearby parking area for Gorges State Park, then walk a short distance down NC 281

North Carolina Highway 281

North Carolina Highway 281 is a primary state highway in the state of North Carolina. The highway runs north–south, connecting communities in western Jackson County and scenic areas of southwest Transylvania County...

 towards the river and pick up a trail to the falls which is on National Forest property.

From NC281, hike the moderate-difficulty trail approximately 0.75 miles to a T-intersection. Turn left and pass Turtleback Falls

Turtleback Falls

Turtleback Falls, also called Umbrella Falls, is a waterfall in Western North Carolina, located near Brevard. The falls is located on the Horsepasture River. It is on Pisgah National Forest land just outside Gorges State Park.-Geology:...

. Continue down the trail for an additional 0.25 miles. There are side trails to views of the falls.

Swimming and jumping into the pool at the bottom of the falls is popular, but can be dangerous due to the strong currents, especially in high water. Several people swimming in the river (especially at nearby Turtleback Falls

Turtleback Falls

Turtleback Falls, also called Umbrella Falls, is a waterfall in Western North Carolina, located near Brevard. The falls is located on the Horsepasture River. It is on Pisgah National Forest land just outside Gorges State Park.-Geology:...

) have been swept over Rainbow Falls and killed.

Nearby Falls

• Little Falls - located on private property upstream from Drift Falls
• Narrows Falls - located in a gated community upstream from Drift Falls
• Rock House Falls - 55-ft falls located on private property on Burlingame Creek, a tributary of the Horsepasture River
• Turtleback Falls
  Turtleback Falls
  Turtleback Falls, also called Umbrella Falls, is a waterfall in Western North Carolina, located near Brevard. The falls is located on the Horsepasture River. It is on Pisgah National Forest land just outside Gorges State Park.-Geology:...
  
  
• Drift Falls
  Drift Falls
  Drift Falls, also known as Bust-Yer-Butt Falls and Driftwood Falls, is a waterfall located in the Pisgah National Forest in Transylvania County, North Carolina.-History:Drift Falls flows on the Horsepasture River in the Jocassee Gorge. The falls is an 80-ft...
  
  
• Stairway Falls
• Sidepocket Falls
• Windy Falls