Rainbow Falls and Turtleback Falls: trail and safety
Rainbow Falls and Turtleback Falls sit on the Horsepasture River, reached by the same trail from the Grassy Ridge trailhead at Gorges State Park: Rainbow Falls is a roughly 150-foot plunge about 3 miles round trip in, and Turtleback Falls, a smaller 25-foot slide, sits a quarter mile farther upstream. The trailhead and the first stretch of trail run through Gorges State Park; the falls themselves sit on Pisgah National Forest land just beyond the park's boundary, per NC State Parks' own trail listing. This is the Rainbow Falls on the Horsepasture River in Transylvania County, not the Rainbow Falls in Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Gatlinburg, Tennessee, a separate waterfall on LeConte Creek. Both falls are covered together in our waterfalls in North Carolina guide; the waterfalls near me map covers other states.
Fact box
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | About 35.091°N, 82.966°W, Transylvania County (Rainbow Falls), per USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS record 1014717, checked August 18, 2026) |
| Rainbow Falls | About 150 ft, a single plunge (as of August 2026) |
| Turtleback Falls | A 25-ft slide about a quarter mile upstream of Rainbow Falls (as of August 2026) |
| Trail length | About 3 miles round trip from the Grassy Ridge trailhead |
| Trailhead | Grassy Ridge, inside Gorges State Park |
| Fee | None; Gorges State Park charges no day-use fee (NC State Parks, September 2026) |
| Legal status | Public, Gorges State Park (trailhead and lower trail, NC State Parks) and Pisgah National Forest (the falls, U.S. Forest Service) |
| Season | The park is closed on Christmas Day; check the park page for current hours (NC State Parks, September 2026) |
Trail and access
The hike starts at the Grassy Ridge trailhead inside Gorges State Park and runs about 3 miles round trip to Rainbow Falls, with Turtleback Falls a quarter mile farther upstream on the same trail. Gorges State Park charges no day-use fee (NC State Parks, Gorges State Park), and the park's own trail listing places the falls themselves in Pisgah National Forest, just beyond the park boundary, with the trail to them starting inside Gorges. The park closes on Christmas Day; check the park's own alerts page before a visit, since trail and road closures around the park do come up from time to time.
Turtleback Falls: why not to jump
Turtleback's 25-foot slide has become an informal jumping and sliding spot, and it's exactly the kind of feature that draws people in on a hot day. NC State Parks warns visitors to stay off the rock at the top of Turtleback rather than treat it as a designated swim or jump spot: the current above the ledge is strong enough to carry someone over Rainbow Falls downstream, a much larger drop. The two falls aren't separate hazards; the danger at Turtleback is what's waiting below at Rainbow Falls. Our swimming hole safety guide covers how to judge current strength before getting in moving water like this.
How this guide was researched
This page was compiled from NC State Parks' Gorges State Park page, checked in September 2026, and the already-verified figures in our North Carolina waterfalls guide for trail distance and both falls' heights, sourced in part to the U.S. Forest Service's Rainbow Falls Trail page, which wasn't reachable for a fresh check in September 2026. We haven't visited this site ourselves. Trail and park conditions can change; verify current status with NC State Parks before you go. Last checked September 2026.
FAQ
How do you get to Rainbow Falls and Turtleback Falls?
Start at the Grassy Ridge trailhead in Gorges State Park; the hike to Rainbow Falls runs about 3 miles round trip, with Turtleback Falls a quarter mile farther upstream.
Is it safe to jump from Turtleback Falls?
No. NC State Parks warns visitors to stay off the rock at the top of Turtleback because the current there is strong enough to sweep someone over Rainbow Falls downstream.
Is there a fee to hike to Rainbow Falls?
No. Gorges State Park charges no day-use fee for the trail.
Is this the same Rainbow Falls as the one in the Smoky Mountains?
No. This Rainbow Falls is on the Horsepasture River in Transylvania County, North Carolina. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park Rainbow Falls, on LeConte Creek near Gatlinburg, is a separate site in Tennessee.
Which national forest are Rainbow Falls and Turtleback Falls in?
Pisgah National Forest, on land just beyond the Gorges State Park boundary where the trail starts.
We haven't visited these places ourselves, and every page says so rather than implying otherwise. Details are compiled from public land-manager, USGS and NOAA sources and cross-checked where possible; conditions, access rules and fees change without notice, so confirm with the managing agency before you go. Page last checked September 2026. Read our full methodology.