Rainbow Falls, Waterfall in Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina
Rainbow Falls is a waterfall on the Horsepasture River in western North Carolina, dropping around 150 feet (46 m) into a pool at its base. It sits within Gorges State Park, near the edge of Pisgah National Forest, surrounded by dense forest on all sides.
The area around the falls stayed largely out of reach for a long time and was placed under formal protection in the 1990s with the creation of Gorges State Park. Since then, park and forest authorities have worked together to maintain the trails and the surrounding land.
The falls sit on the boundary between two protected areas, making it a rare spot where visitors stand in both a state park and a national forest at the same time. Photographers tend to arrive early in the morning, when light filters through the tree canopy and catches the mist rising from below.
The trail to the falls starts from the Grassy Ridge trailhead and calls for a moderate level of fitness, as the path can be wet and slippery in places. Sturdy footwear is a good idea, especially after rain.
The name of the falls comes from the rainbows that regularly appear in the mist on sunny days, especially in the afternoon. This is not a rare occurrence here but happens almost daily because of the height of the drop and the angle of light.
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