he Rainbow Falls Trail is one of several (see the map
below) that will take you to the peak of Mt. LeConte and is
also the oldest or earliest route to LeConte. The trail can
be challenging, but also offers an intermediate reward in
that it affords the hiker a rest at the beautiful Rainbow
Falls. Summary: The
Rainbow Falls Trail is fairly challenging if completed all
the way to Mt LeConte. Allow an hour and a half to Rainbow
Falls and four hours to Mt LeConte. Hikers will gain nearly
4,000 feet in elevation by the time they get to Mt. LeConte.
Point of Departure: Cherokee
Orchard Road - Turn at light #8 in Gatlinburg and follow
the Airport Road 1 mile out of Gatlinburg into the Great
Smoky Mountains National Park. The name will change from
Airport Road to Cherokee Orchard Road. About 2.5 miles after
entering the Park, Cherokee Orchard Road approaches the
Rainbow Falls parking area. You will find the trail head
at one edge of the parking area.
Features of Interest: Your first
reward comes at the 2.8 mile point when you arrive
at Rainbow Falls. At the 6.6 mile point you will come upon
an Alum Cave Trail junction which leads left 0.1 mile to
the LeConte Lodge (the only lodging to be found within the
Park), which is 6.7 miles from where you began. Overnights
at LeConte Lodge require a reservation, which should be
obtained weeks or even months in advance by calling (865)
429-5704. |
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A short jaunt to Rainbow
Falls and a challenging climb on to Mt. LeConte await
the hiker on The Rainbow Falls Trail.
The Rainbow Falls Trail gains nearly
four thousand feet in 6.7 miles, making it one of the
more uniquely challenging climbs in the Smokies. The original
trail is arguably the oldest route to Mount LeConte, and
followed the east side of LeConte Creek. At that time,
LeConte Creek was known as Mill Creek-- because of the
large number of grist mills that operated along the creek.
The Rainbow Falls Trail begins along
the stream, and 1 mile above Cherokee Orchard, it twists
away from the stream onto an exposed ridge. Shortly it
returns creekside, the hiker crossing by way of a footlog,
and then begins a series of climbing switchbacks.
After you cross the stream a second
time, you can spot the high cliff from which the falls
descend. The cliff is surrounded by a thicket of rhododendron
and a growth of hemlocks.
LeConte Creek is fairly narrow at
this point, and forces the water outward into a heavy
mist before settling eighty-two feet below. Sunlight reflecting
off this mist creates the rainbow effect which gives the
falls their name.
| When
you cross the LeConte Creek for the third time,
Rainbow Falls comes into complete view. Navigation
over the rocks allows a closer approach--and a better
view--of the falls. For the hardier hiker, the trail
continues beyond Rainbow Falls, and becomes steeper,
before changing again to a more easy course on the
way to the LeConte terminus. The hiker should remember--as
the trail moves up the mountain and into the cooler,
 moist
upper reaches of LeConte--that temperatures can
change considerably and unprepared hikers might
find themselves in surprisingly cool temperatures--especially
if it's raining. With the change in climate, plant
life changes as well. Balsam, spruce, and mountain
ash dominate the trees, and crimson bee balms, asters,
Indian Pipes, and monkshoods are also evident. |
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A short distance from the summit
of Mount LeConte the Bull Head and Alum Cave Bluff trails
intersect the Rainbow Falls Trail. At this point, you
will be only a few hundred yards from the top of Mt. LeConte
and LeConte Lodge.
Note: If you have access to
the internet prior to departure, you can check the general
weather conditions and temperatures at different elevations.
Use this only as a guideline, however, because conditions
can change abruptly in the Smokies, which average 90 inches
of rain each year. |
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Order Your Park
Area Maps Here....
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he
hiker should be prepared for a wide range of temperatures and conditions.
The temperature on some hikes can be 10 degrees cooler than when you
leave lower elevations. Combine this with the fact that the Smokies
are also the wettest place in the South, and you have the possibility
for great discomfort in the event of a sudden storm. The higher elevations
in the park can receive upwards of 90 inches of precipitation a year.
Don't judge the complete day by the morning sky.
In summer the days usually start out clear, but as the day heats up,
clouds can build up, resulting in a heavy shower. Winter is a great
time to be in the Smokies, but also represents the most challenging
time as well. Frontal systems sweep through the region, with alternately
cloudy and sunny days, though cloudy days are most frequent in winter.
When traveling in the Smokies, it's a good idea
to carry clothes for all weather conditions.
Footwear should be chosen with care. Though tennis
shoes may be generally appropriate for some day hikes, boots should
be worn on the uneven trails in the Park. They support the ankles
from sprains and the foot from cuts and abrasions.
Stay on the designated trail, because most hikers
who get lost do so when they leave the path. If you get temporarily
lost, try to retrace your steps until you cross the trail again. Then
its just a matter of guessing which way you were headed when you left
the trail. You will either continue the way you were headed or go
back to your starting point--either way, no harm is done.
Always bring rain gear and a wool sweater. They
don't weigh much and might make the difference between being miserable
or not in the event it rains. As mentioned earlier, the Smokies get
approximately 90 inches of rain a year. This is good. Its what makes
the Smokies such a wonderful place to be. Don't start a hike if thunderstorms
threaten--some of the most devastating damage ever to the Park has
been from great storms which can be upon you with little warning.
Cross streams carefully. Getting wet, even in
summer, could lead to hypothermia, which leads ultimately to disorientation,
poor decision making and, in extreme circumstances, death. Having
said that, don't let a fear of hypothermia, getting lost, or bears
prevent you from the enjoyment to be had by trekking the trails of
the Park.
When we questioned a Park Ranger about how to
react to meeting a bear on the trail, he smilingly told us the most
likely sighting of a bear will be its tail disappearing over a ridge.
Most "incidents" occur when an ignorant visitor feeds or
otherwise harasses a bear. Our own experiences with bears have proven
this to be true.
To avoid crowds, hike during the week; avoid holidays;
go during the "off" season. Also, go in the morning before
most folks are through eating breakfast; this is a good time to see
wildlife and morning light is great for photography! You can also
avoid crowds by using the outlying trailheads such as those found
at the Cosby and Wears Valley entrances. I'm embarrassed to say we
didn't know these existed for our first 18 visits to the Smokies.
But to our delight, we found new vistas, trails, and landscapes to
"discover for the first time".
ith
a little care and planning, your trip to the Smokies can be much more
rewarding and repay you with more great memories. You can enjoy not
only the visual splendor of the Park, you can view it without counting
out-of-state license plates, and you can get more fit in the bargain.
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