Rainbow Falls (Horsepasture River)

Infobox Waterfall


caption=Rainbow Falls on the Horsepasture River
name=Rainbow Falls
location=Horsepasture River, Nantahala National Forest, Blue Ridge Mountains, Transylvania County, North Carolina
type=Cascade
height=Convert|125|ft|m|1|abbr=on
drop=
number_drops=
flow=
heightrank=
coordinates=coord|35.090503|-82.965947

Rainbow Falls is a waterfall in Western North Carolina, located near Brevard. The falls is located on the Horsepasture River. It is on Nantahala National Forest land just outside Gorges State Park.

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 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 feat 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 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 Nantahala National Forest property. Visitors may park in the nearby parking area for Gorges State Park, then walk a short distance down NC 281 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. 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) 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
*Drift Falls
*Stairway Falls
*Sidepocket Falls
*Windy Falls

External links

* [http://www.ncwaterfalls.com/horse1.htm Rainbow falls on NCWaterfalls.com]
* [http://www.ils.unc.edu/parkproject/visit/gorg/Operations.pdf Operations]