Hike to Mount Le Conte on Rainbow Falls Trail
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
The rocks around Rainbow Falls are perpetually slick with spray and have caused serious injuries from falls. Stay behind the barrier and resist the urge to climb the rock face for a better photo — people have been airlifted from this spot.
Weather above five thousand feet changes fast and without warning. Summer thunderstorms can roll in by early afternoon, and the exposed rocky sections near the summit offer zero shelter. Hypothermia is a real risk in any season if you get caught wet and the temperature drops.
Ice and snow coat the upper trail from November through March, turning rock scrambles into genuinely dangerous terrain. Microspikes are essential in winter, not optional — the park has conducted multiple rescues of unprepared hikers on this route.
Trail Details
Pro Tips
Hit the trailhead by 6:30 AM or earlier — the Rainbow Falls parking lot on Cherokee Orchard Road fills completely by mid-morning on weekends, and the parking tag system means you cannot just circle and wait. Weekdays in shoulder season are dramatically less crowded.
Carry at least three liters of water per person. There are stream crossings early on but no reliable filtered water sources on the upper mountain. Trekking poles pay for themselves on the rocky descent, when tired legs and wet rocks conspire against your knees.
If you're staying at Le Conte Lodge (book a year ahead), take Rainbow Falls up and Bullhead Trail down for a loop that avoids retracing your steps and gives you completely different forest scenery on the descent. Day hikers can do the same loop — Bullhead is slightly less punishing on the joints.
Photos
Bob Carr Photo
