Hike to Rainbow Falls

From the Cherokee Orchard Road trailhead, you'll climb steadily through a canopy of old-growth hardwoods and hemlock — the kind of forest that feels like it's been here since before anyone was counting. The trail follows LeConte Creek uphill on a rocky, root-laced path that gains serious elevation over its nearly three miles to the falls. Your quads will know they're working. The forest shifts as you climb, from rhododendron tunnels to more open hardwood stands, with the sound of water building as you approach. The payoff is an 80-foot waterfall plunging off a rock ledge into a misty grotto — and on sunny afternoons, the namesake rainbow materializes in the spray like clockwork. This one's ideal for hikers who want a legit workout with a signature Smokies reward at the end.