WaterfallNear Me

Rainbow Falls

Greenville County, South Carolina

Your visit at a glance

Waterfall height
138 ft (42 m)
Location
Greenville County, South Carolina
Access status
Official state park trail to the base of the falls
The walk
2.2 miles one way with a 1,200-foot climb (park figure); SC Trails gives five miles round trip
Ground & access
Very strenuous trail with a steep climb and switchbacks; stream crossings on wet rocks near the falls. All park trails are rated as advanced hiking trails.
SC Trails: Rainbow Falls

Rainbow Falls drops about 100 feet over a granite cliff on Cox Camp Creek in the Mountain Bridge Wilderness. From the Jones Gap State Park trailhead, follow the blue-blazed Jones Gap Trail along the Middle Saluda River to the Rainbow Falls Trail junction, then follow the red-blazed Rainbow Falls Trail up to the base of the falls. SC Trails says the falls are on YMCA Camp Greenville property; the official trail reaches them from the park. Return the same way. Hikers must fill out a registration card at the trailhead.

Plan your visit

Jones Gap State Park trailhead, Jones Gap Trail (blue blazes) to the Rainbow Falls Trail (red blazes), up Cox Camp Creek to the base of the falls

A Jones Gap park ranger gives a 2.2-mile, 1,200-foot climb to the bottom of the falls. SC Trails gives about 0.6 mile on the Jones Gap Trail, then 1.6 miles on the Rainbow Falls Trail, and calls it a very strenuous five-mile round-trip hike.

Very strenuous trail with a steep climb and switchbacks; stream crossings on wet rocks near the falls. All park trails are rated as advanced hiking trails.

Where to start

Jones Gap State Park, 303 Jones Gap Road, Marietta, SC 29661. Roadside parking is not allowed. Parking reservations are required for guaranteed entry on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; at other times parking is first come, first served.

Timing & water

Open 9 a.m. to sunset daily, year-round. Trails close one hour before sunset. The park expects very limited parking in October and November. There is no phone service at the park.

Before you go

Park admission: $6 adults; $3.75 SC seniors (65 and older); $3.50 children 6 to 15; ages 5 and under free.

Visitor information
Visit sources

More waterfalls nearby

Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.

Explore South Carolina

Waterfall location

Greenville County, South Carolina.

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