WaterfallNear Me

Rainbow Falls

Lewis County, Washington

Your visit at a glance

Waterfall height
Not recorded
Location
Lewis County, Washington
Access status
State park riverbank beside the falls; exact viewing spot not described; Discover Pass required
The walk
Short; no distance to a view of the falls is given
Ground & access
Riverbank near the trailhead.
Washington State Parks: Rainbow Falls State Park
Rainbow Falls, WA
Rainbow Falls, WA
Photo creditPhoto: ECTran71, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Rainbow Falls is a small falls, no more than about 5 feet, where the Chehalis River tumbles over a broad basalt ledge in Rainbow Falls State Park west of Chehalis. The ledge is nearly submerged in heavy runoff. The survey places the falls next to the bridge that crossed the river to the campground; that park bridge was washed out in a flood, so the campground side and the trail side of the park are now reached separately. WTA describes the trailhead clearing on State Route 6 under a very large Douglas fir beside the river, and says the easiest approaches to the river are west of the large fir. The exact spot with a view of the falls is not described. WTA says that at low flow the river can be forded between the campground and the trailhead.

Plan your visit

Rainbow Falls State Park trailhead on State Route 6 under a large Douglas fir, to the bank of the Chehalis River near the falls

The walking distance from the State Route 6 trailhead to a view of the falls is not stated. The Northwest Waterfall Survey places the falls beside the bridge that crossed the river to the campground.

Riverbank near the trailhead.

Where to start

Roadside trailhead parking along State Route 6, about 16 miles west of the I-5 interchange at Chehalis, under a very large Douglas fir; WTA says there is room for many cars but no facilities. The campground and main park entrance are at 633 Leudinghaus Road.

Timing & water

Park hours are 8 a.m. to dusk year round. The falls are nearly submerged during floods.

Before you go

A Discover Pass is required: $10 for one day or $45 for a year.

Visitor information
Visit sources

More waterfalls nearby

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

Explore Washington

Waterfall location

Lewis County, Washington.

Open location map