Trails in Gorges State Park
This page lists trails accessible from the Grassy Ridge parking area.
Rainbow Falls
This trail really has two "trailheads", but it officially starts in Gorges State Park and access is controlled by the park, so it is included here. Travels from the Grassy Ridge parking area in Gorges State park, onto Pisgah National Forest property, then down to the Horsepasture River above Stairway Falls. Then heads up the Horsepasture river to Rainbow Falls, Turtleback Falls, and ends at the National Forest boundary just below Drift Falls. The trail from the parking area down to the river is nicely graded, with a gravel/soil surface. There are not too many rocks or other obstacles on this section, which travels through a nice 2nd growth forest. After meeting with the river, the trail narrows and becomes much steeper and rougher up to the falls. The old steep, rocky, eroded side trail up to NC 281 is no longer open.
