About this spot
Rainbow Falls drops about 125-150 feet on the Horsepasture River in Pisgah National Forest near Gorges State Park, Sapphire/Cashiers, NC. Reach it via a moderate ~1.7-mile trail from the Gorges SP visitor center off US-64/NC-281, past Turtleback Falls. A large pool forms at the base, popular for swimming, with rainbows visible in the mist on sunny mornings. This is one of the region's most famous but dangerous jump spots: the current runs strong after rain, rocks are slick with spray year-round, and at least one person has died jumping here. Numerous posted signs warn against climbing on, standing on, or jumping from the falls, and rangers strongly discourage it despite the site's popularity.
Safety first. Cliff jumping is inherently dangerous and can cause serious injury or death. Conditions — water depth, submerged hazards, and access — change constantly. CliffScout is community-sourced reference information, not a guarantee a spot is safe. Always assess the conditions yourself before jumping, and never jump where you're unsure. You assume all risk.