Easy
California · United States
- Distance
- 0.6 km / 0.4 mi
- Elevation gain
- 36 m
- Typical duration
- 10 min
- Waterfall
Rainbow Falls Wagon Trail
ModerateCalifornia · United States
- Distance
- 1.8 km (1.1 mi)
- Elevation gain
- 90 m (295 ft)
- Typical time
- 31 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Route type
- Point to point
- Highest point
- 2,354 m (7,723 ft)
About Rainbow Falls Wagon Trail
Rainbow Falls Wagon Trail is a 1.8 km hiking route in California, United States. It climbs roughly 90 m (295 ft) along the way, topping out at 2,354 m (7,723 ft). Most people take around 31 min at a comfortable pace, plus stops. It sits firmly in moderate territory: enough climbing to feel like a proper day out, never enough to become a slog.
You hear the falls before you see them, which makes the final approach genuinely exciting.
Start and finish are in different places, which means public transport or a second car is part of the planning. It is not consistently waymarked, so carry a map or a downloaded track rather than relying on signs.
The high sections hold snow long after the valleys are green, which keeps the usable season to high summer.
In short, Rainbow Falls Wagon Trail suits regular walkers who want a full day without technical ground. Dog access is not formally recorded here, so check locally before bringing one.
Route map
Moderate1.8 km90 m
Route line from OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. View the source relation
Elevation
Elevation profile
- Ascent
- +90 m
- Descent
- −0 m
- High
- 2,354 m (7,723 ft)
- Low
- 2,264 m (7,428 ft)
The route in detail
The route is normally walked in the direction described below. The gradient is spread evenly, so there is no single section that dictates your pace. The steepest pitch runs at roughly 22 percent, short but enough to slow most people to a crawl. Because the finish is away from the start, check return transport before committing to the second half.
Highlights
- High point of 2,354 m (7,723 ft)
- Waterfall
Know before you go
- Best season
- July to September
- Waymarked
- Not consistently
- Surface
- Mixed natural surface
- Dogs
- Not recorded, check locally
- Wheelchair access
- Not accessible
- Entrance fee
- No fee recorded
- Camping
- Not recorded
- Drinking water
- Carry your own
- Toilets
- Not recorded
- Mobile coverage
- Patchy on the upper sections
- Parking
- Park at the trailhead, arrive early in high season
- Emergency
- 112 in Europe, 911 in North America
How this trail scores
Computed from distance, ascent, terrain features, surface and access data.
- Scenery
- 63/100
- Adventure
- 19/100
- Difficulty
- 6/100
- Accessibility
- 80/100
- Family
- 54/100
- Dogs
- 62/100
Terrain features, relief and photographic interest
Distance, ascent and how wild the ground is
Effort index from distance and climbing
Surface, gradient and ease of reaching it
Suitability for children who already walk
Access rules, terrain and water along the way
Tips from the trail
- Early morning and late afternoon give the best light and the quietest paths.
- Aim for july to september for the most reliable conditions.
- Go within a day or two of rain if you want the falls at full volume.
- Download the track to your phone before you leave. Signal is not guaranteed.
- Leave nothing behind, including fruit peel, and stay on the marked line to protect the ground either side.
Warnings
- At this altitude the weather can turn in under an hour, and temperatures drop fast once cloud arrives.
- Outside the main season expect snow, ice or closed access on the higher sections.
Safety
Emergency services in United States are reached on 911. Tell someone your route and expected finish time before you set off, particularly if you are walking alone. Mobile coverage in the upper sections is patchy at best, so do not count on being able to call for help from the summit. If the weather deteriorates, descending the way you came is almost always the safer option.
What to bring
- Comfortable, broken-in hiking shoes or boots
- Weatherproof jacket
- At least 1.5 litres of water
- Sun hat, sunglasses and high-factor sun cream
- Microspikes if you are walking at the edges of the season
- Small first aid kit including blister plasters
Photography
Bring a small tripod and a neutral density filter if you want the classic silky water, and shoot on an overcast day to avoid blown highlights. Take the shot on the way out. Conditions rarely improve by the time you come back past. A wide lens captures the scale, but a short telephoto is what turns a good view into a photograph.
Frequently asked questions
Reviews
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