Horsepasture River Waterfalls

Date	Distance	Time	Elevation Gain	Average Moving Time	Year to Date Miles
1/15/2023	5 miles	3 hours 22 minutes	885'	1.9	53.5

Parking: 

• Rainbow Falls and Turtleback Trailhead, Gorges State Park

Map:

• Gaigps
• 100 Favorite Trails of the Smokies and the Carolina Blue Ridge

Directions:

• See 100 Favorite Trails map. 

Carolina Mountain Club Challenges:

• 100 Favorite Trails Challenge, #13 Horsepasture River Waterfalls
• Waterfall Challenge, Turtleback Falls
• Waterfall Challenge, Drift Falls
• Waterfall Challenge, Rainbow Falls
• Waterfall Challenge, Stairway Falls

We originally were planning a 3-day trip to Virginia. Then it snowed & was windy on Saturday. Then we had to deal with a flat tire and couldn't find a shop to fix it on Saturday. So, change of plans. The 3-day holiday weekend has always been a challenge to plan for. This isn't the first time I planned a January short trip and had it gone awry.

After a rest day on Saturday, we headed south to do a 100 Favorite Trails Challenge. I had already done this hike by myself when Glen was in NY. Glen needs it for his challenge, so I joined him. This is a very popular area. Last time I was here, it was really hard to find parking. Even today, it was pretty crowded. Lots of people and lots of dogs. This is a really nice hike. It starts out on a gravel trail which turns into a rocky and rooty trail. Rainbow falls is beautiful, and we had sunny weather, so we did get a rainbow. Then we continued on to Turtleback Falls. And then to Drift Falls (which you can't approach all the way because it's on private property). After that, we turned around and took a rugged side trail to Stairway Falls. I remember the trail to Stairway Falls being a mess. I was kind of hoping that maybe it had been improved since the last time I came out here. It hasn't been. It felt like we were bushwhacking. None of the falls were good for dog swimming. 4 waterfalls in 1 hike! Then off to do some more...

Having some heel pain. It doesn't feel like plantar fasciitis, which I've had twice before. Tried out some heel cups, which help a bit with the soreness.

He wants to go swimming, but the current is too strong.

Rainbow Falls

On this one, you can see a little bit of the rainbow to the right

Rainbow Falls

Icicles on the railing

Lots of mist from the waterfall meant lots of mud. He's staring at a stick.

Turtleback Falls

Drift Falls

Drift Falls

A cascade on the way down to Stairway Falls

Stairway Falls

Nope, still can't go swimming.

The trail back up from Stairway Falls. It's a mess. Lots of blowdown & steep.