GSMNP'20 - Rainbow Falls - Bull Head Loop

This is a 13.5 loop trail up Rainbow Falls trail and back down Bull Head trail.

Parking is at the large Rainbow Falls trailhead, on Cherokee Orchard Road. Starting up Rainbow Falls trail, you'll reach the falls themselves after ~2.7 miles. There are a number of smaller falls/cascades along this trail as well. This is a steady and consistent climb, maybe ~600' elevation per mile.

Continuing beyond the falls, the trail continues steadily up for another ~3.3 miles until it reaches the Bull Head trail intersection. On clear days, there are numerous overlooks and vistas to see along the way... though on our wet hike, we unfortunately remained in the clouds all the way to Le Conte!

At the Bull Head trail intersection, we chose to turn left for a quick 0.5 mile leg up to the Alum Cave trail intersection. (We could also have done another short 0.1 extension to the Mt. Le Conte lodge, though with the cloudy weather we decided not to add that short extension.) Instead, once we reached the Alum Cave trail intersection, we returned the 0.5 miles back to the Rainbow Falls / Bull Head trails intersection. If you simply do the Rainbow Falls to Bull Head loop (without the out/back to Alum Cave trail) then this loop will be 12.5 instead of 13.5 miles.

Continuing down Bull Head trail, it was ~3 miles of steady descent to reach the Pulpit, a cairn that is built at another nice overlook (on clear days, which ours was not!). Besides the many overlooks, this section of trail has impressive burn sights and new growth from the 2016 Gatlinburg fires.

Beyond the Pulpit, it is another three miles steady down to reach the intersection with Old Sugarlands trail. Turning right on Old Sugarlands trail, there is a half mile easy return to the Rainbow Falls parking lot.

Rainbow Falls Trail - Alum Cave Trail Intersection (out/back) - Bullhead Trail

13.54 miles, 3727 foot elevation gain

September 26, 2020