Rainbow Falls Trail
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Quick Facts
| Difficulty | moderate |
| Trail Type | linear |
| Distance | 500 metres one way |
| Estimated Time | 30 mins return |
| Surface Type | forested |
| Elevation Change | 94 metres |
| Features | waterall |
| Trail Markers | red paint |
| Scenery Rating | beautiful |
| Maintenance Rating | well maintained |
| Cell Reception | none |
| Dog Friendly | on a leash |
| Fees | none |
Podcast
Episode 13: Three Waterfalls in the Bathurst Area
Episode 12: Beat the Heat with Top 10 Swimming Waterfalls in New Brunswick
Description
The Rainbow Falls Trail descends into the forest and starts to follow a stream valley on the left. The trail gets rocky in sections and some of the rocks move so use caution. You will soon get to a large white pine with 200 meters written on the bark in red paint. The trail continues to be rocky and then comes to a steep drop that has a rope to help you descend. After descending the steep section you will come to the stream. A side trail on the left takes you up to the small upper falls. The trail to the right takes you down to the top of the larger falls. Use caution around cliffs at the top of the falls because it's slippery and quite a drop down into the large pool below.
If you continue to the right you will come to another steep climb down with a rope to help. This steep climb takes you down to the pool below the falls.
Rainbow Falls is about a 12-foot (4 m) high plunge into a deep, dark pool below. It looks like it would be a great place to swim but I didn't get a chance to try it out on my visit. The upper falls is about a 3-foot (1 meter) tumble over a rock ledge in the stream above.
Map
Store
Directions
Note that the majority of the access to these falls is on gravel roads but they are well maintained gravel roads.
From Bathurst take Route 430 west for 45 kilometres until you come to a large intersection where the 430 turns sharply to the left. This is a large intersection near Heath Steele Bridge. Instead of turning left towards Heath Steele Bridge continue straight onto the Knoll Spruce Road. Continue for another 7 kilometres and look for a road junction with a small cabin next to the road. There are also a lot of ATV trail signs in the junction (see picture below).
At this junction turn right onto Whitebirch Road. Climb the hill for 1.6 kilometres and look for the trail entering the woods on the right, across from a forestry road. On our visit there was a large arrow made of lumber pointing to the start of the trail.
You can also get to this trail from the Miramichi by traveling north on the Chaplin Island Road (Route 430). Drive for 60 kilometres past Heath Steele Mine (where the road turns to gravel) and continue past Heath Steele Bridge over the Nepisiguit River. At the major junction turn left onto Knoll Spruce Road and follow the directions above.
Other Trails Nearby
Trail Last Hiked: June 13, 2020.
Page Last Updated: October 16, 2021.