Rainbow Falls
After my positive experience solo hiking the Living Waters Trail I decided to make the leap to a more difficult trail in the area, Rainbow Falls Trail in North Carolina’s Gorges State Park. According to All Trails the hike is Moderate Difficulty and 3.5 miles in length. This up and back trail is clearly marked, easy to follow, and popular with hikers. I intentionally chose a hike that would be easy to follow and relatively busy with other hikers. Having other people close gave me a little security and confidence.
The hike itself was difficult for me but doable. The walk in was mostly downhill and relatively easy, however that meant that walking out was mostly uphill. I took my time and took several breaks during the difficult spots. The last section before the falls was the most challenging with several sets of stairs and rock steps. There was plenty of areas to get a hand hold and negotiate the area safely.
The best part of my hike was running into a family of mom, daughter, and grandmother. As I passed them they asked me the standard “ How much farther?” question. I told them they were close, and then one of them asked me, “Are you doing this alone?” I told her yes and she said, “ Wow that’s really brave. I think I would be too scared to do it alone.” It made my day! I felt strong and empowered, and it was amazing.
I’m off next to explore the lakes of South Carolina and try my hand at Paddleboarding. See you next time.
Heather
