Rainbow Falls drops 101 ft (31 m) as a plunge waterfall in California.
Rainbow Falls sits on Middle Fork San Joaquin River. It lies in Madera, California. The site is on public land managed by Devils Postpile National Monument (NPS).
This is a moderate hike waterfall: a longer day hike, roughly one to several miles each way. The walk to the main viewpoint runs about 5 miles round trip. The nearest town is Mammoth Lakes.
When to go: Summer (Jul-Sep). Like most waterfalls, Rainbow Falls runs highest after snowmelt or heavy rain and can thin out in late summer, so it's worth checking recent streamflow and the land manager's conditions page before a long drive.
