Trillium Gap - Rainbow Falls

Date:  3/21/15
Distance: ~17 miles
New Map Miles: 6.5
Total Map Miles: 788.9

Trillium Gap has been my "finishing" trail for some time, BUT I couldn't work out a hike to go get Hazel Creek and Cold Springs and I haven't mapped any miles for weeks, so I decided to go ahead and do it.  Today was just an awesome day on the mountain, so I'm really pleased that I decided to go do it today.

The morning started drizzly and foggy at the Rainbow falls trail head.  I started on Trillium Gap where it crosses Rainbow falls about 8:20 am.  I had previously hiked the first 2.3 miles of Trillium Gap on the day I hiked Baskins Creek.

This 1st section is just off of the Roaring fork motor trail, but the motor trail is closed for renovation, so there were only a few construction vehicles that drove by.

 After 2.3 miles, I reached the portion of the trail that I had not previously hiked.  About 1.2 miles later, I reached Grotto Falls.

The Trail continues on the other side of the creek, so you must pass behind the falls to reach the other side.

 A few tenths beyond the waterfall, the sun started peaking out and I had high hopes for good views at the top of the mountain.

After 5.2 miles, I reached the Brushy Mountain intersection.

Continuing up the mountain there was one large cascade that was hundreds of yards long.

As I approached the top, I started getting a few peeks of what was in store at the top.

 I made it to the lodge about 11:20.  There was lots of activity at the lodge as they were working hard to get it ready for the season.  There were also a large number of hikers milling about.

I headed on up to the Cliff Tops and saw some spectacular views.

 It was so nice that I just couldn't pass up heading on out to Myrtle Point.  The big pile of rocks at the top of the mountain appears to still be growing.  Amazingly, I ran into Steve along the trail to Myrtle, so that was a nice surprise.

 The view at Myrtle was also spectacular.

Since I needed to be back to the car by 3:00, I didn't hang out very long.  The trip down was like night and day to the trip up.  I didn't see a single soul on Trillium Gap, but I passed hundreds of hikers on Rainbow Falls (mostly below the falls).  Happily one of those hikers was Lori from the Meetup group.  We had hiked LeConte together last fall in the fog, so that was a 2nd nice surprise.

 Rainbow falls has a short side trail out to an overlook that had some nice views of the Valley.

And off of the other side are some nice views of LeConte.

About 3.5 miles down Rainbow falls is Rainbow falls.  It had more water flow that the last time I saw it. 

There was another nice falls 0.25 miles or so on down the trail from the main falls.

 Super nice day for a really nice hike