Rainbow Falls, Ontario

Quick Facts

---

Accessibility: 9/10 (easy, stairs!)
Height: 80′ / 24 m
Hike: 1 mile / 1.6 km round-trip (approximately, depending on how far you go along the trails)

The Record

---

I took a short weekend trip to Thunder Bay at the end of April, and one of my goals was to try to hit several waterfalls along the Trans-Canada Highway. Many of the interesting waterfalls are found along or near the main highway. Rainbow Falls is some distance west of the Schreiber/Terrace Bay area, and on my initial journey east, I actually passed the park where the falls are located, Rainbow Falls Provincial Park. The signs seemed to indicate that it was a campground entrance, but in reality, it was the entrance to the park.

I turned and started driving back west the same day. I then turned into the signs I had originally passed. Since it was the end of April, the park was actually “closed”, to my surprise. You could turn onto the main road in the park, and park your car in a small area near the main gate…But the gate was actually closed to prevent anyone from driving further into the park.

In this case, I just decided to start hiking along the main road. Normally, you would be able to drive down this road and get much closer to the falls. The hike along the main road doesn’t add a considerable amount of time to your journey, and it is relatively enjoyable. Once you get to the parking area designated for the falls, you can begin exploring. There are numerous parts to the falls, though the whole set of drops cannot be photographed easily.

Stairs lead you up and down near the falls. This is very nice, but it may also limit your ability to explore portions of the falls. In late April, this specific falls seemed to be flowing pretty well, and so that may have been a very good thing that visitors were unable to deviate. The falls are interesting, but in the end, you may be frustrated by the inability to capture the “whole” falls, or really, the complexity of the falls.

Directions

---

1. The falls are relatively easy to find, as they are right off the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 17). They are not too far west of Schreiber, which is a small town. They are a more significant drive from Thunder Bay.
2. If you are headed west on the Trans-Canada Highway, the entrance to the park will be on your right. As I said, I think the sign also indicates a campground.
3. Depending on the time of year, the gate to the road leading closer to the falls may or may not be open. There may be a fee to enter, though there was no gate attendant, and I don’t remember there being a self-pay station. (As of 2025, you can pay for day use online.)

Where in the World is Rainbow Falls?

---