Turtle Back Falls, sometimes called Umbrella Falls in Asheville, North Carolina, has been a popular natural water slide and swimming hole for many years. Unfortunately, this aptly named, dome-shaped rock that forms a natural slide over its falls has resulted in many injuries and water rescues in recent years. Consequently, the water slide into the base pool area underneath is not recommended for younger children or those who aren’t great swimmers due to the strong currents that can exist, especially during high water levels.
Turtleback Falls sits upstream of the 150-ft Rainbow Falls, about ¼ a mile away. This much higher waterfall would be deadly should a swimmer get swept from the Turtleback Falls over Rainbow Falls. Therefore, especially when the depth of the water is high and the currents are strong, swimming at Turtleback Falls is not advised, and is never a good idea at Rainbow Falls. In addition, children should always stick near the shoreline at Turtleback Falls, so they don’t get swept downstream.
Now that we have gone over all the potential pitfalls of this beautiful destination, if you still feel you are up to the challenge, or simply want to enjoy the surrounding boulders and stay dry, you can hike to Turtleback Falls via the Rainbow Falls Trail. This trail begins at Grassy Ridge Parking lot, which is within Gorges State Park (about 2 miles from the park entrance). The trail begins with a steady decline and then splits.
Continue to maintain your Rainbow Falls heading after the split; this trail is labeled with a blazed orange color. At about 1.5 miles, you will see Rainbow Falls and an overlook area where you can take a minute to enjoy this beautiful site. You will arrive at Turtleback Falls after continuing about .25 more miles up the trail. At this point, you will see a small trial that goes down to the falls. This will give you access to the swimming hole at Turtleback Falls. To get to the top and experience the natural slide, continue up the trail to the top of the falls.
It’s worth noting that there are several creek access points between Rainbow Falls and where you get to the swimming hole at the base of Turtleback Falls. The current in these bodies of water is very strong, so don’t enter the water at any of these locations. Rainbow Falls is not far downstream, and getting swept down from these points has been something that, unfortunately, has led to some deaths. So, make sure you don’t enter before you actually make it to the relative calmness of the Turtleback Falls swimming hole.
While the trail provides pretty easy access to Turtleback Falls, the last mile or so of the trek is a bit more strenuous and involves a steady, steep climb and a number of stairs. Thankfully, there are some resting spots, including some benches once you cross back into Gorges State Park, but it’s helpful to know that the trail can be a bit challenging, physically, especially when hiking back.
The hike to Turtleback Falls overall is a 3.5-mile roundtrip trek beginning in Gorges State Park and eventually entering Pisgah National Forest, after about 30 minutes of hiking. When you arrive at Rainbow Falls, you will know because you will feel the cool mist spray. Be aware that climbing on rocks to get a good photo opt can be deadly, so don’t do it!
Insider Tips:
-There are restrooms available in the parking lot at the trail head.
-Be sure to bring along water that is safe to drink and be aware that this area is difficult to access if you need rescue.
-Gorges State Park Rangers warn against sliding and swimming in Turtleback Falls any longer due to rescues, deaths and injuries. Be sure the water level is low if you attempt getting into the water.