Great waterfall Beautiful gals not much of a hike just a small walk from the tiny parking lot. Have to pay to park and enter. It was a gloomy day. Lots of bugs up Top by the pretty trees. read more

Rainbow Falls - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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I get monetizing this spot because it's an awesome view, but don't charge an absurd $10 per car and $5 per person for what literally will take you maybe 15 minutes to check out before you want to move on. Also, if you go up the stairway to the top, there's a broken, rooted path to the left that leads you to a shaded grove. The rudimentary trail continues up, but abruptly stops where there are signs warning you not to enter or you will be fined. So I guess one dude ignored that and walked past the sign. He came back like 5 minutes later and said there was some half naked guy down there with his shorts down in some kind of trance and chanting something. Yeah, so don't go past those signs. read more

Rainbow Falls - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

The waterfall is beautiful, but the parking experience was very disappointing. Parking costs $10 per vehicle plus $5 per person. Just an FYI for anyone reading this: if you have a Hawaii driver's license, parking and admission are free. We weren't informed of that when we paid, even though we qualified. We requested a refund on the spot, and the staff apologized, took a photo of our Hawaii driver's license, and said they would process it. After we got home (about two weeks later) and still hadn't heard anything, we reached out to the company. The representative we worked with (Jasmine Crusat) refused to refund the $10 parking fee, only offering the admission fee. We explained the situation multiple times, but eventually stopped receiving any response. We contacted the company again, and another staff member said a refund check would be issued. Unfortunately, it's now been over two months, and we still haven't received it. If you qualify for the local exemption, be sure to mention it before paying. Beautiful place, but double-check the parking rules and keep your receipt. read more

We had the falls on our list for the Hilo side, and we were really happy to see the falls and the surrounding area. First off, this is a very tourist spot. When we went here, there were literally 100 people here. So, don't expect it to be secluded or quiet. The falls are huge! In all honesty though, I was more of a fan of the amazing Banyan trees around the area. Like, the falls were neat to see, but the trees were so awesome. I could've literally stayed under the trees for hours. Very cool! Oh, fair warning: there is a fee for entry AND to park in the parking lot. And you basically pay twice if you go to the falls and the boiling pots. This was cool to see, but there are other falls in the area that don't require a fee. Just some advice! read more

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7/20/26- beautiful waterfall. Small area to explore. $5/per person and $10 for parking. They have people monitoring so you can't get by without paying. They ask to see your receipts. There is an ADA accessible ramp for viewing on the bottom half. You need to be able to navigate stone steps to go on the upper half. read more

Rainbow Falls - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

We made a pit stop here on our way back from the national park. You pull into a driveway and you have immediate access to the falls. Parking lot is tiny but people usually view, take a few pics and leave so just wait. There's only one attraction here - the falls so it's a quick stop to admire and move on. You can also climb up an access way to get a view of the full waterfall. Overall we enjoyed it but our viewing was muddy due to recent rainfalls read more

Rainbow Falls - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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It's a beautiful waterfall. The lookout is steps away from the parking, which was good for us since we went on a rainy day. Restrooms also right there. This was a great quick stop. read more

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Nature is still drop dead gorgeous, this time the park had updated and it's $10 for parking and $5 pp entrance fee. They made some updates and you can walk up to see the top of the waterfall, and public restrooms by the parking lot. Still worth a visit in my opinion. read more

Rainbow Falls - Pay for parking and entrance - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Really great short trip to a quick view of rainbow falls. Actually cast a rainbow in the mist. We enjoyed this quick trip. read more

Rainbow Falls - Rainbow falls - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

This was SO disappointing! First of all it cost $5 per person to go 20 feet and look at the falls the parking fee is understandable to help take care of the area. The falls looked brown and very disappointing from what is advertised online. read more

We discovered this beautiful waterfall during our day of waterfall exploring. It's conveniently close to town, easy to find, and absolutely lovely to see. read more

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Very beautiful water falls and you definitely get to see why they call it rainbow falls! There are many steps to get to top to see top off waterfall but not necessarily. My only complaint was that they made you pay for parking and per person. There was a fee that you had to pay through the state application. Very disappointing because you can easily park alongside of the street without having to pay and walk up some short steps accessible on the top of the fall and coming back down to see the waterfalls. There was also limited parking to see the waterfalls where you have to pay, and there was no restrooms available. otherwise very beautiful scenic stop and I do recommend seeing it because you will see a rainbow. finally pictures do not do it justice. read more

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Easy to view waterfall. This can be a short stop, we got out of the car, went a very short easy walk to the waterfall lookout and got back in. You can walk to the top of the falls, but we didn't find that to be necessary. Parking This has a larger lot but when we went it was almost all parked up! I don't believe there were any bathrooms. read more

Rainbow Falls - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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We made a quick stop at rainbow Falls after our visit to volcanoes national Park and before our 2 Hour drive back over to the other side of the island to Kona to join our cruise ship If you're adventurous, take a walk up the stairs that are basically made of stacked stone, but hang onto that rail as they are quite uneven, but the view from the top is well worth it! It's a busy spot and seems like a lot of tour companies stop here to give people a quick view. We were told that when the sun hits the waterfall at certain times of the day, it can create these beautiful rainbows, although this did not happen during our visit. Restrooms are available and we had a quick snack from our tour provider too- nice stop and I'm glad we got to see the falls! read more

Rainbow Falls - The falls - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Amazing and beautiful area to have a picnic and take family out for an hour or two. Cute trail small hike for the kids to enjoy. Lots of landscape to take advantage if you are looking for a nice photo opportunity. $10 for parking and $5 for each person. Very reasonable. The scan code was easy to use and fast for payment. There was nice ambassadors helping not just one person so it made it a fast experience and they were informative of where we could walk and viewpoints. Great customer service. Restrooms were cleaned. The informational boards had graffiti on it. read more

This was our second set of falls this morning. As they say here, Raging. The amount of water flow was overwhelming. read more

Nice, easy to get to falls with an optional short hike upstream. There are also flush toilets, though they are very basic. There is a $10 parking fee in the main lot which is a bit steep as you will only spend 10-15 minutes here. read more

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God's gift to man I tell ya! This was a quick stop as we toured a bit of Hilo, and I'd say it's a "must stop" if you're here for a short visit. It's definitely, and annoying touristy, so just keep that in mind. Yes, I'm one of them, so I hated myself lol. Features to highlight: ~ A big parking lot with tour busses parked. As well as cars full of people causing traffic. ~ A fairly long line for the restroom. A perfect stop for bus tours. ~ From the parking lot, you'll see the people along the fence-line checking out the falls. Taking pics, selfies, tiky-tok'ing etc etc. ~ Don't get me wrong with the negativity, it is fairly picturesque! I just cropped the tourists out. The day was sorta cloudy, so we didn't see any rainbows coming from the falls. ~ Take the stone steps to the right, up to the top, and you'll be gifted with a different perspective of the river above and the falls. ~ As you walk along the railing, you'll also be drawn into the tall trees that lead to the giant banyan tree. I'm pretty amazed with how vibrant a tree can be, and how much shade these large banyans provide. ~ We only spent about 15-20 minutes here, but we full-on enjoyed every minute of it! Side story that you don't have to read: As I was walking past everyone. A family had asked if I could take a picture of them. I kindly said, "Sure." Then some other random bonehead tourist stopped me and said, "I'll take their picture!" Fine, whatever dude, here's their phone. As I walked away, I heard Mr. Bonehead say, "I'll take several angles and we'll do a funny one, OK?" Hahaha, I looked back at the family, and they looked super annoyed. read more

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Parking fee was a surprise as was entrance fee... Especially when you can park along the road, walk across a little bridge to the Banyan tree and enter the park without anybody monitoring it. Little shortcut for those future visitors. read more

The falls are located near the medical center and Kaiser Permanente Hospital. It is flat at the ground level viewing area and can also be reached by stone staircase to see upper portion of the falls. This is an easy visit if you can't walk well. read more

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Most people come to islands and enjoy chasing waterfalls. The majority of the time you have to hike to even get a glimpse of the waterfall, however Rainbow falls is perfect for anyone as it is a short walk from the parking lot to the view points. No strenuous hikes needed and perfect quick stop in your itinerary. Typically the morning mist and sunlight projects rainbows thus its name. Sadly I didn't see the infamous rainbow but was delighted to be one of maybe 8 people around. I got to enjoy the peacefulness and waterfall without mountains of people around. There is another we viewing platform as you climb some natural rock steps. As much as I love the adventure of a hike it was nice to enjoy with some family who aren't able to hike. read more

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If you're visiting the area and looking for a quick, scenic stop that's perfect for group photos and family memories, this spot is an absolute gem. We stopped by as part of our sightseeing itinerary and were so glad we did. It's one of those classic, iconic destinations that truly captures the natural beauty of the area -- and it's easily accessible, which makes it even better if you're short on time but still want to soak in some stunning views. The waterfall view is breathtaking, especially if you catch it during good lighting (golden hour was gorgeous!). The main lookout offers a postcard-perfect angle of the falls, but if you're willing to take a short walk, there are a few elevated areas nearby that provide even more impressive vantage points. Great for panoramic shots or just enjoying a peaceful moment surrounded by nature. Parking is limited, and the lot itself isn't very big -- but don't let that discourage you. We found that spots turn over quickly since most people stop here briefly for photos and to take in the scenery. With a bit of patience, you can usually grab a stall without too much hassle. It's not a long stop -- you probably won't spend more than 20-30 minutes here -- but it's totally worth it. This is the kind of place that makes for a perfect family photo op, a nice breath of fresh air on a road trip, or a romantic detour if you're exploring the area as a couple. There aren't a ton of amenities (no major facilities or shops at the viewpoint), so plan accordingly -- but honestly, that's part of the charm. It feels untouched and natural, and you get to focus entirely on the beauty of the falls and the surroundings. Highly recommend this as a quick but memorable stop for any tourists or locals showing guests around. Don't forget your camera -- you'll want to remember this one! read more

Rainbow Falls - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

First stop on our waterfall tour (on our own) and did not disappoint! Very pretty and almost got the rainbow effect. There are a couple different viewpoints in this state park and got best views all around. There is even a ramp for wheelchairs to see one of the views; a different view is up some on the hill and can be a climb up there (not wheelchair accessible). Very cool and very pretty. The tree at the top was crazy with the roots. Water was a Nice flow and have seen pictures of it raging - I bet it's intense! There are restrooms on the other side of the parking lot; also some shops across the way. read more

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Not much of a hike. Little walk. Nice views. Waterfall was pretty. Parking is small. Why we have to pay parking and per person is a huge joke. read more

Rainbow Falls - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

If you are in Hilo, this should be on your itinerary when visiting Hawaii. It's a quick stop, but worth your while. Plenty of parking, but can get busy when those big bus tours arrives. Rainbow Falls is easily accessible straight from the parking lot. The waterfall is beautifully flowing, you'll get a glimpse of a rainbow. Great spot for pictures or just relax while listening to the crashing waters. read more

Rainbow Falls - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Beautiful scenery. Not that bad of a walk. Lots to see if you look closely. Flowers here and there and trees all around. read more

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$17 They make you pay for an hour parking. You're literally in the Park 15 minutes...haha also they jack each person in your with party another $7 per person. Figure out another way to waive these fees in order to keep up the park and the falls. The state runs completely on tourism. Don't start making the same mistakes Vegas has been making for the past few years you might start to see a drop off in your tourism. read more

Amazing to walk down the many steps with railing for comfort then up steps to see this beautiful waterfall. It's a must see along your path throughout your day. read more

Rainbow Falls - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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Super neat to see, but not worth $22 to see. There's no hiking just small walking trail to the view. You can't go close to falls at all read more

Rainbow Falls - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Accessibility to this waterfall is great no hiking required if you are trying to do a lot of things in one day. You can park right outside and walk to it very quickly. Due to this, it's a popular tourist spot and can be difficult to get a good picture around all of the people along the railing. It's quite beautiful but we unfortunately did not get to see a rainbow during our visit. read more

Rainbow Falls - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Total BS, $15 to park and $5 per person to run up and take a picture. So sad. In 10 years of coming here, I've never seen anyone shaking people down to pay. read more

Very short walk to see the waterfall from the parking lot. Don't miss it if you're in Hilo! Easy access and wheelchair accessible. read more

Rainbow Falls - Rainbow Falls - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Easy to visit attraction in Hilo. We stopped by today. Easy to get to, and the falls are right by the parking lot, so there isn't a lot of walking needed. There was a rainbow, as advertised, and we walked up the several vantage points, taking pictures to our hearts content. The massive banyan tree at the overlook above the falls is worth the short climb up. Happy to return! read more

Rainbow Falls - Rainbow falls - we were lucky to arrive on a bright day, so the rainbow was present! - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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Our friend told us to check this waterfall out. We arrived and they were doing landscaping and took up most of the parking lot. I was able to wait for a parking space in just a few minutes. The waterfall is very pretty and it's one of the ones that you can see without walking at all. To see it better it was a short climb up so stairs and you get to see it all. There are at least three vantage points to take awesome pictures It is clean and so nice to view. A must stop place. read more

Rainbow Falls - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Cannot get shorter than this. Park and see the beautiful falls. Just a few steps on a well maintain trail, you're at the prime photo positions. Not many people, quick visit, enjoy the quite scene and hike around read more

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Rainbow falls is considered a drive up fall, we spent about 10 minutes here. I would say it's worth seeing if you're 10-15 minutes away, but don't drive over an hour to see it. It's not very impressive as you cannot get close to it. There are two spots you can view the falls from. The parking lot has limited spots but it is a quick turnaround so just be patient. read more

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Short walk to view beautiful falls. - No parking fee or hiking fee - Easy walk to hike - Parking lot is smaller - Great stop on your island tour - we visited here after the botanical garden but before the volcano. read more

Rainbow Falls - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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From the parking lot to the observation deck only 1 min walk, no hike needed. The parking lot is kinda small but turnover pretty fast. There's no trail to walk down or get closer to the falls from the parking area and observation deck. read more

Rainbow Falls - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Not really a hike, more of a lookout. The bottom lookout has the best views of the falls itself and is wheelchair accessible. To the left of that overlook, go up the couple of stairs (a bit uneven) to another lookout. The big rocks and boulders prevent a clear look of the whole waterfall (just the top) but you can see more of the Wailuku River and a couple of waterfalls upstream (inaccessible). Don't miss the gigantic banyan tree to the left of the top lookout, just be careful of all the exposed roots. read more

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Scenic waterfall that does not require any type of hiking; great for older travelers. There are also stairs to the top of the waterfall for a different view. If you are willing to hike a short 5 minutes, you can get to the other side where you can take a dip in the water (it's cold). Smaller parking lot. Clean restrooms nearby. read more

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