Why the spray is so heavy
The great fall drops far and carries much water; the torrent smashes into Rhino Pool and throws up a cloud of droplets, bathing the area in mist year-round. In high water the spray reaches the street above the fall, so even on a clear day you walk with an umbrella — the origin of the name “silver rain on the golden street.”
When rainbows appear
On clear mornings into the afternoon, sunlight slants through the spray and often forms a rainbow before the fall or over the pool — sometimes more than one. It is most likely with full water and bright sun, a moment many visitors never forget.
Where it looks best
- The viewing deck straight ahead of the great fall: the flow and rainbow face-on, with a wide view;
- The Water Curtain Cave windows: from inside the fall, spray, rainbow and cascade in one frame;
- The poolside beneath the fall: spray in your face, the roar and coolness up close.
Shooting tips
- Time: on clear days from morning to afternoon in back- or side-light, rainbows are easier to catch;
- Gear: with heavy spray, protect the lens and wipe it often;
- Composition: bring the rainbow, the curtain and the onlookers into the frame for a livelier shot.
