Ruby Falls is a 70-foot underground plunge waterfall inside Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee. It is a private commercial attraction, and the only way to see it is on a paid guided walk through the cave after an elevator ride deep into the mountain.
The falls
The water drops in a single plunge within the limestone cave system of Lookout Mountain. The drop is about 70 feet; the often-claimed 145 feet from older surveys is rejected, and another account gives 85 feet. Rainwater seeps down through the limestone to feed the falls and drains on toward the Tennessee River. The operators supplement the flow with pumped water, and construction of Interstate 24 altered the natural drainage, leaving natural flow substantial only after heavy rain.
Getting there
Ruby Falls is at 1720 S. Scenic Highway on Lookout Mountain, with free parking on the property. Visitors descend 260 feet by elevator, then follow a paved, mostly level path about 1 mile round trip with roughly 50 steps; the tour lasts about 1.5 hours. Tickets are dated and timed and sold online only. The Cave Walk costs $29.95 for adults, $19.95 for ages 4 to 12 and $28.95 for seniors 65 and older; children 3 and under are free.
When to go
The cave stays around 60°F all year. Rain increases the flow, but prolonged heavy rain can temporarily stop tours because of flooding. Timed slots often sell out, so book ahead.
On site
The falls are viewed from the cave floor with a light show. Passages are narrow with low ceilings, and the cave is not accessible by wheelchair or stroller. Pets and emotional-support animals are not allowed in the cave; trained service animals are accepted, and the operator offers seasonal outdoor kennels.
History and name
Leo Lambert found the cave and waterfall in 1928 while drilling an elevator shaft into the mountain, when his crew broke into a void 260 feet down. He named the falls for his wife, Ruby. The first visitors came to see Ruby Falls in June 1930.
Nearby
Glen Falls is about 2.2 miles away, Laurel Falls about 4.4 miles and Lula Falls, across the state line in Georgia, about 6.2 miles.
Distances are straight-line.