Ruby Falls

The Ruby Falls tour takes you 26 stories (420 feet) underground to view an impressive 90-foot waterfall.

In 1928, Leo Lambert, a local cave explorer, searched through the caves inside Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He wanted to reverse a railroad construction closure of the Lookout Mountain cave to make it accessible to the public once again. While searching through narrow, dark caves, one of his team drilled into an 18-inch opening that led to a new cave. Leo Lambert had found what is known today as Ruby Falls. His wife's name was Ruby, so he named this waterfall after her. Ruby Falls is located 1,120 feet below the mountain's surface, and it is the largest underground waterfall in America.

Lambert's vision was to make the caves accessible to everyone, and he did just that. After buying tickets for a designated timeframe, you can visit the gift shop nearby. When it is time for your tour, you will meet your group and go into an elevator that will take you to the start of your tour. The tour begins with a recording explaining the descent while in the elevator. One wall of the elevator is glass so that you can see rock all the way to the cave entrance. A guide will walk you to a larger cave opening to view a short film and as you make your way to the waterfall. The recording provides more information throughout the walk. T

Please be prepared because the ground is a bit muddy at certain points. There are a few stairs, and the ground can be slippery, but railings are available. Throughout the tour, you will also see signage explaining things and naming formations such as Dragons Foot, Angel Wing, and Potato Chip. The tours are a bit over an hour long, and there are no restrooms underground, so be prepared. The waterfall, "Ruby Falls," is 90 feet tall, and depending on the water flow from rain and runoff from the mountain, the falls can fluctuate. The pool at the base of the falls is about 5 feet deep and full of different minerals. This water leaks underground and eventually ends up in the Tennessee River. After leaving the caves, you can climb to the lookout and use the telescopes to see the mountain or take the zipline. Ruby Falls is open year-round from 8 am - 8 pm for $22.95 per adult and $12.95 per child (3 - 12).