Ruby Falls Cave Tours on Lookout Mountain Near Chattanooga TN

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When I was growing up in North Georgia, you couldn’t swing a stick without hitting a sign (or barn) promoting Rock City and Ruby Falls. 

If you were taking a family road trip to “See Rock City,” Ruby Falls was simply a must-see, because these two Lookout Mountain attractions are less than four miles apart. 

The Ruby Falls cave tour tapped into my lifelong fascination with caves, which– as a boy– seemed to me so primal and filled with a mixture of adventure, danger, and mystery.

Located just over 4 miles from the heart of Downtown Chattanooga, Ruby Falls tours include a ride on a glass elevator that descends 260 feet into the heart of Lookout Mountain. 

Then the relatively easy 1-mile round-trip Ruby Falls cave walk leads visitors to see the tallest and deepest of the underground waterfalls in the United States that are open to the public. 

Read on for our in-depth guide to visiting the Ruby Falls Cave on Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga TN, including info on Ruby Falls tickets, history, guided tours, hours, driving directions, and more. 

READ ON: The 15 Best Things to Do in Lookout Mountain GA/TN

Recommended Hotels Near Ruby Falls

The Edwin Hotel

Hotel Indigo

 
 
 
Exterior of Ruby Falls Cave in Chattanooga TN
Exterior of Ruby Falls

Ruby Falls Info

ADDRESS: 1720 S. Scenic Highway, Chattanooga TN, 37409

PHONE: 423-821-2544

RUBY FALLS HOURS: Open 8AM-8PM daily

RUBY FALLS TICKETS: Adults (ages 13+) $25.95, Children ages 3-12 $15.95, Age 2 and under FREE

LANTERN TOUR AT RUBY FALLS PRICES: $39.95 (Fridays after 9PM, March to December)

HIGH POINT ZIP ADVENTURE TICKET PRICES: $21.95 (Hours & Dates vary)

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

DRIVING DIRECTIONS FROM CHATTANOOGA TN

From Chattanooga, take US-11 S/US-64 W/US-72 W/Broad St/US Hwy 41 North, then make a left on TN-148 S/TN-318 N. Follow that for 0.3 miles, then make a slight left to stay on TN-148 South. Go 0.4 miles, then turn right into the Ruby Falls parking lot. 

DRIVING DIRECTIONS FROM ATLANTA GA

From Atlanta, take I-75 North until you cross the border into Tennessee, then take exit 2 toward I-24 West. Follow I-24W for 5.8 miles, then take exit 178 for Market St toward Lookout Mountain. 

Keep left and follow the signs for Market St, then merge onto Market St. Turn right on W 28th St in 0.4 miles, then make a left onto US-11 S/US-64 W/US-72 W/Broad St/US Hwy 41 N. 

In 1.8 miles, go left on TN-148 S/TN-318 N, then in 0.3 miles make a slight left to stay on TN-148 S. Go 0.4 miles, then turn right into the Ruby Falls parking lot. 

READ MORE: Where are the Blue Ridge Mountains? A State-by-State Guide

Blue rock formation seen on Ruby Falls Cave Tour in Chattanooga TN
Rock formation seen on the Ruby Falls Cave Tour

Ruby Falls History

The history of the Ruby Falls cave dates back some 200 million years. In the Paleozoic era, much of the Smoky Mountains region of  Tennessee were under a sea, whose sediment gradually formed into limestone rock.

When the planet’s tectonic plates shifted and formed Lookout Mountain, acidic groundwater went into subterranean streams, carving out the limestone and widening passages via chemical weathering.

Over the centuries, the adjacent Lookout Mountain Cave proved historically significant. Archaeological digs found prehistoric bones that were carbon dated back to the last Ice Age.

Much like Craighead Caverns (a.k.a. The Lost Sea), the cave was a significant source of saltpeter (a.k.a. potassium nitrate, a key ingredient in gunpowder) for the Confederate Army during the Civil War.

A signature many historians believe to be that of U.S. President Andrew Jackson has even been discovered in one of the cave’s passageways!

In 1905, the natural entrance was closed due to construction of a railway tunnel through the mountain.

So the Lookout Mountain cave remained inaccessible to visitors until the 1920s, when local chemist and cave enthusiast Leo Lambert purchased the land above it in hopes of installing an elevator and turning it into a tourist attraction.

After his company began drilling in 1928, they discovered a small passageway that measured just two feet high and four feet wide. After 17 hours of exploration, Lambert found the Ruby Falls Cave and its waterfall, which he named after his wife.

READ MORE: 25 Fun Facts About Tennessee History and Culture

Ruby Falls Cave Tours

We learned about the history of the Lookout Mountain caves while waiting in line for the glass-front elevator, which took us 260 feet down into the cave. 

Ruby Falls Cave Tours vary in size and frequency depending on the time of year you choose to visit, but our tour had one guide leading a group of around 20 people.

These caves have an array of geological formations that formed over thousands of years, with colorful, descriptive names such as “Angel Wings,” “Crystal Chandelier,” “Donkey” (which looks like a donkey’s butt), and “Tobacco Leaves.” 

A wide column known as “The Leaning Tower” is the oldest rock formation you’ll see in the cave at Ruby Falls, dating back some 3 to 5 million years!

One word of caution for claustrophobic folks: Sometimes you’ll find yourself sharing narrow walkways between the unique rocks, giving tour groups coming back to the elevator right of way. So the attraction can feel a bit crowded at times.

After walking for around 35 minutes, two sounds alerted us to the fact that the 145-foot-tall Ruby Falls waterfall was near. The first was the dull roar of rushing water, which was soon accompanied by a dramatic crescendo of dreamy music.

As we entered the main chamber, the waterfall began to glow with vivid bursts of pink, purple, and blue hues, making it look  a little like an underground fireworks display.

Unfortunately you only get a few minutes to marvel at the spectacle and take a few photos. Then the colorful lights went out and we were quickly led out to make way for the next Ruby Falls tour group.

After perusing the gift shop, we recommend taking time for a brief visit to the Lookout Mountain Tower, which offers an incredible overlook of Chattanooga and the Tennessee River.

READ MORE: The 10 Best Places for White Water Rafting in Tennessee

Pink Ruby Falls Waterfalls in Chattanooga TN
Ruby Falls Drenched in Pink

Lantern Tours at Ruby Falls

Offered only on select Friday nights, the Ruby Falls Lantern Tour gives guests a chance to explore one of the most popular Chattanooga TN activities at night. 

The entire cavern and hiking trails are illuminated by nothing but hand-held lanterns. This allows visitors a chance to see what the Lookout Mountain caves might have looked like during the Civil War era. 

Led by experienced guides, the special after-hours tours a more relaxed pace, more in-depth storytelling, limited group sizes, and extra time at the Ruby Falls waterfall. 

Children under 5 years old are not allowed on Lantern Tours, and advance reservations are required. Prices are $39.95 for adults and children ages 5 and up. 

Another option for visitors who want more time in the cave is the Gentle Walking Tour, which is billed as the most in-depth of all the Ruby Falls Tours. 

This tour features fewer participants, a gentle pace aimed at seniors and those with limited mobility, and extra time at the waterfall after the light show is over. 

The tour is available at 7:45AM on select Sundays and Thursdays, and is recommended for ages 12 and up due to the pace and focus on history

Note that due to limited availability, both of these tours often sell out weeks in advance. 

READ MORE: The 10 Best Lakes in Tennessee to Visit

Ziplining at High Point ZIP Adventure at Ruby Falls in Lookout Mountain
Ziplining at Ruby Falls’ High Point ZIP Adventure

High Point ZIP Adventure at Ruby Falls

Still looking for more excitement after the Ruby Falls Cave Tour?

Check out the High Point ZIP Adventure on Lookout Mountain, a unique mountaintop ziplining experience designed to get your pulse pounding as you soar through the treetops.

This Lookout Mountain attraction is open daily from May 27 to August 13, weekends only from August 19-November 18, and select holidays in September and November. 

Their 2023 season closes on Thanksgiving weekend (Nov 24-25), which also offers an opportunity to celebrate Christmas at Rock City’s Enchanted Garden of Lights.

In addition to zip lining, the attraction’s $21.95 entrance fee also includes access to a 40′ Climbing Wall. 

Note that all participants must weigh 60-275 lbs for the ZIP Adventure, and 35-275 lbs for the climbing tower.

Closed-toe and closed-heel shoes are required, and children ages 10 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. –by Bret Love; all photos by Bret Love & Mary Gabbett unless otherwise noted; lead image courtesy of Ruby Falls

Leave No Trace logo

We encourage anyone who loves the Blue Ridge region to learn about the Leave No Trace principles of responsible environmental stewardship. 

Stay on marked trails, take only pictures, pack out your trash, and be considerate of others who share the trails and parks you explore. 

Remember that waterfalls and rocky summits can be dangerous. Never try to climb waterfalls or get close to a ledge to get a selfie.

When you're exploring the wilderness, it's better to be safe than to be a statistic!

The BRMTG was created by Bret Love & Mary Gabbett, the award-winning team behind the world-renowned responsible travel website Green Global Travel. Born and raised in North Georgia, Editor-In-Chief Bret Love grew up hiking and camping in the Blue Ridge Mountains with his family. A professional writer/editor since 1995, he's covered travel and culture for 100+ publications, including American Way, Destination Marriott, Georgia Travel Guide, National Geographic, and Southbound. In 2010 he co-founded the award-winning website, Green Global Travel, which is ranked among the world's top travel blogs. Since launching BRMTG in 2020, he and Mary Gabbett have visited 50+ Blue Ridge Mountain towns together. Though she lived in NYC for 14 years, photographer/Business Manager Mary Gabbett's family has Georgia roots dating back 200+ years. Her great-grandfather was President of the Western Railroad of Alabama. Before moving to Atlanta in 1989, she fell in love with the North GA mountains, where her aunt owned a cabin. In 2010 she co-founded Green Global Travel, and has since traveled to more than 40 countries on six continents. Her photos have appeared in numerous travel publications (including National Geographic and Southbound) and various textbooks.