Recently I’ve been going out quite frequently. Last week, I drove north along I-75 from Gainesville via Atlanta to Nashville, the capital of Tennessee. The next day, I headed south to Ruby Falls, located on the border between Tennessee and Georgia. What was quite interesting is that there is a one-hour time difference along this route, so I got to experience the transition between standard time and daylight saving time again. Ruby Falls is somewhat similar to the underground limestone caves in Yishui. However, the underground waterfall at the end is quite distinctive. There is no boat ride inside the cave; you simply walk for a while before reaching the waterfall. The waterfall is illuminated with many colored lights, and you have to take photos quickly because the main lighting only lasts for a short time.
Ruby Falls
Waterfall height
Plan your visit to Ruby Falls
Please verify on the official website before you go
Why is Ruby Falls famous?
Ruby Falls is famous as the tallest and deepest underground waterfall open to the public in the United States, discovered in 1928 by Leo Lambert during excavation of an elevator shaft. It has been a major tourist attraction since 1929 and is named after Lambert's wife, Ruby.
Can you swim at Ruby Falls?
No — Ruby Falls is a deep underground waterfall inside Lookout Mountain, not accessible for swimming. Please verify on the official website before you go.
Are dogs allowed at Ruby Falls?
Pets are not permitted inside the Ruby Falls cavern. Please verify on the official website before you go.
Is Ruby Falls free? Do you need a permit?
Paid admission required; ticket prices vary by tour type and age (general admission typically around $30-40 for adults). Reservations are recommended. Please verify on the official website before you go.
Is there parking at Ruby Falls?
On-site parking is available at the Ruby Falls visitor center and is included with admission. The parking lot accommodates cars and tour buses, and the cave entrance is a short walk from the lot. Please verify on the official website before you go.
How long is the hike to Ruby Falls?
No hike required — Ruby Falls is accessed via an elevator descent of 260 feet, followed by a guided cave walk of approximately 1.2 km / 0.75 miles round trip on paved pathways inside the cavern. Please verify on the official website before you go.
Ruby Falls hike difficulty
Easy — the underground cave tour follows paved, well-lit pathways with handrails, though there are some stairs and uneven surfaces inside the cavern. Please verify on the official website before you go.
When is the best time to visit Ruby Falls?
Year-round access as it's an indoor attraction with climate-controlled cave tours, though spring and fall offer milder weather for other outdoor activities on Lookout Mountain. Please verify on the official website before you go.
Route and trail notes for Ruby Falls
Access is via guided tour only. Visitors take an elevator 260 feet down into Lookout Mountain, then follow a guide along a paved underground pathway through cavern formations for approximately 0.6 miles to reach the 145-foot underground waterfall. The tour is one-way in, then returns the same route back to the elevator. Tours last approximately 1-1.5 hours total.
Ruby Falls official website
Attractions near Ruby Falls
- •Rock City Gardens — botanical garden and geological formations atop Lookout Mountain
- •Lookout Mountain Incline Railway — steep funicular railway, one of the world's steepest
- •Tennessee Aquarium — major freshwater and saltwater aquarium in downtown Chattanooga
- •Point Park and Lookout Mountain Battlefield — Civil War historic site with panoramic views
- •Raccoon Mountain Caverns — additional cave system with wild cave tours and gemstone mining
Safety information
Waterfalls can be unforgiving. Read these before you go — and please, use your judgement on the day.
Full safety guide →Questions & answers
No questions yet — be the first to ask.
More to explore nearby
Fall Creek Falls
Pikeville, Tennessee
Tennessee's highest free-falling waterfall.
Cane Creek Falls
Pikeville, Tennessee
Wide cascade in Fall Creek Falls State Park.
Burgess Falls
Sparta, Tennessee
Four-cascade hike in Middle Tennessee.
Cummins Falls
Cookeville, Tennessee
Tiered waterfall with popular swimming hole.