by Valerie_C

Lawrenceville, Georgia

March 5, 2010

Best of IgoUgo Ruby Falls is considered one of the "Must See" attractions in the Chattanooga area. If you're not claustrophobic, I highly recommend visiting this natural underground waterfall.Getting to Ruby Falls is easy - just fallow the signs. You drive up a ...Read more Ruby Falls is considered one of the "Must See" attractions in the Chattanooga area. If you're not claustrophobic, I highly recommend visiting this natural underground waterfall.

Getting to Ruby Falls is easy - just fallow the signs. You drive up a curving mountain road and really can't miss the towering building that serves as the entrance, ticket booth, souvenir shop and cafe. Parking is tricky, with small lots that fill quickly, but there are usually employees directing you to open spots. Head inside to buy your ticket. At this point, you'll probably have to stand in line - get used to it because the entire Ruby Falls experience feels like a shuffling line.

An elevator will take you down into the mountain. Make sure you visit the restroom before you head down - there's no restroom at the bottom and you'll be down there for about an hour and a half. Once at the bottom you'll have your picture taken and will watch a quick history video - then you head off.

The path to the falls is mostly just as nature made it. Some passageways are very narrow, with 6 foot ceilings, while others are wide with high ceilings. Watch your footing, as the ground is often wet. You'll pass a lot of natural features, such as stalactites and pools of water. Often, these features are designated with signs. The guide will point out that some of the signs are backward and not to look at them now. Take this advice. You return the same way you came in these will be your sights on the way back.

Like I said, you leave the way you came in - this means that you are constantly running into groups going the opposite way you are. There's not enough room for each groups to comfortable pass each other, and the exiting group ("survivors") has the right of way. This honestly gets annoying after a while because it seems like you are ALWAYS having to stop to let another group by. Just remember - on the way out they'll have to stop for you!

The water fall itself is the "cul-de-sac" of your journey. Your time in the cavern is on a timer - and it's not very long. Make use of your time in the falls. The lights will come on and light up the falls. You can walk behind them, which is neat. But, too soon really, you have to leave.

Once back above ground, you'll have a chance to purchase souvenirs or food at the snack bar. You can also climb to the roof of the building and see a great view of the Chattanooga area. Close

by ufgator1830

Gainesville, Florida

July 28, 2006

Best of IgoUgo Ruby Falls is the highest underground waterfall in the United States. It was discovered in 1928 by Leo Lambert while he was drilling a shaft to a lower known cave. (For more on the history of the cave, click here.) The original passageway from the ...Read more Ruby Falls is the highest underground waterfall in the United States. It was discovered in 1928 by Leo Lambert while he was drilling a shaft to a lower known cave. (For more on the history of the cave, click here.) The original passageway from the shaft to the waterfall was only about two feet high, but it was expanded to give people enough space to walk upright (you may still have to duck occasionally, especially if you’re over 6 feet tall). Many other changes have also been made to the cave to provide a more dramatic experience for visitors—lights, railings, and signs have been added, as well as speakers that constantly play music or a narrator’s voice.

In my opinion, the cave would be better without all the extra enhancements. It’s starting to seem more like a man-made tourist attraction than a natural wonder. The first two things you do after stepping into the cave are to watch a video and have your picture taken. Something else that takes away from the tour is the huge number of people in each group. Most of my time in the cave was spent standing and waiting or following directly behind someone else. Unless you're at the front of the group you don’t have a chance to get a very good look at any of the rock formations.

Although I found the tour to be a little disappointing, the waterfall itself is pretty amazing. I consider Ruby Falls a sight worth seeing, and it can be a good destination on a rainy day since it’s underground and unaffected by weather (driving up the mountain in a thunderstorm, however, might not be such a pleasant experience).

The Ruby Falls website has all kinds of useful information, including hours, ticket prices, and directions.
If you’re into haunted houses and spooky stuff, you might want to check out the Ruby Falls Haunted Cavern, which takes place in October.  Close

by vickiburton

Chattanooga, Tennessee

October 26, 2005

This popular attraction, open 364 days a year (closed on Christmas Day), takes you by elevator down into the caves that are so prevalent here. You'll see where the early Indians held their ceremonies and sometimes lived. The tour ends at "Ruby ...Read more This popular attraction, open 364 days a year (closed on Christmas Day), takes you by elevator down into the caves that are so prevalent here. You'll see where the early Indians held their ceremonies and sometimes lived. The tour ends at "Ruby Falls," the underground waterfall found deep within this mountain. After emerging from the underground wonder, the children can romp in the playground. Close

by MCJ graduate

German Valley, Illinois

May 31, 2005

Best of IgoUgo Just down Lookout Mountain from Rock City is Ruby Falls. It is a 145-foot waterfall which is 1,120 feet underground. Ruby Falls is the largest underground waterfall in America. You have to take an elevator down 260 feet to get you to the Ruby ...Read more Just down Lookout Mountain from Rock City is Ruby Falls. It is a 145-foot waterfall which is 1,120 feet underground. Ruby Falls is the largest underground waterfall in America.

You have to take an elevator down 260 feet to get you to the Ruby Falls Cave. After this, you walk a half-mile and stop and look at various stalactites before you see the waterfall. Once you get to Ruby Falls, you are in pitch darkness. Then all of sudden, there is an illumination of the falls. You will see various colors like ruby and plum blue highlighting the Falls and a reflecting pool. It is a spectacular view because of this, and it funnels 300 gallons of water per minute into a subterranean river.

In addition to the geological formations, the caverns, and the Falls, this place has a 10-story observation tower and Ruby Falls Fun Forest for children. Along with this, it can be considered a historical site as well. A section (off-limits to vistors) of another cave below Ruby Falls was supposedly utilized as a Confederate hospital, and another relic is Andrew Jackson’s signature etched into a rock down there.

Many believe that the name for the Falls, Ruby, was given to it because of the color ruby that illuminates it. This is not so. Instead, the man that discovered it, Leo Lambert, named the Falls after his wife Rube. Therefore, the Falls was named "Ruby Falls".

We really enjoyed this tour. We were fortunate because we only had about 15 people in our group. The caverns, the geological formations and Ruby Falls were all intriguing to view. The only thing that was annoying was that we were told by our guide to "hug" the sides of the caves so another group could get out.

The best advice I can give you for this tour is come right when it is opens or go just before it closes. In this way, you have a smaller tour group. This in turn will provide you longer time to view all the natural wonders. In addition, from what I was told by other tourists, the guides prefer smaller groups and thus will be in better spirits giving it.

The directions to Ruby Falls from downtown Chattanooga is as follows: Take Broad Street south and remain on it. You will go through several traffic lights. Then you proceed to the Railroad underpass. Then Broad Street becomes Highway 41. You then continue on Hwy 41 about 0.25 – 0.5 mile and you take the ramp on the left side of the Hwy labeled Ruby Falls.

A Ruby Falls ticket for adults is $12.95, and for kids, 3-12 is $5.95. But if you purchase a combo (includes both Ruby Falls and Rock City), an adult ticket is $24, and a child 3-12 is $12. And if you purchase a combo that includes Ruby Falls, Rock City, and the Incline Railway, an adult’s ticket is $33, and a child's ticket is $16.50.

 Close

by tina Haflett

Indianapolis, Indiana

August 10, 2004

Ruby Falls is America's highest underground waterfall.The entrance building looks like a castle. A short elevator ride takes you into the cavern. Inside the cavern there are stalactites and stalagmites. The walkway is four blocks and leads to the ...Read more Ruby Falls is America's highest underground waterfall.The entrance building looks like a castle. A short elevator ride takes you into the cavern. Inside the cavern there are stalactites and stalagmites. The walkway is four blocks and leads to the waterfall. The waterfall is 145 ft. tall. You can walk behind the waterfall and look straight up at it. Tickets are 12.95 for ages 13 and up. Ages 2-12 are 5.95. Under 2 is free. My kids loved inside the cavern and getting to walk behind the waterfall.  Close

by Coach Bear

Trenton, Illinois

April 11, 2003

Best of IgoUgo As you drive through Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and several other states you will pass signs advertising "Visit Ruby Falls." This I have done on at least 10 different occasions, usually when friends or family have come to visit. Most people that I ...Read more As you drive through Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and several other states you will pass signs advertising "Visit Ruby Falls." This I have done on at least 10 different occasions, usually when friends or family have come to visit. Most people that I know desire to see this wonder at least once, so I make sure that they have the opportunity.

The entrance of the cave can be obtained after taking the beautiful drive up historic Lookout Mountain. The views along the drive are very scenic, especially in the spring and autumn. My wife was pleased when she noticed that there are several antique stores that were passed. (She always enjoys stopping in the stores and looking at the antiques.) After a few miles (that seem to take hours to drive), you pull into the parking area and walk to the entry/gift shop to visit this natural wonder.

Tickets for a tour of the cave can be purchased for less than $10 per person. There is usually a short wait so that sufficient tickets for the tour can be sold, and then the tour group boards an elevator that whisks you down into the mountain to reach the cave level. The elevators open to allow access to the cave passage. Several quartz formations can be seen as the group heads toward the ultimate view on this trip. The tour guide takes the time to explain how several of these formations were formed.

Finally, as the group rounds a final corner, the lights are turned out. You can hear the roar of water cascading into the cave. The lights are relit; a torrent of water can be seen through the filtered lights. The red, blue, and green of the filters plays off of a 200 foot stream of water pouring from the roof of the cave into an opening in the floor. Visitors are given the opportunity to walk around and behind the falls. Eventually the group makes the return trip to the surface.

Each time that I visit this attraction I gain new insight into it. The first few visits bored me, but I have gained a greater admiration for this wonder of nature. This is a MUST SEE for every visitor who passes through the Chattanooga area.

 Close

by willow

Nicholls, Georgia

November 21, 2000

Best of IgoUgo If you suffer from claustrophobia, this attraction is not for you. An elevator takes you way-way down into the mountain. There are none of the usual cave formations, just solid rock. You walk a long tunnel to the open area which houses the falls. ...Read more If you suffer from claustrophobia, this attraction is not for you. An elevator takes you way-way down into the mountain. There are none of the usual cave formations, just solid rock. You walk a long tunnel to the open area which houses the falls. The amount of water coming from the falls varies, sometimes it appears to be no more than an open faucet. The lights go out, leaving you in total darkness , then a play of electrical lighting illuminates the falls. Ruby does not refer to a color nor a gem, it is a woman's name for whom the falls were honored. Small children tend to be bored with this attraction. I prefer my waterfalls above ground and caves with limestone formations. I have made multiple visits only because various visitors and family members have wanted to "SEE RUBY FALLS."  Close

by Christian

West Palm Beach, Florida

July 10, 2000

Ruby Falls known as 'The Jewel of Lookout Mountain' has its own natural beauty. Once you get past the man-made tower the beauty below the surface could be one of the natural wonders of the world. You will travel through a cool cave with its ...Read more Ruby Falls known as 'The Jewel of Lookout Mountain' has its own natural beauty. Once you get past the man-made tower the beauty below the surface could be one of the natural wonders of the world. You will travel through a cool cave with its calcite formations and possibly bats among the mist. Once you have reached your destination, the 145 foot waterfall beneath the earth is near breath-taking. The entrance fee is very minimal and this attraction is worthwhile.  Close