Chattanooga: Ruby Falls Cave Tour

When visiting Chattanooga, one of the most popular attractions is the Ruby Falls Cave Tour. The Ruby Falls tour dates back to 1930, almost 100 years! The tour has changed through the years, but it always includes a visit to the underground waterfall. After the tour, climb the stairs to the top of the castle for great views of Chattanooga. Or, add on to your adventure at the Ruby Falls zipline on top of the mountain.

What is the Ruby Falls Cave Tour?

Ruby Falls was discovered by Leo Lambert, a chemist from Indiana who had heard the folklore about Lookout Mountain Cave as a young man.

Determined to find the cave, he raised capital and hired a crew to dig an elevator shaft down to where the cave should be. About 220 feet down, the crew felt a rush of fresh air coming from a crevice in the rock.

The team stopped digging, and instead, crawled through narrow stone fissures and eventually discovered the underground waterfall that still attracts visitors today.

The waterfall, named Ruby Falls after Leo’s wife, drops 90′ into a pool at its base. Leo Lambert opened the cave and waterfall to tours on June 6, 1930. Today’s tours include a bit better lighting, benches to rest along the way and stories about Leo Lambert and his beloved wife, Ruby — with some corny jokes thrown in here and there.

The Ruby Falls Cave Tour begins with an elevator ride 264 feet down into the mountain. Guides take guests along lit stone paths past stalactites and stalagmites to the waterfall. Roundtrip, it’s about a one mile walk that includes stairs, uneven floors and, in a few spots, slippery walkways.

Without giving away too much, these are some of the highlights of the Ruby Falls Cave Tour.

Throughout the tour, you’ll see stalactites and stalagmites typical of what you’d see in any other large cave system. One of the funniest was “Donkey,” which made our entire group chuckle.

One of my favorite parts of the tour was the Hall of Dreams, nicknamed as such because Ruby would nap on the ledges during tours. Who wouldn’t love a hidden napping spot like this?

While you can no longer take naps in the cave, getting to see where Ruby hung out is a quirky fun thing to do in Chattanooga.

Considered the oldest formation in the Ruby Falls Cave, the Leaning Tower is believed to be three million years old. It grows by half an inch every one hundred years. And look to the left. Can you see the turtle?

There’s lots more to see along the way, but of course, the waterfall is the main attraction. Take time to enjoy the lightshow!

How much is the Ruby Falls tour?

Current ticket prices (2025) for Ruby Falls are:

• Adults: $28.95,
• Kids (4-12): $18.95,
• Senior (65+ with ID): $27.95,
• Kids 3 and younger, FREE.

As of this writing, I could not find discount tickets for Ruby Falls, but they are sometimes offered on Groupon, so check it out!

How long is the Ruby Falls Tour?

The Ruby Falls Cave Tour is about a mile long, sometimes across uneven walkways.

It takes just over an hour from start to finish. They have added benches along the way for those who need to rest.

What are the Ruby Falls Tour Times?

Tours are scheduled throughout the day. In summer (high season), tours are offered from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and depart from the lobby every ten minutes.

Tickets must be purchased online for your desired time slot. Ruby Falls staff recommend arriving at least 15 minutes before your scheduled tour time as they cannot hold tours for late arrivals.

What are some tips for visiting Ruby Falls?

If you have been on other cave tours, the Ruby Falls waterfall is what makes this one different. The Ruby Falls tour is a great option for a rainy day or if you have a few hours and want something a little different. Just check online to make sure tickets are available before you go.

Go early morning or at dinnertime to avoid crowds!

Our tour was earlier in the day, and we had a small tour group. We passed a couple of later groups and they were much larger. The people at the back could hear the guide, but they could not see what the guide was explaining.

When possible, book a tour before 9:30 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m. and enjoy that small group experience.

Not recommended for people who have mobility issues.

While Ruby Falls has made significant improvements such as hand rails and stairs, this cave is not suitable for the mobility impaired. The floor is sometimes uneven and wet and the low light can make it hard to see uneven spaces.

Ruby Falls recommends that you be steady on your feet and able to stand comfortably for 90 minutes to take the tour. The tour guides do a great job pointing out uneven floors, though. So, if you’re steady on your feet, this isn’t a difficult walk.

While it’s not a difficult path, walkers and wheelchairs will not fit in the cave. Some areas are really tight. I even told my husband a few times that I wouldn’t like it if I had a significant issue with claustrophobia.

If you’re traveling with someone in a wheelchair, there are accessible areas including: Blue Heron Overlook, Village Plaza, Hospitality Center, Village Gift Shop, Back Porch, restrooms, Castle Cafe, Ruby Falls Castle and the Castle front porch.

Dress appropriately for the cave tour.

The temperature inside the Ruby Falls cave is about 60 degrees year-round, so a jacket or hoodie is recommended. And, because the pathways are wet and uneven, comfortable, close toed shoes with sturdy soles are recommended. This is not the best place for those fancy heels or flip flops!

Allow enough time to enjoy the property.

The main attraction is the cave tour, but there is a lot to do at Ruby Falls. So, allow 90 minutes for the waterfall cave hike. Then allow extra time to take in the views from Lookout Mountain Tower and the Blue Heron Overlook or to enjoy a snack. Allow a minimum of two hours to enjoy the views!

Zipline Ruby Falls!

Leo Lambert dug deep (literally) and established Ruby Falls as a kitschy tourist attraction. Today’s visitors can explore above ground as well with the High Point ZIP Adventure at Ruby Falls.

Ruby Falls Ziplining on Lookout Mountain takes you through the treetops above Chattanooga. There’s no better way to see the scenic city views! There’s also a 40 foot climbing tower with multiple routes to conquer, all included for the same price.

Guidelines for Ruby Falls ziplining and the climbing tower:

• All participants on the zipline must weigh between 60 and 275 pounds.
• All participants on the climbing wall must weigh between 35 and 275 pounds.
• All participants must sign a waiver.
• Participants must wear shirt, pants or shorts (longer is better for personal comfort with straps), shoes with a heel strap (NO FLIP FLOPS or crocs) and long hair needs pulled back.
• Most guests spend about an hour at the zipline and climbing tower.

The zipline at Ruby Falls is open seasonally and hadn’t opened during our visit, but we really enjoy zipline tours. Tickets for the 2025 season are $21.95 for all participants.

What is the Ruby Falls Lantern Tour?

The Ruby Falls Lantern Tour is a special tour offered only on Friday evenings at 9:30 p.m.

The Ruby Falls Lantern Tour allows guests to explore the cave and waterfall by the light of hand-held lanterns, much like it would have been when Leo Lambert first discovered the cave. The tour allows extra time at the waterfall in an intimate, small group at a leisurely pace.

This Ruby Falls Tour is offered to ages five and above only. It starts at 9:30 p.m. and goes until about 11:00 p.m., so consider your kiddos late night stamina before booking! I don’t think my kids would have handled this well until about age eight.

Advance purchase tickets are required. With limited tickets, the Ruby Falls Lantern Tour regularly sells out.

The Ruby Falls tour is an easy cave to visit on your Chattanooga getaway. There’s plenty of parking, and it’s very organized. While it is a bit pricey for the length of the tour, it’s not every day you can see an underground waterfall!