Discover Ruby Falls — Tennessee’s Breathtaking Underground Waterfall

Ruby Falls is the tallest and deepest underground waterfall inside the historic Lookout Mountain just outside Chattanooga, Tennessee. This stunning waterfall has a 145-foot drop and is open for guided tours. Visitors are escorted down 260 feet in a glass-front elevator before embarking on a half-mile guided walk to the breathtaking falls. Below is a guide to Ruby Falls, which includes its history, geography, geology, and what to expect when visiting the falls.

History of Ruby Falls

The cave that Ruby Falls sits in is part of Lookout Mountain Cave, one of the longest caves in the USA. This cave has nearly 2.5 miles of mapped passage. The cave has a natural entrance near the Tennessee River. People have been using this horizontal entrance since the Ice Age, proven by the Pliocene bones found in the cave. Lookout Mountain cave was mined for potassium nitrate, which is used to make gunpowder. Additionally, this cave was transformed into a makeshift hospital during the Civil War. During its time as a hospital, the President of the United States, Andrew Jackson, visited and signed the walls because he was so impressed.

But, the most notorious visitor to Lookout Mountain Cave was Leo Lambert. He played in the cave as a child, but when a tunnel was built through the mountain, they sealed the natural entrance, making his playground inaccessible. However, as an adult, Leo decided to return to his beloved playground, and in 1928, he convinced investors to help him build an elevator shaft to the main passage. And, as unbelievable as it sounds, the project went ahead. Laborers managed to dig 5 feet down each day, and once they reached the 260-foot mark, something amazing happened. The laborers had drilled into a void that led to the mesmerizing Ruby Falls.

Geology and Geography of Ruby Falls

Because Ruby Falls sits in Lookout Mountain, they share the same geology. The mountain is a narrow, long ridge that runs 80 miles through parts of Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. Lookout Mountain was formed 200 million years ago from limestone accumulated from organic matter and marine fossils scattered on the bottom of ancient oceans. However, the limestone eroded over time, resulting in the caverns and caves within the mountain. And Ruby Falls Cave forms part of these well-known caverns.

Furthermore, the cave supports a variety of rock formations, including stalagmites, columns, and stalactites. Some formed millions of years ago by the slow dripping of water rich in minerals. There are also several underground pools and streams in the cave that play host to unique cave-dwelling animals.

Experience Ruby Falls

To get the full experience, visitors to Ruby Falls in Tennessee go on a guided tour deep into the caves of Lookout Mountain, just outside Chattanooga. Guests get to witness the underground beauty of the falls, and tours are led by enthusiastic and experienced guides who share interesting facts about the falls’ history, geology, and significance. But first, visitors need to descend into the caves in an elevator, dropping 140 feet below the surface. Once the elevator arrives at the cave, guests must walk through a series of chambers and tunnels consisting of unique rock formations before arriving at the thundering falls. There is something special about a waterfall underground in a cave, and the adventurous journey to get there, which is what attracts so many tourists each year.

The caves are open 7 days a week, except on Christmas, December 25^th. However, the schedule varies depending on the season. But, there are several tours a day, and guests can book their tickets online. And if you suffer from claustrophobia, there are other popular attractions in the area, including the Battles for Chattanooga Museum and the Incline Railway.

What to Expect When Visiting Ruby Falls

The size of the group on the guided tours can vary depending on the season. However, one guide can take a maximum of 20 people. When walking through the caves to get to the falls, visitors experience various geological formations formed over millions of years. They are colorful, and there are boards in front of them with descriptive names like Tobacco Leaves, Crystal Chandelier, Angel Wings, and Donkey (it actually looks like a donkey’s rear end). In fact, the oldest rock formation in the Ruby Falls caves is a wide column. They call it The Leaning Tower, which dates back three to five million years.

Due to the narrow walkways between the rock formations, you often share a path with other tourists. Therefore, these caves are not suitable for people who have claustrophobia. This especially applies during the busy season, as the elevator and cave get very crowded. Tours have to walk for around half an hour before hearing two sounds, which means the falls are nearby. One is the thundering of rushing water coming from Ruby Falls, and the other is a dramatic crescendo of dreamy music.

As visitors enter the main chamber, they light the waterfall up in vivid colors of purple, pink, and blue, making it look like an underground wonderland. However, you only have a certain amount of time to take photos and marvel at the breathtaking falls before the lights go out in wait for the next tour. Once the lights go out, guests can browse through the gift shop before heading to the Lookout Mountain Tower, offering spectacular views of the Tennessee River and Chattanooga.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Andrew Schmidbauer/Shutterstock.com