Everyone Says Ruby Falls Is a Tourist Trap. I Went Anyway.
If you’re planning a trip to Chattanooga, Ruby Falls is at the top of almost every “things to do in Chattanooga” list. Plenty of people write it off as a tourist trap, and I get it. I went in thinking: it’s an underground waterfall, how great could it really be?
After taking the Ruby Falls cave tour, I can confidently say it’s one of those things you need to see to believe, but probably only once.
Before you let the tourist trap reviews talk you out of going, here’s what to expect on the Ruby Falls cave tour and what you should know before booking your tickets.
Quick Answer: Is the Ruby Falls Cave Tour Worth It?
Tour: Classic Cave Walk to the Waterfall
Tour Type: Guided cave tour
Time Needed: About 90 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Ticket Cost: $29.95 adult/ $28.95 senior, includes access to the Lookout Tower
Temperature: 60°F inside the cave
Best For:
Not Ideal For:
My verdict: The Ruby Falls cave tour feels like a rite of passage for first-time visitors to Chattanooga. While I wouldn’t rush back for a second visit, the underground waterfall is impressive enough that I’m glad I saw it.
What Is Ruby Falls?
Ruby Falls is an underground waterfall located 1,100 feet inside Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It holds the title of the tallest and deepest underground waterfall open to the public in the United States, standing 145 feet tall.
The falls were discovered in 1928 by Leo Lambert, who named it after his wife and high school sweetheart, Ruby. Lambert had originally set out to find a different cave. But when he and his team broke through to an undiscovered cavern and found the waterfall, he named it on the spot.
Today, Ruby Falls is one of Tennessee’s most visited attractions, drawing more than 500,000 visitors each year.
What to Expect on the Ruby Falls Cave Tour
As someone who hasn’t been in many caves before, I had no idea what to expect on the Ruby Falls cave tour. Here’s a full breakdown of what it’s like.
Arrival and Check-In
Parking is free, which blows my mind as someone who lives in LA where parking is rarely free. We arrived a few minutes early, which gave us just enough time to use the restrooms before heading down. Don’t skip this step. There are no bathrooms inside the cave, and you’ll be down there for 90 minutes. And all that running water from the waterfall won’t help.
Tickets are only available online, so you’ll need to have yours before you arrive. To check in, you walk through the gift shop and then through the hallway that says “Cave Tours” above it.
Group Size
My group had 16 people, which our guide said was on the smaller side. Groups can get as large as 50, which I can’t imagine in a cave. If crowd size matters to you, booking an early weekday tour is your best bet. Our group also didn’t have any children, which I attribute to the early start.
Our guide also designated me the official caboose of the group, a role I took seriously and was paid for with multiple rounds of applause. My job was to make sure nobody got left behind (I maintain a 100% success rate), but it also gave me the perfect excuse to linger and take people-free photos of the cave.
Walking Through the Cave
The tour starts with a 30-second ride in a glass-front elevator 260 feet down into Lookout Mountain. There’s a professional photo op on the way in if you want a souvenir shot. (Yes, I did end up buying them.)
Once you’re at the bottom, the guide kicks things off with a 5-minute video about Leo Lambert, the chemist turned cave explorer who discovered Ruby Falls. It’s a little cheesy, but it sets up the history well enough.
From there, you walk 2/5 of a mile through the cave to reach the waterfall. There are 36 stairs, some low ceilings, and surfaces can be uneven, wet, and slick in spots, so wear shoes with decent grip.
Ruby Falls also has its version of Fat Man’s Squeeze, but it’s nothing compared to the one at Rock City Gardens. If you’re worried about tight spaces, my dad was too. He said he felt completely fine throughout the tour.
The cave has come a long way from what Leo Lambert belly-crawled through nearly 100 years ago. If you’re expecting a rugged cave adventure, this isn’t it. The walking path is well lit, and designed to handle hundreds of visitors a day. Purists may find it a little commercialized, but for first-time cave visitors, it makes the experience a lot easier and enjoyable.
Regardless of where you fall on the cave enthusiast spectrum, the formations are still fascinating. Look for the ones named Tobacco Leaves, Bacon, Potato Chip, Steak and Potatoes, and Elephant Foot. Western Sunset and the Mirror Pool were my favorites.
And if you think walking through a cave sounds boring, it’s not. The guides are all really funny. I overheard one telling his group: “Watch your head. For some reason they put speed bumps on the ceiling.”
One warning before you get too deep into the cave: don’t drink the water. The guide mentioned it contains four times the laxative properties of regular water. You’ve been warned.
The Waterfall Experience
By the time you reach Ruby Falls, you’re 1,100 feet underground and have walked 2/5 of a mile. The guide leads your group into a larger room, and then the light show begins.
I was recording when the first bright light hit the waterfall, and the entire group audibly gasped. It’s one of those moments that’s hard to oversell. The light show cycles through colors: red, green, pink, blue, white, over about five minutes. It’s not elaborate production-level stuff, but the waterfall itself is impressive enough that it doesn’t need to be.
You spend about five minutes at the waterfall before the group moves on. At first, that sounded short to me, but it was enough time to take photos, watch the light show, and appreciate the scale of the waterfall. (And really, you can only stare at falling water for so long.)
Photography is allowed, including flash, so have your phone ready before you walk in.
Can’t Decide Between Ruby Falls and Raccoon Mountain Caverns?
I visited both during the same Chattanooga trip, and they offer very different experiences. Find out which one is right for you.
Tips for Visiting Ruby Falls
Book your tickets in advance. Ruby Falls sells out, sometimes days ahead. Tickets are only available online through the Ruby Falls website, so don’t wait until you’re standing in the parking lot.
Go early on a weekday. The difference between an early weekday tour and a weekend afternoon is significant. Smaller groups, fewer kids, and a much more relaxed experience overall.
Wear comfortable shoes with grip. The walking path can be uneven at times as well as wet and slick in spots. Leave the flip-flops in the car.
Bring a light layer. The cave stays at 60 degrees year-round. Lightweight pants and a jacket are plenty, though you may not need either if you tend to run warm.
Use the restroom before you go down. There are no bathrooms in the cave. Plan accordingly.
Don’t drink the water. The guide will warn you, but it bears repeating. The water in the cave contains four times the laxative properties of regular water. You’ve been warned twice now.
Ruby Falls FAQs
Before you book the Ruby Falls Cave Tour, here are answers to some of the questions I see come up most often.
Do you have to buy Ruby Falls tickets in advance?
Yes. Tickets are sold online only through the Ruby Falls website and often sell out, sometimes days in advance. If you know when you want to visit, it’s best to book as early as possible.
How long does the Ruby Falls cave tour take?
The Classic Cave Walk to the Waterfall lasts about 90 minutes. If you also visit the castle and lookout tower at the top, budget an extra 10 to 15 minutes.
What should you wear to Ruby Falls?
The cave stays at 60°F year-round, so bring a light layer. Lightweight pants and a jacket are plenty. More importantly, wear shoes with good grip since parts of the walking path can be wet and slick.
Can you take pictures at Ruby Falls?
Yes. Photography is allowed throughout the tour, including flash photography. Have your phone or camera ready before entering the waterfall room since the light show moves quickly.
Is Ruby Falls accessible?
The walking path is well lit, but there are some stairs, narrow passages and uneven surfaces throughout the cave. Accessibility accommodations and requirements can change, so check the Ruby Falls website directly for the most up-to-date information before booking.
Is the Ruby Falls Cave Tour Worth It?
If you’re visiting Chattanooga for the first time, yes, the Ruby Falls Cave Tour is worth it. But it’s one of those experiences where you leave and say, “I’m glad I saw it, but I don’t need to do that again anytime soon.” In fact, I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what my dad said.
That’s not a dig at Ruby Falls at all. It’s a well-run tour that ends with a beautiful underground waterfall. But once you’ve seen it, you’ve seen it.
Planning a Trip to Chattanooga?
There’s more to Chattanooga than caves. I’ve put together the best things to do, where to stay, and where to eat along the way.
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