Right now
Right now as of Oct 28, 2026
- Permit Ticket required ($29.95 adult).
Status note (Oct 28, 2026): Open, with timed tickets sold online only. Holidays at Ruby Falls on Lookout Mountain runs November 27 to December 24, 2026. What the status labels mean
Ruby Falls is a waterfall deep inside Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, reached by a 260-foot elevator ride and a guided cave walk of just under a mile. It's a private attraction: timed-entry tickets are sold online only, and the standard Cave Walk costs $29.95 for adults in 2026. The cave stays about 60°F all year.
About Ruby Falls
Ruby Falls is unusual among America's famous waterfalls: you see it underground. In 1928 Leo Lambert was excavating an elevator shaft into Lookout Mountain when he came across a cave passage, and at its end, the waterfall. He named it after his wife, Ruby, according to Ruby Falls and Wikipedia.
Ruby Falls calls it the tallest underground waterfall open to the public in the United States. The operator does not publish a height, and published figures disagree (Wikipedia gives 85 feet), so we don't list one. What you'll see is a column of water falling from a dark ceiling into a pool, lit with colored lights.
The cave and the limestone Ruby Falls Castle, built in 1929 as the entrance building, are on the National Register of Historic Places, according to Ruby Falls. The operator says the cave served as a Civil Defense fallout shelter in the 1960s.
Ruby Falls also says it became the first U.S. attraction to earn Green Globe sustainability certification, in 2009.
Don't confuse it with Anna Ruby Falls, a pair of outdoor waterfalls in the Chattahoochee National Forest near Helen, Georgia.
Getting there and parking
Ruby Falls is at 1720 South Scenic Highway, Chattanooga, TN, on Lookout Mountain. Ruby Falls describes it as only minutes from downtown Chattanooga.
Parking is free on site, with some bus and RV spaces (large-vehicle space is limited), accessible parking for vehicles with a disability permit, and EV charging.
Arrive a little before your ticket time. If the elevator is out of service, guests may be bussed to another entrance, which can add 60 to 90 minutes, so check for notices on the day.
Ruby Falls, Rock City and Lookout Mountain
Lookout Mountain straddles the state line. Ruby Falls is on the Tennessee side, while Rock City is at 1400 Patten Road, Lookout Mountain, GA, according to lookoutmountain.com.
You can see both in one day. The Lookout Mountain attractions site says each attraction is separately ticketed, and the drive between them is about 15 minutes. We found no official combo ticket for Ruby Falls and Rock City.
Map and nearby falls
Map loads as you scroll. Open in OpenStreetMap
OpenPartly open / seasonalUnconfirmedClosedLarger map
The Cave Walk tour
After a 260-foot ride down in a glass-front elevator, a guide leads you through the cave on a paved but uneven path, just under a mile round trip. There are about 50 steps in short sets, narrow passages and some slopes. You walk past cave formations to the waterfall chamber and back on the same route.
The standard Cave Walk takes about 60 to 90 minutes. Specialty tours, including a lantern-lit tour, history and geology tours, and a gentle walking tour, run up to about two hours. Most visitors spend two to three hours at the site, including the overlook and Lookout Mountain Tower.
Photos are allowed in the cave as long as you keep pace with your group, according to the Ruby Falls FAQ. The Lantern Tour is for ages 10 and up.
When to visit
Because the waterfall is underground and the cave holds about 60°F year-round, Ruby Falls works in any season and in any weather. Ruby Falls is an option on rainy or very hot days. The falls are fed by rainwater seeping down through the mountain.
The site opens daily, with hours that change by season. A 2024 Ruby Falls fact sheet listed 8am to 8pm and closed December 25; current times are on the ticket calendar. Weekends, school breaks and holidays are busiest, according to Ruby Falls.
Holiday and winter events
Holidays at Ruby Falls on Lookout Mountain runs November 27 to December 24, 2026, according to Ruby Falls. It adds holiday lights around the outdoor plaza and activities in Ruby Falls Castle, including a Forest of Wishes.
You don't need a cave ticket to visit the historic café during the holiday event. Ruby Falls Discovery Day follows on December 30, 2026.
Ruby Falls' Halloween events (the Lantern Tour: Ghost Walk Edition and the off-site Dread Hollow haunt) end October 31 and November 1, 2026.
What to wear
Dress for about 60°F, the cave's year-round temperature. A light layer helps in summer, when the cave feels cool after the heat outside.
Wear closed shoes with grip. Ruby Falls does not recommend heels, sandals or backless shoes, because the cave floor can be damp and uneven.
Outdoor waterfalls nearby
For an outdoor waterfall on the same trip, see DeSoto Falls near Mentone, Alabama, or Fall Creek Falls in Tennessee.
| Trail | Guided cave walk, just under 1 mi round trip, after a 260-ft elevator ride |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Time needed | 60 to 90 minutes for the Cave Walk; 2 to 3 hours at the site |
| Entry fee | Cave Walk: adults $29.95, seniors 65+ $28.95, kids 4 to 12 $19.95, 3 and under free |
| Permit / reservation | Timed-entry ticket required (online only) |
| Parking | Free on-site lot |
| Hours / season | Open daily, with times that vary by season (check the ticket calendar); a 2024 Ruby Falls fact sheet lists it closed December 25 |
| Dogs | Service animals only in the cave; free seasonal outdoor kennels |
| Swimming | No (viewing only) |
| Wheelchair / stroller | The cave is not wheelchair or stroller accessible; overlook, plaza, shop and café are |
| Walk behind the falls | No |
| Restrooms | Yes, accessible restrooms on site |
| Best time to visit | Year-round; the cave stays about 60°F |
| Crowds | High; more than half a million visitors a year (Ruby Falls FAQ) |
| Managed by | Ruby Falls (privately operated attraction) |
Safety and swimming
There's no swimming or climbing; the waterfall is viewed from a platform on a guided tour. Wear sturdy, closed shoes, since the cave floor can be damp and uneven. You need to be able to stand and walk for about an hour and a half.
The cave is not accessible for wheelchairs or strollers. Stroller parking is provided at the elevator. Drones are not allowed. Pets and emotional support animals can't go in the cave; only trained service animals can.
Where to stay near Ruby Falls
Compare hotels, cabins and rentals close to the falls around Chattanooga.
See places to stay nearbyAffiliate link: we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Partners do not see or change our waterfall facts. Disclosure.
Photos
.jpg){kind=link}
Ruby Falls FAQ
How much are Ruby Falls tickets in 2026?
The standard Cave Walk to the Waterfall costs $29.95 for adults, $28.95 for seniors 65 and older, and $19.95 for children 4 to 12. Ages 3 and under are free. Specialty tours cost $40.95 to $42.95. Prices from rubyfalls.com, October 2026.
Can I buy Ruby Falls tickets at the door?
No. Tickets are timed-entry and sold online only, and walk-up tickets are not available on site. Time slots often sell out, so book ahead.
How long is the Ruby Falls tour?
The Cave Walk takes about 60 to 90 minutes and covers just under a mile round trip. Most people spend two to three hours at the site overall.
Is Ruby Falls wheelchair or stroller accessible?
The cave is not, because of narrow passages and about 50 steps. Blue Heron Overlook, the plaza, gift shop, café and restrooms are accessible, and there is stroller parking at the elevator.
Is Ruby Falls in Tennessee or Georgia?
Tennessee. Ruby Falls is at 1720 South Scenic Highway in Chattanooga, TN. Lookout Mountain crosses into Georgia, and nearby Rock City is on the Georgia side at 1400 Patten Road, Lookout Mountain, GA.
Can you see Rock City and Ruby Falls in one day?
Yes. Each attraction is separately ticketed, and the drive between them is about 15 minutes, according to lookoutmountain.com. Book your Ruby Falls time slot first, since tickets are online only.
What should I wear to Ruby Falls?
Closed shoes with grip and a light layer. The cave stays around 60°F all year, and Ruby Falls does not recommend heels, sandals or backless shoes.
How far underground is Ruby Falls?
You descend 260 feet by elevator to reach the cave passage, according to Ruby Falls. From there, a guided walk of just under a mile round trip leads to the waterfall.
Nearby waterfalls
DeSoto Falls35 mi straight-lineOpen104FT
Fall Creek Falls45 mi straight-lineOpen256FT
Little River Falls46 mi straight-lineOpen45FT
Rutledge Falls53 mi straight-lineOpen
Machine Falls55 mi straight-lineOpen60FT PLUS
Bald River Falls69 mi straight-lineOpen90FT
Amicalola Falls70 mi straight-linePartly open729FT
Burgess Falls72 mi straight-linePartly open136FT
City guides: Waterfalls near Blue Ridge, GA · Waterfalls near Chattanooga, TN
On these lists: Easy waterfall hikes
Sources
- Ruby Falls: Tickets
- Ruby Falls: Amenities and accessibility
- Ruby Falls: Our story
- Ruby Falls: Events (Holidays and Discovery Day 2026)
- Ruby Falls: Holidays at Ruby Falls
- Ruby Falls: FAQ
- Lookout Mountain Attractions: Plan your visit
- Ruby Falls 2024 fact sheet (PDF)
- Wikipedia: Ruby Falls
Last verified Oct 28, 2026 by The Waterfall Guide editorial team. Conditions change: confirm with Ruby Falls (privately operated attraction) before you go. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.