Right on the border between Tennessee and Georgia, you’ll find the bustling little city of Chattanooga, Tennessee. It’s tucked in next to a bend in the Tennessee River and sits in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.
Now, Chattanooga is a destination in and of itself, but many people come to the area because they want to visit Ruby Falls. In fact, Ruby Falls is often cited as one of the top ten attractions in the Southeastern part of the United States.
If that’s piqued your interest, you’re not alone. In this post, we’ll cover the basics of Ruby Falls and what makes it such a popular attraction for locals and visitors alike.
About Ruby Falls
Ruby Falls is found at the base of Lookout Mountain. It’s home to an extensive underground cave system called the Lookout Mountain Caverns. In fact, Ruby Falls is the name of the main waterfall found in this cave system. If you never thought you could see waterfalls underground, you’re in for a treat!
The falls itself can be found at the end of one cavern that follows a stream which runs over 1100 feet underground. Ruby Falls is fed by this stream and the waterfalls approximately 145 feet into the cavern below.
To say it’s pretty spectacular is an understatement!
The falls were only discovered in 1928 by a group of excavators. The lead man, Leo Lambert, named the newly discovered falls after his wife, Ruby. Just two years later, the falls were officially open to the public.
Ruby Falls has been entertaining visitors to the Chattanooga area for over 85 years.
Things to Do
Of course, visiting Ruby Falls is going to be the main attraction, but there are plenty of other exciting things to do in the area too.
For incredible views of the Tennessee River Valle, climb to the top of the Lookout Mountain Tower. It looks like a castle and is beautiful on a clear day.
If you’re a bit more adventurous, you’ll want to check out the zip line experience! Choose your skill level and then navigate through a series of obstacles that include 700 feet of zip line. There are options with this that are child-friendly too so that the kids can participate.
Getting There
Ruby Falls ©amadeustx / Big Stock Photo
To reach Ruby Falls, head to Scenic Highway 148, just minutes from downtown Chattanooga. It’s just about 2 hours from Atlanta via Interstate 75 and Nashville via Interstate 24.
Ruby Falls is open daily except for Christmas Day from 8 am to 8 pm. Visitors can enjoy a classic waterfall tour daily. Or, during specific times of the year, you can sign up for special tours and experiences.
Also, the falls are a perfect choice to visit year round. Since you never need to worry about the weather. Ruby Falls is always a balmy 60 degrees once you’re underground!
If you want to check out one of the truly spectacular natural gems of America, you don’t want to miss a visit to Ruby Falls. If you’re out of town and planning a visit, take a look at HotelCoupons.com for the best lodging deals- just type “Chattanooga” in the search bar.
