We stopped in during a girls weekend in Chattanooga. Part of the group did the zip lining. The staff there were very friendly and helpful. The zip lining was brief as there are only two runs. They extend the time to make it "worth it" by including a climbing wall. I'm honestly not sure that added a lot. We then did the cave tour, which felt really expensive for what it is.. Again, this feels really overrated to me. The cave has an absolutely horrible smell...it's like must or dust or something. By the end, I was completely stopped up. My biggest complaint overall is that the groups are way too big and the tour guides can't monitor the groups. People were touching things they are not supposed to, kids are running every which way, people are talking because they can't hear the tour guide, etc. And, the tour guide that we had kinda seemed to be making up facts as we went along. I think he was trying to make the story interesting/funny but it was neither. I can check this off the bucket list and feel good about never coming back. Honestly, watch some videos online and save the $$! This one is not worth it! read more

This is a must do if in the area. We did the standard hour long tour. I recommend buying your ticket online ahead of time as each tour is a timed entry. Because we didn't do this, we had a hour long wait. There is a decent size gift shop and a café where you can spend that time shopping or eating. The café has a decent sized menu of entrées or snacks and kiosks where you can order and then pick up your food at the counter when your name comes up on the screen showing your food's ready. There is a huge display showing the group that is departing and you can see it from the gift shop and café side. Each tour group consists of about 30 people. You take an elevator down to the cave, which is underneath the mountain. From there you walk sort of quickly through the paths and caverns to get to Ruby Falls. The group does not stop to take pictures along the way however, there are times where you can stop and take pictures, especially if you're not right at the front of the group. There are also times when you have to move to the right to allow other groups to pass you. There are tons of cool, stalactites and swag mites. Once you get deeper into the cave and there are cool rock structures and little pools of water along the way the falls are amazing. They're really high and there are lights that change color. They also offer other tours ones where you can spend more time taking pictures along the way and others where you can do in the dark that sound like fun. read more

I enjoyed visiting Ruby Falls. I recommend bringing a sweater since is 60 degrees all year round inside the cave. The time you spend at the fall is not a lot, but enough to take some beautiful pictures. I would've liked to be able to stay a little bit longer, but that's not possible since the visit is guided. PS: Bring some cash to tip the guide. I didn't bring any cash and felt bad for not living a tip. read more

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I thought the tour guide was excellent but the way they jammed people into the tour was ridiculous. The cave itself was beautiful and the waterfall amazing. We probably had 40 People on our tour. It was way too many for one group. We spent very little at the waterfall. Also, the intro video was boring and cheesy. It would have been better just to have the history from the guide. The audio cues were hard to hear over our obnoxiously loud group mates, who also lagged too far behind and kept the rest of us waiting. The groups should be limited to one elevator full, not three. This was way too commercial compared to what I experienced in the 1990s. We spent more time waiting to get in and out and for our group than the actual tour. For $30, it wasn't worth it. read more

Wow what amazing cave . We have done a lot of these tours around the country but I think it would be hard to beat ruby falls . The place is keep up vey clean in the gift shop and restaurant out side looks well land scape . Parking is free and easy to get in and out of . The tour in the cave was top notch and our guide Abram was great we had a small group just 10 in group , unlike other groups that had 30 . Abram was very knowledgeable and he tells jokes . Tour date was March 24 at 11:20 am good luck Abram in flying school read more

I've been to way better caverns than this . Never have I had to take a packed elevator with a miserable attendant. Once you get down you stand and wait. Most of those experience is standing and waiting for the groups that were ahead of you to make their way out. As you make your way through the caverns, more standing and waiting await as more groups pass you on their way out. Once you finally reach the falls you got about 5 minutes before you turn around and walk pass the same crap you just walked through only to wait on the only elevator you came down on. Terrible read more

Get your tickets ahead of time. We where just passing thru and decided to stop. Tours were delayed by 3-4 hrs only becuase of the rain the day prior caused flooding. We will be back tho! read more

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A Must-See With a Few Caveats Ruby Falls is absolutely stunning and well worth a visit while in Chattanooga. The waterfall itself is breathtaking--especially when the colorful lights illuminate the falls during the show. It's truly a one-of-a-kind sight deep underground. The tour was enjoyable and informative, highlighting the unique geological formations and the fascinating history of how the falls were discovered. However, it did feel a bit rushed. Our group size was quite large, which made it difficult to stop and take photos or fully appreciate some of the formations along the way. You'll definitely want to snap photos as quickly as you can because there's constant pressure to keep moving so others can catch up to the guide. Despite the pace, it was a great experience overall. The cave is beautiful, the history is intriguing, and the waterfall is unforgettable. I just wish the groups were a little smaller and the pace a bit more relaxed to allow everyone to soak it all in--no pun intended! read more

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This was a spectacular way to start off my trip to Tennessee. Hannah, our tour guide, was hilarious, and loved that we appreciated her work. The falls itself was beautiful, and I would have loved to stay there more than fifteen minutes, but, you take what you can get. Highly recommended. read more

I cannot say enough about the folks here. They are amazing and wonderful and they made it the opportunity for us to even attend and see such a beautiful site possible! I reached out when we got up to Chattanooga to see if it was even possible to get into a tour with one of my grandsons as a delay and he just doesn't move as fast as everyone else his age the other has a lot of sensory issues on board and the lady who set up our guide and tour was so helpful and professional, and went out of her way to really accommodate the children's needs to be able to actually see the falls and enjoy them . Our tour guide was knowledgeable understanding about my grandson's century issues and took the time to really get to know them. We went on a sensory tour before the opening of the park for the day and we had an amazing time and I will forever be grateful for all of their help getting things stabbed up. Everyone was so kind and so nice even though they came in early and on our guide guides day off to accommodate this tour literally everyone we met for it to be so early in the morning. It was so nice and so kind and so understanding you'll never forget a trip to the falls! read more

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Short guided walk to the falls. Awesome experience and worth the trip. Wear comfortable shoes and don't forget to tip your tour guide. There's a gift shop and restaurant on site. read more

Ruby Falls - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

The waterfall is so beautiful!! Our tour guide was so knowledgeable and excited about giving the tour.

Jaiden was our tour guide, very personable and funny! Made the experience worth every moment! The trail down is not too bad and there's a very cool video on its history! Thank you Jaiden for making this trip start off perfectly to the micro-step, from two Floridians, Thank You! read more

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Beautiful cave tour with light show at the falls. Gorgeous view of Chattanooga from the top of the castle. We have visited many caves in TN, KY and IN and this was the most crowded and popular by far. Single file lines throughout the cave and often having to "pull over" so other groups could pass. If you don't mind large groups in tight spaces, the hour walk to the falls is worth it. My 10 year old loved it too! read more

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Such an amazing sight to see! On our trip to Chattanooga, this place was a must-see. Maybe it's a tourist trap, but I certainly enjoyed it as I enjoy all things nature. It's not an expensive attraction but if you're claustrophobic, this ain't it for you. The elevator takes you down into the cave with your group. You walk through narrow passageways, all the while the tour guide is sharing tidbits of the history behind Ruby Falls. Sometimes there will be a returning group who has to cross the path going back up, so you're standing very close to each other-see the comment about being claustrophobic above. But the falls makes up for it and you remember why you came- to see this amazing underground waterfall! I'm not sure if I would go back since I've been once. But it's definitely worth it if you've never been and you're a nature fanatic like me! read more

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Great attraction. It was a good tour but a lot of people were there too. You experience a few I interruptions during the tour but nothing that bad. Lots of opportunities for photos and video clips. Nice souvenir shop at the end. read more

I recently was visiting friends in Tennessee and we stopped in at Ruby Falls. This is more of an attraction than hike to a waterfall as it is a paid entrance to a privately owned cave with a waterfall inside. There is parking and a gorgeous view and with your cave tour ticket you make climb to the lookout on top of the castle turret. Unbeknownst to me you must reserve a timed entrance to the cave with a tour guide. This did throw off our plans for touring only slightly (you can reserve online ahead of time or purchase via kiosks on the premises. Our guide was so friendly and fun but we did have trouble hearing him much of the time and that was disappointing as I was had paid to hear the tour and learn about the history of the cave. There was also a lot of waiting while groups passed each other that was fairly tedious and could be avoided with a different tour schedule. Many of the cave features have been compromised by previous visitors. Still a fun spot to visit however. read more

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My husband found this pit stop on the way to our Hilton Head vacation and I am so glad we stopped! What a unique experience. I love that it was also a cave tour but there were clear walkways and I only felt claustrophobic one time. My son loved that the rock formations had cute names like eggs and bacon or elephant foot. I would recommend this for a fun day trip! read more

Ruby Falls - Rock formations - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

Pricy for the tour but worth every penny. Tyler was an awesome guide. The experience at the fall is breathtaking. Watch your head, my hubby is 6'2" and cracked his head. His fault for not looking ahead. read more

Ruby Falls - At Ruby Falls - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

OK. It's pretty simple. Buy a timed session ticket. Take an elevator 250 feet below ground level. Walk 1/2 mile to Ruby Fall while your guide tells corny (and sometimes funny) jokes. Enjoy the falls and lightshow. Walk back to the elevator in a permanent 60 degree Fahrenheit environment while listening to more jokes, then back up to ground level. The tour takes about 90 minutes and is conducted at a very casual pace. There are interesting sights to see that are formed by nature during your tour, so you will not be bored. Everyone should do it at least once in their lifetime. Nature is the best! read more

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Cattle call! So disappointed! Big groups, ten minute intervals, keep it moving, make that money. My daughter and son-in-law kept telling me beforehand about how nice it was. At the end, they were sorry we went. The slow pace, dramatic musical build up before the falls are lit, walking behind the falls, time to enjoy things-all gone. It was spring break madness I experienced growing up in Fort Lauderdale. Maybe it's different in an "off season" setting. For us-total disappointment. read more

Charging $85 for 2 adults & a child to come through here..... take you for less than 1 full mile, taking 2 hours just for that distance? The name is incredibly misleading- there are NO rubies here. My family was intending to go to the place with rocks in the caves, this was not it. It was also not worth the experience & we will never return. They took our photos, eyes were closed & kids were not looking. They said "we are going to take your photos" then kept saying, "your photos will be there when you get back up" they handed us our photos, and said "that will be an additional $35" There was 1 photo that was good, we tried to take a picture of that because we weren't going to pay $35 for ONE photo. They said "no photos allowed" it costs $0.00 to mind your business, especially when you have signs everywhere that you "appreciate tips for exceptional service" They handed us a ticket and said it gives us access to an incredible tower, but when we got up they said "it is closed" Nothing about this experience nor service has been exceptional. We ordered coffee from the cafe, and the people behind the counters are repeatedly saying, "it keeps coming out clear!" It was the worst coffee I have ever tasted in my life, a truly sorry excuse. Got the white chocolate cold brew & the French vanilla cold brew. Took one sip and instantly said "oh Hell no" I will never return but the food did smell good, don't know if it is & will never find out read more

Ruby Falls - Rock - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

If you're on a road trip in Tennessee, you won't want to miss Ruby Falls! One of those quintessential roadside attractions, you might see a highway sign or two for Ruby Falls but don't let that turn you off, it's worth the hour or two of your time! But just be aware, you should make reservations online if you want to visit. Grab a parking space outside and head on over to the castle-like turret structure. Inside you'll grab your ticket and queue up in the gift shop. Rocks, anodes, trinkets, you'll likely run into a bunch of hyperactive school children milling about before your name gets called. Head down the hallway to an elevator and you'll be dropped 260' underground to the cool and moist caverns below. If you're claustrophobic, watch out! The passageways are not super narrow and the path is pretty flat but you may get the heebie-jeebies if you're not prepared. You'll pass a variety of interesting rock formations before you hit Ruby Falls, a 145' underground waterfall with music and lights to create a majestic presentation as a reward for the underground hike. You'll have five minutes or so for pictures and selfies before you head back out, past the incoming groups. Overall it's a fun, educational and entertaining visit that I'd do again. The guides are talented and will spin up some tales as you move underground. And yes, once the elevators did break down and people were stuck underground overnight but apparently now there's an emergency exit if another mechanical failure were to occur so fret not. Ruby Falls is certainly worth the time and money and you get to explore Chattanooga if you need more to do! read more

Ruby Falls - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

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Way, way too many people in our tour; the back of our group could neither see nor hear the guide. We spent far more time standing around waiting on other groups than doing anything else, and repeatedly had to flatten ourselves along the cavern walls to let other groups squish past. The time spent at the actual falls was too short, especially for what we paid. This tour should have taken half the time. read more

I had been too many caves in US but haven't been to one that has a waterfalls so on my way to Nashville from Atlanta, I had to make it on my list. It wasn't disappointed except for the tour is too short. Our tour guide " sorry couldn't remember the name but it was an old man. Maybe Dave?) has a time scheduled so he kept rushing the group to keep walking. It was so fascinating so we all had to stopped and looked Can't imagine to go down 26th floor down from the ground to see a waterfall. Amazing. Definitely a good choice to visit the Ruby Falls. read more

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What a beautiful and unique experience. My boyfriend and I took a trip to Nashville and decided to road trip to Chattanooga so we could visit Ruby Falls. Who wouldn't want to see an underground waterfall?! Everything was so organized and very well executed. We joined our tour not fully knowing what to expect but were constantly reassured about the safety of the excursion which seemed extra believable given the amount of children who also attended. Anyway, we used these nice elevators to descend to our starting point and walked the narrow and entertaining path that featured unique rock formations. When we eventually reached the waterfall, it was breathtaking! Well worth every penny and footstep. They even have an incredible light show setup in there to add a little razzle dazzle. After taking many photos and enjoying the ambience of the unbelievable sight, we made our way back to the lobby with our tour group. Before leaving, we grabbed a snack from their cafeteria and also visited their observatory which has a castle like feel to it. It was honestly such a great experience and I highly recommend going if you can! read more

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While it is very touristic , Ruby Falls is a mesmerizing underground waterfall, despite having only a five minute allotment to view. You descend 260 feet into the ground, while walking through narrow passageways. I thoroughly enjoyed the tour. However, there were several factors that attributed to the pleasant experience. Trinity, our tour guide was very lively & humorous making it a very energetic & fun tour. It is true that they rotate groups like clock work through the cave. With such narrow passageways, each group will have to stand to one side while the other passes. However, it's not a constant thing that's disruptive. You will proceed rather quickly, so get your pics in while you can. The maximum number in a group is 38 people, which is a lot! But, my recommendation is to book in advance online your preferred time slot. When it's closer to the day you book or even the day of you booked, check to see how many tickets are left in your group. That way you can see whether you're in a large group. If your schedule permits this time change, you can find another time slot that has only a few people in it. They allow you to switch your time slots either by calling or via your online portal. I was able to switch to the slot at a later time that only had a total of 11 people including us. It's better to call that way you can get real time booking. You can only purchase tickets online, although it's mentioned tickets can be purchased at the kiosk onsite. I would verify this though. I suggest trying to get in the front of the group, so you can hear the guide, otherwise you will have a challenge trying to hear, especially if you're in a large group. Plus being at the front of the group will ensure you will have time to take pics in front of the waterfall if in a large group. Ours was small so that wasn't an issue. Hint: If you want to be at the front of the group, board the elevator closer to the end of the group, so if you're the last one in, you'll be one of the first to enter the cave. Once you get to the waterfall it's dark, until the five minute light show comes on. In a way it's cool, but somewhat cheapening. There's no way you would see the waterfall if there wasn't any lighting. But at the same time it does make the waterfall look cool, even though it's turned into a show. Not going to lie, it was a WOW moment once the light came on and the waterfall appeared. I have been to Luray Caverns in VA but I enjoyed the caves of Ruby Falls more because it felt more "-adventurous" & exploratory, as well as the formations are really cool. Don't forget to check out the observation tower that's included in the admission price. I wouldn't necessarily say the view from there is spectacular, but check it out anyway. The tower doesn't have accessibility to the top, there's an elevator that leads to the second floor outside but the rest are only stairs to get to the actual top. There's a lot of parking close to the entrance & more across the street. There are plenty of clean bathrooms within the large gift shop & one in the cafe. There is food available in the cafe, however I didn't purchase anything there. There isn't public transportation to Ruby Falls so you will either need to rent a car or book a tour via a tour company. I would allow 2 hours at the least onsite when planning, including the tower. 2hr 15min - 2hr 30 min at the most. read more

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The history behind Ruby Falls is pretty cool to learn. Jim was an amazing tour guide and is very knowledgeable on our history tour. It's definitely worth the extra few bucks. Make sure you have on good walking shoes. You do a lot of walking. read more

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I love caves, so this was such an amazing experience! The only negative was that they had tours coming and going at the same time, which made things a bit uncomfortable at times in such close quarters. People would have to be up against the cave walls at times and "cozy" with strangers. But definitely worth it! read more

Ruby Falls - Ruby Falls - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

Ok, so this rating is really for what's at the end - Ruby Falls. The cave system is ok, but it's the falls that make it worth it. Choose your time and purchase tix on line. Check in desk is at the main building that also houses the cafe and gift shop. You'll walk around a mile or so total. The guide will crack corny jokes. If you are six foot or taller, mind the low slung ceiling in a few parts. The falls are a sight to see. If you're in the Chattanooga area, it's worth a trip. Not as overall spectacular as some cave systems, but the falls are unique. read more

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This is my second time visiting Ruby Falls and it's still just as breathtaking! The first time I visited Ruby Falls I wanted to give my kids an experience they would never forget they were 5 and 8 years old at the time and to my surprise here they are 18 and and 15 now and they wanted to revisit Ruby Falls ! Yay!! They were able to get a better understanding of course by them being older and again the underground waterfalls is an amazing sight! Exploring the caves and different rock formations is an experience as well. I like the fact that you view a video explanation of how Ruby Falls was discovered before your cave adventure begins. Definitely a great attraction! 5/5 check out my video, follow, and SYOY! read more

I SO wanted to love this tour. We got timed tickets on line which was no problem. A tour leaves every 20 minutes. When the time came, an announcement comes to go towards the elevator. We were stuffed like sardines into that elevator to descend. But I thought...oh the tour would be great with just this many people (about 12). When we got to the bottom, we were joined with others for a total of about 38. It is a large group, but it gets worse. Once we get started, we were rushed through the walkways! It felt like a sprint. We bypass lots of lit natural structures with signage, but we never stop or were provided narration. We were told to just keep moving. The only time we stop is to stand against the wall to let other outgoing groups walk by (this happened about 4 times). We get to the falls area which is dark. Once illuminated, it was beautiful (but smaller than I thought). This was IT! This was what we came for. But it shouldn't have been. We should have been allowed to enjoy the journey towards this destination. Overall the trip took 1.5 hours, but it felt so rushed! They need to further limit the number of people so it can be more enjoyable. I thought the price of $25 for an adult was exorbitant too. read more

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This is an amazing and Beautiful place to visit. The history is presented in an easy way that our youngest child was re telling the story. It moved a little fast for a big framed guy squeezing through the low tight spaces of the cave but it was great!!! read more

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From tour guide to the walk in the caves was truly wonderful. We enjoyed seeing the waterfalls it was nice to see natures creation and shop in the gift shop. read more

Ruby Falls - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

Had fun zip lining and walking the caves with our great tour guide katelyn greene (im sorry if I butchered your name) she was really nice and friendly and knowledgeable of ruby falls . Nice spot for a family get away together or a couples getaway . Nothing too fancy or expensive for that matter . Just enjoy the vibes take in scenery. It does feel a little commercially in regards to the experience but it's not that bad . If you're in the area it's something to do when there's nothing to do . I'd come back with family or something for sure . read more

Amazing!!! Never gets old! Must see if you are in the area or nearby! Make sure to wear sneakers or tennis shoes

Great place to visit a few times throughout the year and definitely take friends and visitors! They do a wonderful job with their holiday lights during different holidays. I wish the restaurant was more memorable, the view is incredible! read more

Trying to get on time to your scheduled slot is different, especially with the time zone change, and SO many stops to let exiting groups pass by. Our guide Kingston wasn't very enthusiastic like the other guides we overhead. Once we got to the fall it took a minutes for the light to come on and once it did seemed like it was on for 5 mins and then we left, we couldn't even get a group photos without others in it. It felt like it took an hour to get to the fall and 10 mins to exit. read more

What a wonderful place! So you drive up lookout mountain and Ruby falls is a waterfall inside a cave. You must buy tickets online or you can go inside and they have kiosks where you can purchase tickets. They have many tours running throughout the day, so there are plenty of times to choose from. Once inside you're taken by elevator down inside the cave. You'll have a tour guide to take you through and give you the history of the cave which has been open for public tours since the 1930s. The indoor waterfall is the end of tour then you're lead back to the front of the cave to leave. The waterfall is lit up with colors that change. Once your group session is over, they turn the lights off, so be sure to get some good pictures... I recommend being in the front of the line so once you reach the cave you can hurry and snap a photo before the rest of the group comes rushing in. The inside temperature of the cave is 60 degrees year round. You don't need a coat but a light jacket should be okay if you want, though it's not necessary. I'm 6'2 and had to squat at times to get throughout the cave but it wasn't an unpleasant experience. I mean, you're in an underground cave so ducking is necessary but you won't have to do any crawling. There's a cafe on site to eat if hungry and a gift shop to buy souvenirs. Upon exiting the tour, they have your pictures for sale. I recommend climbing to the top of the tower for a nice view of the city. They have ziplining nearby as well but I'm not sure if it's affiliated with the company who runs the tours. Get here soon! I think you'll like it. read more

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I went here by myself when I was exploring Tennessee a couple years ago and it was on my bucket list because it was a cavern with a waterfall! It did not disappoint! The tour guide was very informational and they allowed me to do a walk-in for the next tour. Supposedly this was built for a woman as a gentleman was exploring. read more

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