One-tank trip: Ruby Falls

Originally published on Dec. 6, 2007

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Ruby Falls is located inside Lookout Mountain.

CHATTANOOGA, TENN. — If you enjoy the view of rolling hills and North Georgia mountainside, driving to Ruby Falls at Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga is a treat in itself. That’s topped, when you arrive, with a panoramic view of portions of Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. One of the trip’s highlights, though, is a visit to Ruby Falls.

A lucky find

Ruby Falls is a 145-foot-high waterfall located 1,120 feet beneath the surface of Lookout Mountain. It was discovered in 1928 by Leo Lambert, a cave explorer who was trying to drill an elevator shaft 420 feet into the mountain.

Lambert had hoped to reopen Lookout Mountain Cave, which was closed to the public. While working on the shaft, his workers found an opening 260 feet below the mountain’s surface. They crawled through the narrow passage for hours, passing natural limestone formations, and discovered the waterfall.

Lambert named the falls after his wife, Ruby.

Into the dark

To reach the falls, visitors must walk through Ruby Falls Cave for a half-mile. It’s not the ideal journey for claustrophobes — at least not at first. The narrow, winding path and low ceilings inside the dimly lit cave are bound to conjure up images ranging from “Gulliver’s Travels” to the TV series “Lost.”

Part of the fun is trying to spot images of faces, animals and fish carved by nature into the soft limestone. Great stalagmites rise from the floor, resembling cactuses or candles; stalactites hang from the ceiling, looking like icicles or crystal chandeliers. Sometimes the two grow into each other, creating columns.

What: Ruby Falls is open daily 8 a.m.-8 p.m., except Dec. 25.

Where: Ruby Falls is at 1720 S. Scenic Highway, Chattanooga.

Directions: Take I-75 North toward Chattanooga. Continue on I-24 West to the U.S. 27 North exit 178. Take the Market Street toward U.S. 41; Take the ramp toward U.S. 11 / Lookout Mountain. Turn right onto Long Street. Turn left onto Broad Street. Then left onto South Scenic Highway

More info: Visit www.rubyfalls.com or www.lookoutmountain.com, or call 423-821-2544.

Admission: Cost is $14.95 adults; $6.95 children ages 3-12; free for children 2 and younger. Parking is free.

Other Lookout Mountain attractions:

Rock City. This venerable tourist attraction at the top of Lookout Mountain features ancient rock formations, an 180-foot-long swinging bridge, more than 400 native plant species and a deer park. www.seerockcity.com.

The Incline Railway. It’s claimed to be the steepest passenger railway in the world. Visitors can see as far as 100 miles away as they travel from St. Elmo Station at the foot of the mountain to the observation deck up top at Lookout Mountain Station. Call 423-821-4224 for information.