A Guide to Savoring Springtime on
Lookout Mountain

April 8, 2024

Springtime in Chattanooga is the ultimate reward for making it through the final months of winter…and it’s glorious! Spring in the Scenic City brings songbirds, show-stopping cherry blossoms, and our rolling hills and mountains are blanketed in tapestries of green. Colorful bursts of wildflowers and Redbuds seem to give a standing ovation to longer daylight hours while soft breezes invite us outdoors before springtime melts into the summer heat. This short season is magical. 

If your ideal spring fling includes eye-popping expanses of nature and ultra-scenic views, Ruby Falls on Lookout Mountain is calling your name!  Ruby Falls is home to the tallest underground waterfall open to the public in the United States, along with sweeping views of the Cumberland Plateau, gliding zip lines, award winning special events and luxury treehouse lodging.

Chase a Waterfall

One of the most incredible ways to experience the miracle of nature during spring is a Ruby Falls Cave adventure with a guided walk to the thundering waterfall deep inside Lookout Mountain. Spring is prime viewing time of the famous waterfall because seasonal rain showers dramatically amplify its majestic flow. The experience in incomparable!

Choose your Ruby Falls adventure based on your schedule and interests, and purchase timed-entry tickets online in advance. Every cave adventure includes a stop at the breathtaking waterfall, named after the beloved wife of its discoverer.

Access the cave by glass-front elevator. The short ride is comfortable and picturesque as it descends 260-feet into the mountain. The cavern trail to the waterfall is paved and mostly level as you stroll past ancient geological formations, making the 1-mile round trip walk pleasant and scenic.  Wheelchairs and strollers are not permitted in the cave due to narrow passages and occasional small groupings of steps.

See Forever from a Historic Tower

Follow your waterfall adventure up with panoramic views of the Cumberland Plateau and Tennessee River from historic Lookout Mountain Tower.  This scenic overlook is part of Ruby Falls Castle, which was built in 1929 with limestone excavated during construction of the elevator shaft. Watch for blue herons, soaring hawks, and songbirds.

Take in the beauty of the peaceful river, green valleys, and distant mountain ranges from this unrivalled vantage point.

Take to the Treetops

If gliding gently through the treetops sounds like a dream, the zip line and climbing tower nestled into the woods at Ruby Falls’ High Point ZIP Adventure is a must-do.  Ziplining is magical when the world below is bursting with new life.  It feels like anything is possible!

Savor

Wrap up your Ruby Falls day with a seasonal local craft beer in the historic castle’s café or tuck into the castle’s front porch with a flatbread pizza and dessert.  Breathe in the beauty of Lookout Mountain. Savor the new perspective that losing yourself in nature offers during the gorgeous, fleeting weeks of spring.

Discover the wonders awaiting at Chattanooga’s scenic gem at RubyFalls.com.

Tickets sold online only; advance ticket purchase recommended.

If spending the night in a luxury treehouse sounds dreamy, make a reservation at TreeTop Hideaways at Ruby Falls.