Spring’s Sweet Rewards on Lookout Mountain: Scenic Walks, Thundering Waterfall, and Savoring Nature

Springtime is nature’s sweetest reward for weathering the last long weeks of winter—and it’s glorious on Lookout Mountain at Ruby Falls! As daylight grows longer, the Cumberland Plateau comes alive, draped in vibrant greens and dotted with bursts of colorful wildflowers. Songbirds return with cheerful melodies, and soft breezes carry troubles away. It’s that fleeting, magical moment before spring gives way to sticky heat of summer—a perfect time to soak in the beauty and renewal of the season.

Chase a Waterfall

Ruby Falls on Lookout Mountain is home to the tallest waterfall open to the public in the US. The park offers eye-popping expanses of nature, ultra-scenic views, and guided cave walks to see the thundering waterfall. Spring is prime viewing time for the famous waterfall because seasonal rain showers dramatically increase its majestic flow. The experience in incomparable!

Choose a Ruby Falls adventure based on your schedule and interests, and purchase timed-entry tickets online in advance. Whether you opt for an express Cave Walk or a specialty tour, 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 comfortable elevator ride is picturesque as it descends 260-feet into the mountain. The cavern trail to the waterfall is paved and mostly level as you stroll past large and tiny ancient geological formations, making the scenic 1-mile round trip walk pleasant.

See Forever

After exploring the cave, walk to the top of historic Lookout Mountain Tower for panoramic views of the Cumberland Plateau and Tennessee River. The scenic overlook is part of Ruby Falls Castle, built in 1929 with limestone excavated during construction of the elevator shaft.

Fly

High Point ZIP Adventure opens for the season on March 1! Glide through the treetops on fun ziplines and conquer the 40-foot climbing tower with multiple routes of varying difficulty.

Savor

Wrap up the day at Ruby Falls in the park’s historic castle, where popular dinner dances with live orchestras were held for decades beginning in 1930, or tuck into the table seating on Castle Café’s front porch with something tasty from the café’s seasonal menu.  Breathe in the beauty and savor nature during the gorgeous, fleeting weeks of spring.

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

Tickets sold online only; advance ticket purchase recommended.