The colorful and romantic spectacle of illuminated Ruby Falls is in such demand, you have to make a reservation to view it on a guided tour. Visitors flock to this attraction less than five miles from Chattanooga because it is the tallest and deepest accessible underground waterfall in the U.S. Begin your adventure by descending 260 feet in a glass-front elevator from Cavern Castle into Lookout Mountain. You’re now in the company of visitors who have been making their way to the waterfall since 1928.
Along the short, paved cavern walk, you’ll see stunning, naturally occurring rock formations of stalagmites, stalactites, and drapery formations. It takes about 60 to 80 minutes to reach Ruby Falls, a cascade of 145 feet, located 1,150 feet below the surface of the mountain. (Expect to walk and stand rather than sit and rest.)
When you return to the visitor center above ground, enjoy views from the 70-foot Lookout Mountain Tower and Blue Heron Overlook. During busy times, avoid congestion by booking a tour early in the day.
Address: 1720 Scenic Hwy, Chattanooga, Tennessee
2. Laurel Falls
Laurel Falls is one of the highlights of Great Smoky Mountains National Park that many visitors try to include on their itinerary. Unlike most waterfalls on our recommended list, you hike up 1.3 miles to access Laurel Falls instead of descending into a ravine or gorge. You will be rewarded at the end of your climb by an 80-foot waterfall that sparkles on a sunny day in the mountains.
The trailhead starts at the side of Fighting Creek Gap Road west of Sugarlands Visitor Center and seven miles from Gatlinburg. When you arrive at Laurel Falls, walk across a concrete bridge that separates the upper falls in front of you and the lower falls beneath you. Appreciate the refreshing mist of the falls and the rainforest surroundings of large mountain laurels and rhododendron, which bloom in the spring.
Address: Fighting Creek Gap Road, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
