7 Waterfalls Within an Hour of Chattanooga
One of the best things about living near Chattanooga is how many waterfalls are close by. Some are a short walk from the car, and some make you earn them. Here are seven within about an hour of downtown, from easiest to most effort.
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Quick glance
| Waterfall | Drive from downtown* | Hike | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruby Falls (underground) | ~15 min | Guided cave walk, under 1 mi | $29.95 adult |
| Glen Falls | ~15 min | Short, about 1 mi round trip | Free |
| Falling Water Falls | ~25 min | Short trail | Free |
| Cherokee Falls (Cloudland) | ~45 min | About 1 mi round trip, steep stairs | $10 parking |
| Hemlock Falls (Cloudland) | ~45 min | About 2 mi round trip, 600 stairs each way | $10 parking |
| Lula Falls | ~30 min | About 4.2 mi round trip | $16 reservation |
| Foster Falls | ~50 min | Steep, about 0.6 mi to the base | Free |
*Approximate drive times.
1. Ruby Falls
The only one you can see in the rain. Ruby Falls is a 145-foot waterfall inside Lookout Mountain, reached by elevator and a guided cave walk of just under a mile. Timed tickets are sold online. rubyfalls.com
2. Glen Falls
A quick hike on the side of Lookout Mountain to a pretty, stair-stepped falls. The trailhead is a small pull-off on Ochs Highway near Sanders Road, with room for only a handful of cars, and the road is fast with poor visibility. Arrive early and pull in and out carefully.
3. Falling Water Falls
On Signal Mountain, this state natural area has a short trail to an overlook of a tall waterfall that plunges into a gorge. It’s open sunrise to sunset, and the lot holds only about three vehicles, so go early or on a weekday. TDEC: Falling Water Falls State Natural Area
4 and 5. Cherokee and Hemlock Falls at Cloudland Canyon
Cloudland Canyon’s Waterfalls Trail gives you two falls on one hike. Cherokee Falls comes first, about a third to a half mile down. Hemlock Falls is about half a mile farther. Expect roughly 600 metal stairs each way. Parking is $10 per vehicle. Georgia State Parks: Cloudland Canyon
6. Lula Falls
A 120-foot falls inside the Lula Lake Land Trust on Lookout Mountain, Georgia. It’s open to the public only on Open Gate Days, usually the first and last weekend of each month, and you must reserve online ($16 per vehicle). Gates open at 9 a.m., there’s no entry after 1 p.m., and the easiest hike to the lake and falls is about 4.2 miles round trip. Lula Lake Land Trust
7. Foster Falls
About 50 minutes west in Fiery Gizzard State Park, Foster Falls drops about 60 feet into a wide pool. The trail to the base is short but steep and rocky. Parking at the trailhead is free. Swimming in the pool is allowed in warm weather but there are no lifeguards. Tennessee State Parks: Fiery Gizzard
Waterfall tips
- Go after rain. Most of these slow way down in dry spells. Winter and spring are usually best.
- Stay off the wet rocks at the top of any falls. Most falls injuries happen there.
- Mind the small lots. Glen Falls and Falling Water Falls have tiny parking areas. Never block the road or a driveway.
- Check before you go for closures and reservation dates.
Waterfalls by effort
Easiest: Ruby Falls (paid, guided, inside the mountain), the Falling Water Falls overlook and Glen Falls. Moderate: Cherokee Falls at Cloudland Canyon (stairs, but short) and Foster Falls (short but steep). Longest: Hemlock Falls via the full Cloudland Waterfalls Trail and the roughly 4.2-mile round trip to Lula Falls.
Best season for waterfalls
Most of these are rain-fed, so they’re at their best in winter and spring, or a day or two after a good soaking rain. In late summer and fall, some slow to a trickle. Ruby Falls is the exception: it’s underground and flows year-round.
Safety first
- Never climb on the top of a waterfall. Wet rock and algae are slippery, and the drops are serious.
- Watch kids near the edges at overlooks like Falling Water Falls; many have no railings.
- After heavy rain, stay out of the water at Foster Falls and other swimming spots.
- Tell someone your plan and carry water and a light (a headlamp keeps your hands free), especially in winter when it gets dark early.
What to bring
- Waterproof hiking shoes: trails near falls are often muddy and slick.
- A packable rain jacket: for spray and sudden showers.
- A dry bag or phone pouch: keeps a phone dry near the water.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the closest waterfall to downtown Chattanooga? Ruby Falls and Glen Falls on Lookout Mountain are both about 15 minutes away.
Which waterfall needs a reservation? Lula Falls. Lula Lake Land Trust is open only on Open Gate Days, and you must book online ($16 per vehicle).
Can you swim at any of these? Foster Falls allows swimming in its plunge pool in warm weather, with no lifeguards. There’s no swimming in Lula Lake.
Which is best for kids? Ruby Falls (a guided cave walk with about 50 steps) and Glen Falls (a short hike) are the easiest.
Build a waterfall day
- Lookout Mountain morning: Glen Falls early, then Ruby Falls before lunch.
- Signal Mountain afternoon: Falling Water Falls, then the free gorge view at Signal Point.
- Dade County day: Cloudland Canyon’s Waterfalls Trail, with lunch in Trenton.
- Open Gate weekend: Lula Falls in the morning (be through the gate by 1 p.m.).
Details were checked in late October 2026 and can change.
Photo credits: MrPicasso007 (CC BY 4.0); Thomsonmg2000 (CC0); Chad Madden chadmadden (CC0), via Wikimedia Commons.
