Tory's Cave is not the kind of place you go alone, and should definitely be traversed with a partner or two and a flashlight in hand. It's a narrow trek that lands you nearly fifty feet underground. The fact that you have to climb down in to the cave makes some people uneasy, but Peter Hollister, who provided the photos for this piece, was brave enough to make the climb. Check out what he discovered!
Please note that the cave is closed from October 1st to April 1st! This is the bat hibernation period, and under no circumstances is the cave to be entered during this time. The bat population in Connecticut is endangered and must not be disturbed during this period. In the mean time, check out these awesome photos!
What appears to be nothing more than a narrow hole in the ground is actually the entrance to Tory's Cave.
Located in New Milford, this is the only real cave open to the public in Connecticut. But it's traditionally closed from November to April in order to protect its population of bats.
It's your chance to spellunk a marble cave!
The narrow passage is best used one at a time, but the "room" at the bottle could hold about a dozen people. In fact, this cave's awesome hiding abilities is how it got its name!
Legend has it that this was the hiding place of a Tory, someone loyal to the English monarchy, during the American Revolution.
But it's hard to imagine someone using this dark place, full of sharp edges and uneven ground, as a hideout for very long. Especially with all the bats!
But this place is a stunning locale for adventure seekers.
So why not take an afternoon to visit? Immersing yourself in nature is always fun, but this place takes it to the next level. For adults, this place can be a little tricky to navigate, but for kids it will be like a nature-made jungle gym.
Think you can tackle it?
It's cold, dark, a little slippery and a bit of a tight fit. While children and smaller adults will easily make their way, others may have to shimmy and shake their way through tight spots. But there's no other place in Connecticut for cave exploration like this.
So where do you go to have this adventure?
When the bat hibernation period is over, you can take Route 7 in to New Milford, passing Squash Hollow Road and a gas station. About a half mile after passing the gas station, turn in to the dirt lot at the quarry construction site. At the left end of the lot is a dirt path that takes you the short 100 yards to the cave.
So where does one go to explore when this cave is closed? We've got you covered! Leave Tory's Cave for another day and venture over to this Hidden Railroad Tunnel instead! Don't forget to share photos of your adventure with us on Instagram @onlyinconnecticut to have them featured.
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