This Day Trip To The Deepest Cave In West Virginia Is Full Of Adventure

There are many caves that descend deep below the earth, but this cave is considered to be the deepest in the state.

If you are a caver, Hell Hole Cave in Germany Valley just might be the non-touristy caving experience you are looking for.

Hell Hole is the seventh longest cave in the U.S, and the deepest non-tourist cave in West Virginia. The basics of many caving techniques were developed in the cave's descent to its deepest chamber, colloquially known as Little Hell Hole.

The cave is comprised largely of New Market limestone, whose commercial quality makes it an open mining site for a nearby company.

The 42-mile cave has a total depth of 737 feet. Its deep passages and tunnels are home to the largest population of Virginia big-eared bats, comprising half of the species' total population.

The cave is accessible by an entrance pit near the base of North Fork Mountain. The entrance cavern requires a 154-foot descent to the the cave floor.

Several explorations in the cave have allowed cavers to map roughly 38 miles. Many cavers have visited this privately-owned cave, but it is not open to the general public as a tourist site. The structure is home to multiple species of bats in large populations because Hell Hole has an average temperature of 47 degrees Fahrenheit, while the typical ambient temperature of a West Virginia cave is 10 degrees warmer at 57 degrees.

Despite this fact, the cave has fascinated many cavers over the years, and will no doubt continue to do so.

Are you a caver? Have you ever heard of Hell Hole Cave? Feel free to comment below and join the discussion.

To learn more about West Virginia caves, check out these 15 amazing caves and rock formations in the state.