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 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.
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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.