Hiking To This Aboveground Cave In Montana Will Give You A Surreal Experience

Montana is full of mystery. Despite centuries of human exploration, there is still so much to learn about the Treasure State. Glacier National Park is no exception, with thousands of acres still remaining unknown territory for most of us.

Look around the Poia Lake area, which you’ll find if you hike the Red Gap Pass Trail, and you just might find the Poia Lake Cave. Very little is known about this aboveground cave in Montana, but the explorers who have ventured inside say it’s a totally surreal experience.

To explore the Poia Lake Cave, you will need a permit. However, they are free of charge and easily obtained anywhere you can go for a backcountry permit.

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The Poia Lake Trailhead can be found at the Many Glacier entrance to the park. The lake is surrounded by limestone mountains, and the entrance to the cave is located close to the Poia Lake Campground.

Glacier County Honey

Entering the cave is not for the faint of heart. You’ll need to bushwhack straight up the mountainside, then crawl on your belly and slither into a narrow opening. It’s pretty intense. But once you’re inside, the exploration can begin.

After about 40 more feet of crawling (sorry), you will reach the main cavern, where you can fully stand. The cave goes back for a mile, and there are several different ways you can go. If necessary, you can mark your path with small reflectors so you don’t get lost.

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Matthew Weilenmann / http://www.naturesartgallery.com/

The most obvious path will take you right to the heart of the cave, to the best part: a waterfall gushing from the mountain’s high center. It is absolutely beautiful.

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Matthew Weilenmann / http://www.naturesartgallery.com/

Needless to say, you’ll get your feet wet on this journey. Walk slowly and carefully and you can make your way back out of the cave in about 45 minutes.

The harrowing entrance and tight quarters of this cave make it best for a seasoned explorer to experience—so if you’re a novice, make sure you ask someone who’s more of an expert caver to join you. That being said, this is far from Montana’s most dangerous caverns, and if you’re in the area, it’s absolutely worth checking out.

Of course, there is also a well-known tourist cave in Montana, so you can always venture over to the Lewis and Clark Caverns.