Hellhole
Hellhole is a large and deep pit cave in Germany Valley of eastern West Virginia.
A cave, 9 mi north of Franklin
Plan where you’ll sleep
The nearest town with many places to stay is Elkins, 28 miles northwest. Where to stay ↓
A day trip from Washington
Washington is about 127 miles east (straight-line). Where to stay ↓
Best months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug and Sep
May, June, July, August and September are the mild months, with highs of 73–83°. When to go ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Census job and town figures and Wikipedia.
Weather, month by month
Typical highs and lows in Franklin. Green months are the mild ones.
Hellhole
Hellhole is a large and deep pit cave in Germany Valley of eastern West Virginia. It is the seventh longest cave in the United States and is home to almost half of the world's population of Virginia big-eared bats. At 737 feet (225 m), Hellhole is the deepest of several caves in the Valley.
Hellhole has had a long and storied association with the National Speleological Society dating back to the creation of that organization in the early 1940s. Many basic caving techniques (e.g., the single rope technique) were developed in Hellhole's 154-foot (47-meter) entrance drop.
- Type
- Cave
- Wikipedia readers
- 17K a year
Towns near Hellhole
Towns within 30 miles, closest first. Hotel and restaurant jobs show how many places there are to stay and eat.
| Town | From Hellhole | Hotel & restaurant jobs | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin | 9 mi south | 40 | 435 | $219K | — |
| Brandywine | 13 mi southeast | 6 | 267 | $110K | — |
| Petersburg | 21 mi northeast | 211 | 2,384 | $125K | — |
| Hendricks | 25 mi northwest | 0 | 375 | $133K | — |
| Davis | 25 mi north | 87 | 663 | $177K | — |
| Hambleton | 26 mi northwest | 0 | 203 | $114K | — |
| Beverly | 27 mi west | 7 | 629 | $118K | — |
| Thomas | 27 mi north | 46 | 599 | $157K | — |
| Parsons | 28 mi northwest | 95 | 1,448 | $96K | — |
| East Dailey 21% vacation homes | 28 mi west | 0 | 292 | — | — |
| Elkins | 28 mi northwest | 382 | 6,811 | $153K | — |
| Durbin | 29 mi southwest | 8 | 220 | $99K | — |
Day trip from
Straight-line miles.
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Also near Hellhole
Other well-known places within 52 miles. Numbered ones are on the map above.
116 mi🌲 Park & preserveDolly Sods Wilderness
26 mi⛰ MountainSpruce Mountain
310 mi⛰ MountainSpruce Knob
428 mi🌲 National forestMonongahela National Forest
51 mi🛶 LakeDeep Creek Lake
528 mi🌲 National forestGeorge Washington and Jefferson National Forests
39 mi🚂 Scenic railwayCass Scenic Railroad State Park
39 mi🌲 National forestGeorge Washington National ForestPhoto credits
Dolly Sods Wilderness: Valerius Tygart, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Spruce Mountain: Valerius Tygart, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Spruce Knob: Original uploader was Black and White at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Monongahela National Forest: Valerius Tygart, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Deep Creek Lake: Gohens84, CC BY-SA 3.0 · George Washington and Jefferson National Forests: Aneta Kaluzna, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Cass Scenic Railroad State Park: Shayfan at English Wikipedia, Public domain · George Washington National Forest: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
_at_the_end_of_pavement_within_the_George_Washington_National_Forest_in_Hardy_County,_West_Virginia.jpg){kind=link}
Visiting Hellhole
What town is Hellhole near?
Franklin, WV, about 9 miles south.
When is the best time to visit Hellhole?
May, June, July, August and September, with highs of 73–83°.
How far is Hellhole from Pittsburgh and Washington?
About 120 miles north of Pittsburgh and about 127 miles east of Washington, as the crow flies.
What is the closest airport to Hellhole?
Shenandoah Valley Regional (SHD), about 44 miles away. The nearest big hub is Washington Dulles (IAD), about 104 miles.
Where should I stay near Hellhole?
Petersburg (21 mi, 211 hotel and restaurant jobs) and Elkins (28 mi, 382 hotel and restaurant jobs).
Tips from people in Franklin
No tips yet. Ask, or answer, in Franklin’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.