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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Outdoors blog

The Bob has a deep, dark wilderness secret

Beth Cortright rappelling down Birthday Pit in Tears of the Turtle Cave. (James Hunter / Courtesy)
Beth Cortright rappelling down Birthday Pit in Tears of the Turtle Cave. (James Hunter / Courtesy)

PUBLIC LANDS -- As many times as I've been into the Bob Marshall Wilderness in my home state of Montana, I've never explored this deep, dark, wilderness secret. 

The Missoula Independent reports that Tears of the Turtle, the deepest known cave in the continental United States, is protected from being too popular among spelunkers because to reach it one must trek 22 miles through the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area.

The deepest known point of the cave is 1,629 feet below the surface.

See more cool photos here.



Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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