The Valleyview silt cliffs area has some unique ridges that run north-south, remnants of drainage divides into the glacial lake after the last ice age.   Erosion has narrowed these ridges providing an opportunity for  “spine-walks.”

We started our hike/scramble at the end of Valleyview Drive, following tracks up into the hills.  The ridges run from Juniper northward, down toward the river.

Between the ridges are grassland and forest gullies, where we can often spot wildlife.

The tops of the ridges are weathered and often bare.   Silt cliffs and clay towers overlook the gullies.

Sinkholes can be found in the side gullies and if you know where to look, some surprising landforms can be found like clay arches, wells,  and tunnels.

We went up to the top of each ridge then hiked down to the end on narrow “spines” to the bottom then back up the next, in a double loop covering 6km of up and down rambling.   The area is fun to explore

• article – Walk the Spine
• start area – N50 40.312 W120 14.144