Rambles in Valleyview Nature Park
From Valleyview Arena, a number of trails follow the gullies to the grassland benchlands in the Valleyview Silt Cliffs area. The trails extend up toward Juniper and beyond toward Barnhartvale, but there are a number of shorter loops that will make a route for a shorter hike (ramble). Some of the trails are signed withing the designated Nature Park, but some are not. Trails go up and down gullies and across the benches. By returning for a few visits, hikers can work out various loop routes.
From the parking lot, follow the trail behind the Valleyview Nature Park sign. Near the top of the gully, trails crisscross the plateau. We usually proceed over to and through the next gully and up onto the next bench which runs the length of Valleyview, but there are also options to loop back in a 2.5 to 4 km loop in a single loop or in some form of figure 8 route. Along the way, the open grasslands greet you. Buttercups and yellow bells emerge in the spring. Meadowlarks and western mountain bluebirds can be spotted perched on trees, posts, and snags. Deer linger in the treed gullies and you will see signs of coyotes. Hawks circle above the open slopes watching for rodents.
For a one hour ramble, Valleyview Nature Park is a welcome spring retreat.