The Valleyview Silt Cliffs area is one of our favorite spring hikes.   Because it is mostly treeless, the whole area tends to clear of snow early and the trails dry out in March.    All of the area below Juniper and above Valleyview Drive is a benchland with steeper sections at the bottom and top.   Deep gullies run south-north and any route east-west must negotiate these.    The area had some fine single track trails, but a decade ago, a parcel of land in the middle was purchased and a home was built at the upper end of the benchland and the new owner then erected fences across a number of existing trails.   Classic loop routes were cut off, but over time, new single tracks have emerged.   Now, the main trailheads are at Valleyview Arena and, at our favorite trailhead, a sign now calls this area Valleyview Nature Trails. 

To hike any distance, it is best to stay close to the north end of the trails, which means crossing one gully, then follow single tracks in a southeast direction to a trail that skirts the tops of the gullies.   From there, trails go out to Barnhartvale.   For most days of hiking, we prefer to do a loop thorugh the big gully that runs north-south at the end of Valleyview Drive.   An old double track comes down into the gully from the west and also runs the length of the gully.

Finding all of the connecting trails of the areas is not easy on your first attempt, but the area is so accessible and rewarding that return trips to explore the various routes is always worthwhile.   The Valleyview Silt Cliffs is a grasslands environment.   On our recent hike, we saw western mountain bluebirds and meadowlarks.   Buttercups and yellow bells were in bloom.   Signs of coyote and deer were evident.   Views into the gullies, of the silt cliffs, and the hills around are rewarding. We hiked for about 8km on a March day.

We are lucky to have this large natural area so close to where we live.   Go to the trails in the spring.   Go quietly to see the bluebirds and the meadowlarks,   Watch for swallows roosting in the silt cliffs.  Hear the song of the lark rising as the winds sough through the grasslands…