ravine
Water-carved cleft
A ravine is a deep, narrow valley with steep sides, typically carved by running water over time.
Smaller than a canyon but larger than a gully, ravines often have streams at the bottom: The hikers descended into the ravine to reach the creek.
The word suggests wildness and difficult terrain.
Deep, narrow valley
- chasmDeep, steep-sided gap
- gulchSteep narrow ravine
- gullyChannel carved by flowing water
- arroyoSeasonal desert watercourse
barranca · coulee · draw · wash · cleft · notch · defile · couloir
Narrow natural watercourse
- streamSteady continuous flow
- brookSmall flowing watercourse
- runoffExcess water drainage
- watershedDrainage area boundary
channel · streambed · erosion · flash flood · drainage · waterfall · cascade · rapids
Vertical rock wall
- precipiceSteep rock face
- escarpmentSteep slope dividing elevations
- bluffCalculated false front
- scarpSteep inland cliff
crag · drop-off · ledge · slope · incline · gradient · descent · sheer
Large weathered stone
- cragsSteep, rugged rock formations
- outcropSurfacing native stone
- rockfaceExposed cliff surface
- jaggedSharply uneven, notched
treacherous · wild · remote · desolate · harsh · rocky · rough · craggy
Path through wilderness
- footpathRoute for pedestrians
- scrambleMix into disorder
- descentDownward slope or lineage
- crossingPoint where paths intersect
bridge · overlook · viewpoint · terrain · exploration · backpacking · trekking · adventure
gorge
Deep, narrow valley
arroyo · barranca · coulee · draw · wash · cleft · notch · defile · couloir · flume
creek
Narrow natural watercourse
watershed · channel · streambed · erosion · flash flood · drainage · waterfall · cascade · rapids · torrent
cliff
Vertical rock wall
- precipiceSteep rock face
- escarpmentSteep slope dividing elevations
- bluffCalculated false front
scarp · crag · drop-off · ledge · slope · incline · gradient · descent · sheer · bank
boulder
Large weathered stone
jagged · treacherous · wild · remote · desolate · harsh · rocky · rough · craggy · inhospitable
trail
Path through wilderness
crossing · bridge · overlook · viewpoint · terrain · exploration · backpacking · trekking · adventure · bushwhack
moraine
Glacier-deposited debris pile
U-shaped · alpine · talus · scree · outwash · meltwater · fjord · glaciated · drift · piedmont
hidden
Kept out of sight
unspoiled · tucked away · secret · concealed · wooded · overgrown · shaded · verdant · mossy · lush
- mountain featurespeaks, peak, ridges, summit, slopes
- valleysdales, vales, glens, vale, dells
- Great PlainsGreat Plains, high plains, High Plains, grassland, grasslands
- badlandsbadlands, butte, buttes, mesa, hoodoo
- hikingtrail, hike, hiker, trails, day hikes
- natural structuresmountain, volcano, cave, cliff, glacier