Welcome to my Earthcache! An Earthcache is a special type of geocache where there is no container to find - instead you are looking for a unique geological feature of the area and need to answer questions, as well as posting a picture, in order to claim the find. The goal of this Earthcache is to educate visitors about Badlands Topography, how it is formed, and why it's important. Badlands can be found all over North America, and this is just one small sample of erosion that causes badlands to form. All observations can be made from the sidewalk along Queenston Rd. Optionally, you can also make observations from the Red Hill Valley Trail, but this view will be limited. I have added this recommended spot as an additional waypoint. This cache is available 24 hours a day, although it may be difficult to make your observations in the dark. DO NOT ACCESS THIS CACHE FROM THE RED HILL VALLEY PARKWAY! Parking is available nearby on Pottruff Rd.
EARTHCACHE REQUIREMENTS
As with all of my ECs, I am not looking for PhD thesis level responses, but I am hoping that you take some time to enjoy the area and learn something new. Please include a list of all cachers with your answer, if answering for more than one caching name. There is no need to send individual answers.
To claim a 'find' for this Earthcache you must answer the following questions and send your answers in a message or email to the owner using the link at the top of the page. You can log your find with a photo at GZ. Send your answers to the tasks. I will be in contact if there is a problem, no need to wait for a response as long as the required photo is included in your log.
Observational Task
At GZ, you will be standing in front of a large, uniquely coloured cliff face, that is vastly different than the surrounding areas. This cliff face demonstrates Badlands erosion and has the topography of traditional badbands. Please observe the variations in the colour of the soil and the depth of the erosion channels to answer the below questions:
Questions to Answer
1. Describe the colour of the soil located in the section showing badlands erosion and how it varies when compared to typical soils in the area, such as those in the treed area on Pottruff Road near the recommended parking waypoint. You can describe the texture, colour, particle size, visible layering, abundance/lack of plants growing, etc.
2. How do you think the type of material is contributing to the erosion here? Is there anything being done to stop the erosion?
3. Do you think the erosion channels that form the badlands will continue to grow? Why or why not?
4. Mandatory: Include a photograph of yourself, your GPS, a signature item, thumbs up, etc at GZ. You do not need to show your face in the photo, but your photo must be unique to you. If you are caching with a group you can use the same photo, but each log must upload a photo.
Geology Lesson
Every time I exit the Red Hill Valley Parkway at Queenston Road from the Niagara Region, I’m struck by how dramatically different this landscape is from the rest of the Niagara Escarpment. Instead of the familiar layers of limestone, dolostone and shale, this area is composed of soft, fine-grained Devonian-age clay, which has weathered and eroded over time into a landscape that closely resembles classic badlands topography.
What Makes This Spot Geologically Unique?
Unlike most of the Niagara Escarpment—which is dominated by Silurian and Ordovician limestone and shale—this small section exposes Devonian deposits, specifically a clay-rich formation that lacks the cohesion and resistance of harder sedimentary rock. The Devonian period (roughly 419 to 359 million years ago) was a time of widespread shallow seas, and in this region, left behind a fine, silty marine clay rather than the carbonate rocks typical elsewhere.
This clay is not cemented like shale or limestone, making it highly prone to erosion. Once exposed—especially by human activity such as the construction of the Red Hill Valley Parkway—the clay weathers rapidly. Water runoff creates deep, branching gullies and channels, as it easily cuts through the soft substrate. These processes produce the "badlands erosion effect", resulting in steep slopes, narrow ravines, and sharp ridges.
What Are Badlands?
Badlands are landscapes shaped by intense erosion in soft, loosely consolidated soils or sediment. They typically form in arid to semi-arid climates where vegetation is sparse and rain falls in short, intense bursts. However, they can also form in more temperate areas where the geology—such as this Devonian clay—encourages rapid erosion.
The Red Hill site is a prime local example. The erosion here mirrors what we see in much larger and more famous formations like the Cheltenham Badlands in Caledon, or even Badlands National Park in South Dakota. These landforms are characterized by:
At Red Hill, water runoff from roads, development, and stormwater systems exacerbates natural processes, accelerating the rate of erosion and giving the area its carved and weathered appearance. Though on a much smaller scale, the geomorphology is striking and easily observable.
Devonian Clay: Why It Matters
Clay from the Devonian period here is particularly rich in smectite minerals, which have poor structural cohesion and expand or contract with moisture. This quality makes them vulnerable to slumping, sheet erosion, and gullying, all hallmarks of badland development. Unlike limestone, which resists erosion through chemical durability, or shale, which forms more gradual slopes, this Devonian clay creates steep-sided, rapidly eroding forms.
The clay’s origin in quiet marine environments means it was deposited in fine layers, often mixed with organic material and silt. When exposed, these layers break apart quickly—especially during freeze-thaw cycles—contributing to the landscape’s instability.
Human Influence on the Landscape
While badlands can form naturally, human activity can accelerate their development. In this case, the construction of the Red Hill Valley Parkway exposed subsoils that had been stable under vegetative cover. The removal of that cover, along with altered drainage patterns, significantly increased surface runoff. As a result, the Devonian clay was left exposed and vulnerable, and the rapid erosion that followed created the striking terrain you see today.
Comparing to Other Badlands
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Cheltenham Badlands (Caledon, Ontario): Formed in Queenston Shale, primarily due to overgrazing and erosion.
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Badlands National Park (South Dakota, USA): Formed in soft sedimentary rock such as siltstone and mudstone, with a naturally dry climate.
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Red Hill Badlands: Formed in Devonian clay, with human development exposing the clay to enhanced erosion in a humid, temperate setting.
Conclusion
The Red Hill Valley is a small but vivid example of how local geology—in this case, Devonian-age marine clay—shapes the land in surprising ways. When this soft material is exposed, it erodes quickly, creating features reminiscent of the badlands landscapes seen around the world. Though human development played a role in exposing these formations, the underlying geologic story is millions of years in the making.
This location gives visitors a chance to see the geological contrast between the escarpment's typical hard rock layers and the easily eroded Devonian clay—a lesson in how different materials respond to weathering and erosion forces, and a reminder of how quickly landscapes can change when delicate soils are laid bare.
This cache was placed by a PROUD Platinum Earthcache Master.
