Ridge

A ridge is a long, narrow, elevated geomorphologic landform, structural feature, or a combination of both separated from the surrounding terrain by steep sides. The sides of a ridge slope away from a narrow top, the crest or ridgecrest, with the terrain dropping down on either side. The crest, if narrow, is also called a ridgeline.

Limitations on the dimensions of a ridge are lacking.
Its height above the surrounding terrain can vary from less than a meter to hundreds of meters.
A ridge can be either depositional, erosional, tectonic, or a combination of these in origin and can consist of either bedrock, loose sediment, lava, or ice depending on its origin.

Back to Wild Terrain & Parks →

Source: Wikipedia · Image: Wikimedia Commons · CC0

OUTRAIL

Hike farther, plan smarter — free calculators for hiking time, calories, pack weight, water, trail difficulty, and daylight, plus trail guides and a museum of great trails, parks, and peaks.

Get new guides by emailOccasional emails. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

InformationAbout Contact Privacy Policy Terms of Service Disclaimer Affiliate Disclosure Cookie Policy

Every entry, image, fact, and figure is drawn from Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons, used under public-domain and Creative Commons licenses. No content is AI-generated.