Loam
Snow line first
Bend's tracked networks span roughly 918 to 2038 meters. Wanoga and Swampy Lakes sit around 1650 to 1770 meters, while Maston and Radlands sit below 1000. That gap of more than 700 meters is why the high trails can be under snow while the lower desert trails are rideable. Mt. Bachelor and Newberry sit higher still.
What changes the ride
Freeze and thaw
A trail frozen hard at dawn can turn soft by afternoon. See the freeze-thaw window.
Open ground
Maston, Radlands, and Cline Buttes measure no tree cover in Loam's data, so sun and wind reach the tread. Shaded forest trails behave differently, as covered in why nearby trails differ.
Pumice soil
Loose volcanic soil can feel firm on top and still mark under a tire. Check the tread, not just the surface.
Before you ride
The BLM biking guidance asks riders to stay off trails during wet or muddy conditions. Use permissions depend on the land manager, as the COTA FAQ explains, so check notices from the Deschutes National Forest and BLM Prineville District before you go.
Loam estimates conditions from recent weather, soil, terrain, and tree cover. Check the network pages below, then use the trailhead firmness check. If you leave ruts, turn around; here is why.
Bend trail conditions
For forested riding over the Cascades, see Oakridge, which has its own weather.
Open high-desert trails near the Deschutes River, about 964 m.
The lowest tracked Bend network, about 918 m, near Redmond.
Open juniper and sage country west of Redmond, about 1245 m.
Rocky desert trails east of Bend, about 1365 m.
Forested trails west of town, about 1650 m.
The highest featured network, about 1769 m on the road to Mt. Bachelor.
Sources and method
Loam estimates conditions from weather, soil, and terrain. It does not measure the trail surface directly or override an official closure. Read how the estimate works and see the published checks and their limits.
- USDA NRCS: Hydrologic Soil Groups, soil infiltration and runoff.
- USGS: Infiltration and the Water Cycle, saturation, land cover, and slope.
These references explain physical processes, not the accuracy of Loam's predictions.
