Loam
Monsoon runoff and winter rain
McDowell Mountain and Brown's Ranch are open desert examples around Scottsdale. Hawes, South Mountain, and White Tank extend the comparison across different slopes and drainage patterns. Decomposed granite may look dry on top while a low spot or wash still carries water after a monsoon storm.
Tortolita Mountain Park is labeled Tucson in the catalog. It remains in the full regional directory, but it is a separate destination with separate weather.
What affects drying time
Summer storms
Monsoon rain can be intense and local. One park may miss a storm while a nearby wash is still running. Compare nearby trails separately.
Winter rain
Slower winter storms can soak the ground. Cooler weather gives trails less drying time between showers.
Slope and drainage
Water runs off steeper ground and collects below it. Check wash crossings and flat stretches even when the surrounding trail looks dry.
Before you ride
Check notices from Maricopa County Parks, the City of Phoenix, or Scottsdale's preserve system. Follow heat restrictions as well as wet-trail notices. Do not cross a running wash, and wait if the tread is soft.
Loam estimates conditions from recent weather, soil, terrain, and tree cover. Use the network pages below to check the latest estimate before you leave, then use the trailhead firmness check when you arrive.
Phoenix & Scottsdale trail conditions
0% tree cover near the mapped location. Slope: 1.4°. Elevation: 566m.
0% tree cover near the mapped location. Slope: 3.7°. Elevation: 827m.
0% tree cover near the mapped location. Slope: 2.9°. Elevation: 544m.
0% tree cover near the mapped location. Slope: 11.8°. Elevation: 421m.
0% tree cover near the mapped location. Slope: 2.3°. Elevation: 452m.
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.
