Loam
Trail condition research
Studies of trail terrain, weather, and Loam condition estimates. Each report includes its data, method, and limits.
Similar averages can hide different terrain
British Columbia averaged 87.4% tree cover, but its sampled locations ranged from 10% to 100%. North Carolina averaged 94.0% with a much tighter 91% to 98% range. These are dated terrain inputs, not current conditions.
Published . Read the findings and method →
5 stories
How much can terrain vary within one riding region?
A 76-network snapshot of Bend, Bentonville, Pisgah, Moab, Sedona, and Phoenix, with the data behind each comparison.
State of the Dirt 2025: replaying a year of trail conditions
A replay of 2025 weather at 24 riding areas using the model available for the August 2026 study.
Mountain bike trail terrain: a census of 312 networks
Elevation, slope, and tree cover across the 312-network August 2026 sample.
Grade and shade: the four terrain combinations
Slope and tree cover across 312 networks, and how Loam accounts for the direction a slope faces.
Canopy cover by state: Quebec's networks average 96%, Arizona's average 8%
Average tree cover in the August 2026 sample, across states and provinces with at least five networks.