Loam
The three numbers behind every verdict
Loam uses terrain data at each network's mapped location to help estimate conditions. Elevation, slope, and tree cover affect how the ground responds to weather.
This report uses the 312 networks published on August 17, 2026. The catalog has grown since then; the figures below describe that original sample.
Half the sample had at least 80% tree cover
Tree cover ranged from 0% to 100%. Half the sample had at least 80% canopy, while average cover was 63.7%.
| Canopy cover | Networks | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 19% | 54 | 17.3% |
| 20 to 39% | 28 | 9.0% |
| 40 to 59% | 18 | 5.8% |
| 60 to 79% | 56 | 17.9% |
| 80 to 100% | 156 | 50.0% |
Twenty-five networks had a 0% canopy reading and 19 had a 100% reading. These values describe the sampled terrain around each mapped location, not every section of trail.
Least canopy
Avimor (Idaho), Brown's Ranch (Arizona), Canatara Park (Ontario), Captain Ahab/Amasa Back (Utah), and Cave Creek Regional Park (Arizona) all measure 0% canopy.
Most canopy
Parc naturel du Lac-Jerome (Quebec), Partridge Hills (British Columbia), Short Hills Provincial Park (Ontario), The Hydrocut (Ontario), and Top Bridge (British Columbia) all measure 100% canopy.
Most sampled slopes were gentle
Slope is measured in degrees, not percent grade. The median was 2.3° and the average was 3.7°, with a smaller group of steep locations raising the average. These terrain readings are not trail difficulty ratings.
Flattest
Anderson Park (Michigan), Kiwanis Recreation Area (Minnesota), and Northwest Community Park (Texas) each measure a 0.1° grade, close to level ground.
Steepest
North Cheyenne Canon Park (Colorado) measures 17.5°, followed by Rattlesnake Mountain Scenic Area (Washington) at 17.1° and Mill Creek Pipeline (Utah) at 16.6°.
Elevation spans sea level to a Colorado ski town
The sample ranged from 3 meters at Marshview Park in Virginia to 3,024 meters at Evolution Bike Park in Colorado.
Lowest
Marshview Park (Virginia) at 3m, Grapefruit Trail (Florida) at 7m, and Pacifica (California) at 7m.
Highest
Evolution Bike Park (Colorado) at 3,024m, Brush Creek (Colorado) at 2,866m, and Golden Gate Canyon State Park (Colorado) at 2,761m. All five of the sample's highest networks are in Colorado.
What this does and does not show
These figures describe terrain, not current conditions or measured drying times. Check the latest network estimate and official access notices before riding.
Sources and method
Soil infiltration, previous rain, terrain, and evaporation all affect drying. Loam models these processes; 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.
- USGS: Soil-Water-Balance, moisture, evaporation, and canopy interception.
- USDA NRCS: RUSLE2, rainfall and erosion.
- Fang & Ng, Journal of Environmental Management, 2026, rainfall, runoff, and sediment on recreational trails.
These sources explain the physical processes, not the accuracy of Loam's predictions. See Loam's data providers.
