LoamTrail outlook
7 days back · 4 aheadDaily trail markers are representative daytime outlooks. Weather is one input. The rideability verdict also accounts for soil, terrain, canopy, and drying time.
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Want the next PRIME alert? Get Loam for iPhone.Why North Slope dries this way
Terrain & soilNorth Slope is a mountain bike network in the Seattle & Snoqualmie region of WA, riding on gravelly sandy soil that drains fast over terrain that holds water and dries slowly. With little tree cover, sun and wind get to the dirt fast. What really sets the timing here is how quickly that ground gives back a firm, dry surface, not what the day’s forecast says. The terrain here is nearly flat (a 1.6° average grade at 374 ft) and lets water sit, so the flat stretches are the last to firm up, while the N-facing aspect keeps the dirt shaded for much of the day, so moisture lingers after rain and snow is slow to clear.
Network profile
- Soil
- Gravelly sandydrains fast
- Drainage
- Holds waterdries slowly
- Tree cover
- 23%Open
- Elevation
- 374 ft
- Average grade
- 1.6°
- Predominant aspect
- N-facing
How these factors affect drying
SoilGravelly sandy
About 20% of this ground is rock fragments, so water runs through it faster than the soil type alone suggests. It dries quicker than plain sandy.
CanopyOpen 23%
Little tree cover means full sun and wind, so these trails are among the fastest to rebound after rain.
TerrainHolds water
Water tends to pool and linger here rather than running off, so the surface can stay damp well after the weather clears.
Nearby networks in Seattle & Snoqualmie, WA
Seattle & Snoqualmie, WAFAQ
Common questionsCan you ride North Slope right now?
As of the latest update, North Slope is Rideable, very dry (DUSTY). Rideable, but very dry. Expect dust and loose corners. No measurable rain in the past week.
What is the soil and trail surface like at North Slope?
North Slope sits on gravelly sandy soil that drains fast. About 20% of this ground is rock fragments, so water runs through it faster than the soil type alone suggests. It dries quicker than plain sandy.
How long does North Slope take to dry after rain?
North Slope usually needs only a few hours to recover after light rain. Its terrain holds water in low spots, which slows it.
Does North Slope get snow in winter?
Yes. At 374 ft, North Slope typically sees winter snow and freeze-thaw that can pause riding. Loam flags a FROZEN state when the ground is snow-covered or frozen, then clears it as things thaw and dry.
What's the terrain and elevation like at North Slope?
North Slope sits at roughly 374 feet, faces mostly N, and averages a 1.6° grade with about 23% tree cover. That makes it a shady network that holds moisture longer than sunnier neighbors, and the nearly flat grade means it holds puddles in the flats. Loam models this exact ground against live weather rather than using one regional forecast.
When is the best time of year to ride North Slope?
The reliable season at North Slope runs late spring through fall: at around 374 feet it holds real winter snowpack, and freeze-thaw makes the shoulder seasons hit or miss. Its shady aspect means it needs longer after storms than sunnier networks nearby. Loam flags FROZEN days and posts a live verdict, so the calendar never has to be the tiebreaker.