nstride is a trail running and hiking route research project. It analyzes terrain, elevation, and difficulty for over 100,000 routes and races worldwide. Each route page shows what the trail is like before the run: the climbs, the descents, and the terrain in between.
Every route is processed through algorithms that read elevation data and split the course into sections. The analysis produces difficulty scores, runnable percentages, longest climbs, elevation gain per mile, and terrain character. A raw GPX file goes in; a readable course breakdown comes out.
Built for trail runners and equally useful for hikers, nstride covers races from 5K to 200+ miles as well as training routes. Each route includes an interactive elevation profile, a segment breakdown, a 3D flyover preview, and a downloadable GPX file.
nstride is a route and race research platform for trail runners and hikers. It analyzes terrain, elevation, and difficulty for over 100,000 routes worldwide, with a course breakdown for each one.
Yes. Route discovery, elevation profiles, terrain stats, 3D flyovers, and GPX downloads are free. Premium features add personalized race prep sheets and section-by-section pacing data.
Algorithms read the elevation data of each route and identify climbs, descents, and flat sections. The analysis produces difficulty scores, runnable percentages, longest climbs, elevation gain per mile, grade percentages, and terrain character.
The same terrain analysis works at any pace. Elevation profiles, difficulty ratings, and segment breakdowns apply to hiking as much as running. Routes with singletrack, dirt, and gravel surfaces are popular with both groups.
nstride includes trail races from 5K to 200+ miles: 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons, marathons, and ultras (50K, 50 mile, 100K, 100 mile), plus training routes and point-to-point courses.
Use the interactive map on the homepage to explore routes by location, or browse by state and distance in the route directory. Routes can be filtered by distance category and sorted by popularity.
A route prep sheet is a downloadable one-page plan for a route: section-by-section pacing strategy, terrain notes, weather considerations, and equipment options, generated from the route's analysis and a runner's pacing profile.
Runnable percentage estimates how much of a route can be run at normal effort versus hiked because of steep grades. It sets realistic pacing expectations before the run.
Difficulty scores combine distance, elevation gain, gain per mile, longest single climb, maximum grade, surface, and runnable percentage. Scores are relative to routes of similar distance.
Yes. Uploaded GPX files are processed like any other route: the system generates terrain analysis, sections, and pacing data, and the route can be saved to a personal collection.
California, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Utah, Arizona, North Carolina, and Vermont have the largest collections of analyzed routes on nstride.