Hike Of The Week: Turn your boots loose in the 'Issaquah Alps'

If you haven't done so already, now is a good time to get in shape for summer hiking. A good place to start is Tiger Mountain State Forest, with more than 70 miles of trails and as much elevation gain as you want.

Tiger Mountain is one of the peaks that comprise the "Issaquah Alps," geologic remnants of an ancient mountain range. Other peaks include Cougar and Squak mountains. The highest of the "Tigers" is East Tiger at 3,004 feet.


		Karen Sykes / Special to the P-I
	A blooming skunk cabbage is a sure sign that spring has sprung on Tiger Mountain in the Cascade foothills near Issaquah.

The forest on Tiger Mountain was clearcut before World War II and again in the mid-1970s, and a fire lookout stood on the summit of East Tiger from 1945 through 1967. Today, Tiger Mountain is a "working forest" managed by the Department of Natural Resources with more than 14,000 acres of forested land that includes the Tradition Plateau Natural Resource Conservation Area.

The forest is an environmental work in progress and is strongly supported by the Issaquah Alps Trails Club. The club was founded in the late 1970s and members have worked on many of the trails. Land management agencies and the club believe that such lands can be managed in a way that benefits wildlife and fish habitat, scenery, timber production and recreation.

With two cars, a map and good company, you can design a one-way hike through a variety of terrain. Describing all the possibilities is well beyond the scope of this article, but choices range from easy to strenuous hikes, loops and one-way treks. Don't forget your camera, though -- Tiger Mountain has much more to offer than just a workout. Since Tiger is easily accessible, some trails have become very popular and crowded, such as the trails on the Tradition Lake Plateau, but there are lesser-known trails where solitude can still be found.

We like to combine exercise with scenery, so we parked near Issaquah High School on Second Avenue Southeast and started on the High School Trail, elevation about 400 feet. The trail is actually an old road known to some as the Puget Power Road. You also can pick up the road behind the school.

The road/trail climbs gently before it levels out and passes the Adventure Trail on the left. The trail crosses a creek and marshy area before coming to a junction near rocky outcroppings in an open area (500 feet), about a mile from the school. The High School Trail ends here and continues straight as the Gas Line Trail, with links to the Tradition Lake Plateau.

Wanting a workout, we climbed the short path across the outcroppings and power lines to the edge of the forest and two trails. The trail to the right is the Poo Poo Point Trail that climbs into Many Creek Valley. We turned left on the Section Line Trail -- the steepest route on Tiger Mountain.

We soon worked up a sweat but noted how pretty the woods are with yellow violets and a few trilliums blooming at lower elevations. The dark-green, heart-shaped leaves of wild ginger border the trail, though it is too soon for the plant's inconspicuous flowers. New green leaves are replacing the white blossoms on Indian plum, and salmonberry is just beginning to show a few hot-pink blossoms. Nettles are making their appearance and ferns are unfurling.

At the next junction, we stayed right to continue on the Section Line Trail, which climbs to another junction at 1,120 feet. The trail to the left is the Connector Trail. We turned right and continued a half-mile to the junction for the West Tiger Railroad Grade (1,980 feet) about 3 1/4 miles from the high school. We turned right onto the railroad grade and hiked to our high point at 2,000 feet.

The Seattle View Trail branches off from here and joins the main Tiger Mountain Trail. At the next junction, we stayed right, following the railroad grade as it descended to a trail junction for Poo Poo Point at 1,900 feet. Poo Poo Point is only a half-mile to the left. Having been there before, we turned right to descend the Poo Poo Point Trail back to the rocky outcroppings where we began our loop.

Since it was raining, we didn't explore other trails, but here are a few to consider:

You can do our loop in reverse -- ascend the Poo Poo Point Trail and return on the Section Line Trail. For a side trip, hike another half-mile from the high point at 2,000 feet to Poo Poo Point and viewpoints at 1,780 feet.

For an easier hike with very little elevation gain, start from the High School Trail and turn off -- left -- on the .9-mile Adventure Trail, just before you get to the junction for the Section Line and Poo Poo Point trails at the power lines.

Hike the Adventure Trail to the .5-mile Wetlands Trail and the .8-mile Bus Trail that leads to the Tradition Lake Plateau and trailhead parking. These are short trails and the elevation gain is roughly 100 feet. You can take a more direct route by hiking directly to the Bus Trail from the Gas Line Trail at the power lines.

For a one-way hike, leave another car at the Tradition Lake Plateau trailhead. From the restroom, follow the "TMT" (Tiger Mountain Trail) signs to the Bus Trail in 1/4 mile. The map will reveal many possibilities.

The Web Trail

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If you go

GETTING THERE: From Seattle, take Interstate 90 east and take the Front Street exit in Issaquah. Follow Front Street through town and continue to Bush Street, turn left and continue a couple of blocks to Issaquah High School on Second Avenue Southeast. Go past the school a few blocks and look carefully for a small parking area with room for a few cars on the south (left) side.

You also can continue from Front Street to the stoplight at Sunset Way and Second Avenue Southeast. Turn left at the light and look for the small trailhead on your right. This is not a major trailhead and there are no facilities. If the parking area is full, you can backtrack to Issaquah and find parking nearby.

If you are starting from the Tradition Lake Plateau or leaving a car for a one-way hike, leave I-90 at Exit 20, then turn right on the frontage road to the gate. Park outside if you plan to be gone past 7 p.m., when the gate is closed. Otherwise, continue on the road .4 mile to the Tradition Plateau trailhead and parking area, elevation 500 feet.

TRAIL DATA: We hiked roughly seven to eight miles with about 1,600 feet elevation gain.

INFORMATION: The map is Green Trails Tiger Mountain No. 204S in the Issaquah Alps Series, revised 2002.

Refer to the "Guide to Trails of Tiger Mountain" by William K. Longwell Jr. (Issaquah Alps Trails Club, 89 pages, $12). Changes have been made to some of the trails and trailhead access since this book was published -- be sure you have the map, since not all trail junctions are marked. You also can refer to "Best Winter Walks and Hikes, Puget Sound" by Harvey Manning (Mountaineers, 252 pages, $15.95).

New to the area? Try a hike with the Issaquah Alps Trails Club and/or volunteer to work on a trail. For more information, visit the IATC Web site at www.issaquahalps.org/tiger.htm.

Karen Sykes is a Queen Anne resident and avid hiker who has been traveling Northwest trails for 20 years. She is the author of "Hidden Hikes in Western Washington."

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