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Tiger Mountain Trail

Jun 22, 2012

by Nathaniel — last modified Jun 27, 2012 07:23 PM
Type of Outing
Day hike
Read More in our Hiking Guide
Hike: Tiger Mountain Trail
Region: Issaquah Alps -- Tiger Mountain
Agency: Department of Natural Resources, South Puget Sound Region
Trails: (#)
Avg Rating: 3.33
Be Aware Of
Blowdowns
Bridge out
Overgrown
Mudholes
Water on trail
*THE TRAIL IS CLOSED- due to logging activity from mp4- mp6.*


We set out from the South and headed north- the first two miles were rain free. All of the other 14 miles were in pouring rain.

There are no signs about the trail being closed on either end- just when you get to the logging activity is it posted. For us- that notification was 4-5miles into the hike. North to South people will see the first sign about 10 miles into the hike. (I see this as unacceptable)

So we were faced with two options- head back and try again at a later time... or bushwhack around the logging zone (as there are no good trails around it) We went for the latter- not advisable! It took a long time for us to make it around- and it would have been fairly impossible to do without good maps on our GPSrs.

The whole trail is a mud pie at this point, is very overgrown, and is full of nettles that seem to have a remarkable ability to sting you.

Overall- the hike was quite an undertaking- especially with the rain and mud. I enjoyed it- but really would recommend checking the current status of the logging as it is pretty active up there and there is no way through on the trail.
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Clarify your route?

Posted by 2CoffeeGuys at Jun 22, 2012 11:01 PM
Tiger Mountain trail up Tiger Mtn, from which starting pojnt? Can you use the lingering trail or another route around it? Sounds like the closed bridge is on your route (we all use it anyway).I'd appreciate a clear location (I hike here almost every weekend, as do many others, so this unexpected closure is, as you say, ill thoughtiout.

TMT

Posted by Nathaniel at Jun 22, 2012 11:25 PM
Sorry for the gap in information- I was falling asleep when I wrote the entry- Here is a map of the closure: http://i238.photobucket.com/[…]/TMTclosure.jpg

I marked the closed section with the X marks and then the "TMT Closed" is where they were working today- the machines were directly on the trail swinging rather large trees around.
We ended up using the artifacts trail to go around- but I strongly advise people not to go that way- it is full of stream crossings, steep ravines, nettles, downed trees, and devils club.

The only bypass that I can see would be to use the Middle Tiger Trail- but I am unsure as to if that is closed as well (I think it skirts by) There might be another route that I am unaware of- but it doesn't show up on any of my maps.

Also the artifacts trail has tons of downed trees and a creepy collection of animal bones places there.

The closed bridge looked very sad- did a tree hit it? It looks like it died REALLY young.

Further information

Posted by Nathaniel at Jun 22, 2012 11:25 PM
Ooh and we entered from the southernmost TH- near the intersection of Tiger Mountain Rd and Issaquah Hobart Road and exited at Tradition Plateau TH. Followed the TMT without shortcuts- minus the detour.

TMT logging closure

Posted by mdk at Jun 23, 2012 12:19 PM
In other words, this logging activity is entirely to the south of Middle Tiger Mtn. The trails mentioned by 2CoffeeGuys - Lingering Loop and the "closed" bridge areas are unaffected. Many regular hikers using the High Point, Tradition Plateau, and High School trail heads don't realize that all those great trails are on and around West Tiger Mtn. There are East, Middle, and South Tiger Mtns as well, and there tends to be quite a bit more industrial activity the further south you go. The East Tiger Trail passes thru an area of fairly recent logging activity, but that's to the east of the West Tiger 1 summit. Hopefully the active logging will stay south and east of the best hiking trails :)

Thanks for posting re: closed trail

Posted by shiwapema at Jun 27, 2012 07:25 PM
I'm doing the TMT in sections (from the north) and really appreciate you noting that the trail is closed mp4-6. Wondering if you complained to DNR about this?


About the lack of notification

Posted by shiwapema at Jun 27, 2012 08:21 PM
That is about the lack of notification that the trail is closed there. I also find it unacceptable.

Notification

Posted by Nathaniel at Jun 27, 2012 08:21 PM
I actually wasn't sure who to contact so I just posted up here for other hikers to see- I would hate to have come from the North to find out that I just did 10 miles and have to turn around/drop off onto the roads. I will give them a ring tomorrow if I can get off work early enough to do that. I wish you the best of luck in your hike! I personally liked the Southern sections the best- reminded me of more secluded hikes with the steeper terrain and smaller trail.

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