Trail closed. Despite finding parking and the trailhead, we arrived to find the trail closed due to unstable conditions. Disappointed, we ended up walking on the Westside road and found what seemed to be a hidden mountain bike trail that was in great condition. We managed to get a sneak peak into the canyon and definitely plan to come back when the trail is open. It was busy here today and although there are many no parking signs, many people parked illegally right off the road. Not wanting to risk it, we parked about a third of a mile down the road in a nice pull off area.

I’ve been all over Tiger Mountain but this was my first visit to this trail. I’ve been eyeing it on my green trails map and have always wanted to see what’s there so today I decided to make it part of my trail run. I started from the South Tiger TH and took the TMT north and then left at the road, over to this trail, so I can’t comment on the parking situation for the shorter option. This trail and 15 mile creek were beautiful. I liked learning a bit of history on the way as well. I tried going a bit past the mine shaft, there are bare branches hugging the trail and I can see how this could get brushy in the spring/summer. I didn’t follow it too far but it looked to go on a bit further up the creek. I took the S Tiger traverse on the way back to the S Tiger TH. I ran about14 miles total with about 2400 ft total gain.

This is jewel of a trail hidden a short distance from Issaquah on Tiger Mountain. Like others have commented, half of the challenge is finding the trail, since there are no trail markers and no trail head parking. I managed to find a spot about 50 yards from the gated road. Walk past the gate and take the first road to the left. The trail head is obvious at this point, since there is a large turn out to accommodate horse riders. I don't know how anyone with a horse trailer would get past the locked gate, however! The trail is in fair condition, with several spots with mud and puddles. There are two bridges over small creeks. At the end of the trail, it splits, the left-hand trail leads to views of waterfalls; the right-hand trail leads to the old coal mine. It was a wonderful short hike through lovely forest with moss-covered trees.

This is a lovely trail, nice and flat, and only a half hour in from the trailhead and that's if you're walking slowly. It runs alongside a creek for part of the way and crosses two small bridges. There's explanatory signs about the area's coal prospecting past and a nice overlook with benches and a really nice side trail to a gated entrance to a former coal mine. The trail is so level, you could probably take a stroller on it. 

The main challenge is GETTING to it. Drive 1.7 miles up Tiger Mountain Road and you'll see to your left what looks like a logged-out field with a gated gravel road. There's a bunch of signs saying NO TRAIL PARKING. Why the locals are so incensed about access to this trail is beyond me. I parked my car nearby and got a nasty note on my windshield even though there were no "no parking" signs nearby. (However, the cul-de-sac at 258th just down the road appears to be a parking possibility). Walk back up to the field, past the gate and down the gravel road for 1/4 mile tops. Take the left fork, walk another 1/4 mile and the trailhead will be on your right. There's a bike rack there but no placard stating the name of the trail. Am hoping someone can give this place a little TLC someday by providing parking spaces and an actual sign for the trail.

It was kind of sad to finally get to this trail and to find it such a wreck. I've looked at this trail, tucked into the southwest corner of Tiger Mountain state park, for several years. The road access is ~5 miles of dirt road from highway 18, which just never seemed worthwhile. Especially when there is the Mirrormount neighborhood so close to the trail head. We drove to Tiger Mountain Road, parked respectfully alongside the road, and walked the quarter mile to the real trail head.

The initial 1/3 of a mile or so of trail is in fine condition. It is wet in spots and muddy but there aren't any difficulties. However, once into the canyon the trail quickly deteriorates. Trees are down, the trail is overgrown, and once the river is crossed the trail dies altogether. The river isn't terribly high but really only suitable to walking up creek in the heat of the summer.

We found a few remnants of mining here and there. Several closed mine tunnels, foundations from old buildings, and of course the old road beds. At least one location a coal seem was open for us to see what the miners had been working upon.

Judging from the mapping sources that I was using the trail no longer goes as far up the canyon as it once did.