We finally got a chance to check out this area since the big clear cut was completed last year. WTA has done a beautiful job on reconstructing the trails that were destroyed by the logging operation. The clear cut is quite ugly but it does open up nice views. Supposedly DNR did this as a "selective cut" but as usual it was a total joke because almost all of the trees that were left behind got blown down by wind. It's essentially a complete clear cut. It is quite large also. It appears to be even bigger than the one on West Tiger. The views from Middle tiger are quite open now and there's pretty much a 180° view to the south which includes Mount Rainier and downtown Seattle and Bellevue.
There are many ways to approach this peak. We chose Southeast Tiger Mountain road. Parking is quite limited because the neighbors were able to convince DNR to close off the parking lot to the public. Major nimby move. Total wimpy cave by DNR!
We did a loop that included the Middle Tiger Trail, Tiger Mountain Trail, and the Hobart Middle Tiger Railroad Trail. We also took an unmarked bootleg bike trail down to the 15 Mile Creek Trail and completed the loop.
I counted rings on a medium large stump (2-3 foot diameter) and it was 84 year old.
8 Mile loop, 2000 ft
Comments
Mount Rainier looks good but dang! That clear cut is depressing!
Posted by:
hikingwithlittledogs on Jan 19, 2026 06:09 PM
Agree, DNR has not been kind to the south side of Tiger.
Posted by:
Maddy on Jan 19, 2026 06:16 PM
That’s a serious clear cut! Hopefully after a while summer will bring the crazy amounts of wildflowers like what happened in the saddle of WT3 and WT2 after that “tree harvest.”
Posted by:
Pika Seeker on Jan 19, 2026 07:33 PM
I think that it will be similar. There also seems to more surface water here than W Tiger so that bodes well for flowers. There are already lots of small Fox Glove plants growing.
On W Tiger, the showiest of the flowering plants, Ox Eye Daisy, is unfortunately a class C invasive in WA state (removal encouraged and illegal to sell). This one spreads quickly so I'm sure it will appear on Middle Tiger soon.
Posted by:
Maddy on Jan 20, 2026 06:33 AM