Only the very top of peak is closed from Cable Line and West Tiger 3. A very good workout can still be had! We went down Cable Line as well, and in the rain, it turns into a small waterfall.

We saw at least four groups enter the closed area, not a great idea.

The top of Tiger 3 is still closed for logging. Just the last 200 vertical feet is inaccessible. 

This loop may include a lot of trails, but it’s not that long, about 4 miles.  It took me about an hour and a half and I only saw two or three people on the whole way. You can choose your own adventure on Tiger Mountain. This one starts on the Tiger Mountain Trail which is gradually uphill, then goes insanely steep uphill on the cable line, then a little bit of Tiger 3, Talus Rocks Trail, Section Line Trail, then Gas Line and Bus Trails to complete the loop back to the main parking area. Some of the highlights here include the steps built into the Cable Line Trail, which are actually almost too big to use and most people follow the little social trails around the edges of them, the waterfall on the Talus Rocks Trail, the talus itself, which is very big talus, Trillium Bridge, and, of course, The Bus.  I found this all to be very pleasant walking in the woods and fields of Tiger Mountain. It is one more in a vast network of loops and options you have here. 

You people are the worst. Have some respect for the outdoors and places you visit.

Hike Notes:

Usually on weekdays I run or walk a couple times per week after work. Today, on a whim, I decided to join the "after work hiking crowd." A quick drive to the TH from where I work on the Eastside. The TH was popular, I counted probably 40 cars parked along the paved road, but on the trail, I only saw maybe 20 people. I guess with the Tiger Mtn trail system spider-webbing and branching, the crowds are never as bad as the TH parking would suggest.

This trail is STEEP. It doesn't mess around and goes straight up the mountain. You ascend 1300' in the first mile, which is pretty rare in WA for trails to get over that 1000'/mile gradient. To compound matters, the trail is rough. Lots of loose rock and dirt. Much of the trail is washed out (basically a dry water runout channel down the middle). Lots of big step ups on this trail. I can't imagine doing this trail when it is wet or snowy out. Would be very slick! Present repeatedly on this trail is the Cable Line, a power line to the radio towers at the top. In some places it is waist high (due to erosion) and is tempting to use as a rope to pull yourself up. This seems super sketch since it's a power cable. I can't help but wonder how long until someone pokes through the rubber shielding with a trekking pole... Ouch! Speaking of trekking poles, I brought mine and they helped a ton on this hike, both up and down, and added a ton of stability on the loose rocks and dirt on the steep slopes.

The West Tiger 3 summit is forested, with a small view to nothing but sky. There is however a very nice viewpoint below the summit on the way up on climbers left offering views of Si, Defiance, Bessy, etc.

I remember about a dozen years ago or so, when I was in high school, my XC coach brought us to Tiger to run to the top. I always thought it was Cable Line. Turns out it was actually the neighboring West Tiger 3 Trail, which I decided to take down to the car due to the better footing and smoother gradient. This was much nicer than the Cable Line, and TBH, I think Cable Line is a one-and-done hike for me. In the future, if trying to climb Tiger from this side, I'll opt for the West Tiger 3 trail.