Tiger Mountain Trail – West Tiger Railroad Grade – West Tiger #3 Loop
7.8 Miles
1960 feet elevation gain
Tiger Mountain is one of my go-to hiking destinations near the Seattle area when I don’t want to drive very far. Thirty minutes from downtown Seattle, it’s a short drive but miles away from city life.
The mountain can draw quite the crowd on a sunny weekend, but I’ve found that most folks tend to congregate on the West Tiger #3 and Poo Poo Point Trail.
8:30 am on a sunny Saturday morning and the parking lot is almost full
The mountain is criss-crossed with numerous other less-traveled trails, which makes it easy to shorten or lengthen your hike on the fly if you so desire. Just be sure to bring a map (paper or digital) so it’s easy find your way around on the less well-marked trails.
Trail Selfie from my hike in May 2018
My favorite trail in the area is the Tiger Mountain Trail – the TMT is a 16-mile trail spanning the length of Tiger Mountain. I first hiked the TMT in 2017, which I chronicled in this blog post: Tiger Mountain Trail-Poo Poo Point Trail Loop.
I’ve also thru-hiked the entire Tiger Mountain Trail which is a fun experience. It’s hands-down one of the best hikes in Issaquah.
This post is about some hiking adventures on the TMT from 2018 with my Pacific Crest Trail friends Garnet Turtle and Halfway.
Halfway, Garnet Turtle and me when we hiked the TMT trail in January. Â We had very different weather that time around!
The route starts at the High Point Trailhead, which was packed with cars due to the sunny weekend weather. I started on the route towards West Tiger #3, but then quickly split off onto the Tiger Mountain Trail shortly after the hike began.
The TMT Trail in Spring
Fern fronds in Spring
Hiking in the spring is such a joy. Everything is so much greener as compared to when I last hiked through here. Young fern shoots unfurled towards sky along the side of the trail. Wildflowers bloomed here and there, poking out amid the greenery. Green leaves sprang from branches that were formerly bare.
Spring flowers on the Tiger Mountain Trail
Spring flowers on the Tiger Mountain Trail
When we hiked the trail in January, it was a rainy day that turned to snow as we gained in elevation. At first snow dusted the ground, but we were trudging through several inches of snow by the time we reached the West Tiger #2 summit.
The snow begins to fall as Halway and Garnet Turtle cross a bridge on the TMT in January
The same bridge in May 2018
I also noticed more wildlife this time around. I’m not sure if that’s because I was warmer and in less of a hurry, but I almost stepped on a snail that was slowly ambling along the trail. I also saw lots of birds, slugs, and a centipede today.
It’s a centipede!
It’s a snail!
Two and a half miles from the trailhead I reached Murat’s Bridge, which is a nice there-and-back hike in it’s own right. This is one of my favorite landmarks on the trail and I always stop here for a snack break. Dedicated to Murat Danishek who passed away in 2013, the bridge is a memorial by his family. What a cool way to honor the legacy of a loved one.
Murat’s Bridge
Into the Woods
I *heart* the Tiger Mountain Trail
After passing the bridge, I followed the trail up to Fred’s Corner where it meets the West Tiger Railroad Grade Trail. The trail flattens out for a bit as it follows an old railroad, with a bit of a detour over a new bridge crossing High Point Creek as the old bridge was washed out some time ago.
Fred’s Corner
Mossy trees are the best trees
Miss climbing up a dead tree
Back in January, we hiked on to Tom’s Corner and then to the West Tiger #2 Summit. It was too cloudy to see a view, but it was cool to see the radio tower all covered in snow. We were all shivering from the wet and cold as none of us had really expected that much snow. We stopped for a short lunch break but had to keep moving to stay warm. We took the West Tiger #3 trail back to the trailhead and only passed a few other people.
West Tiger Railroad Grade Trail in January
Garnet Turle braving the snow
West Tiger #2 Summit in January 2018
This time around, I decided to take a shorter route as I only planned to spend half my day hiking. Upon reaching the intersection of the TMT trail with the K-3 Trail, I took the West Tiger Railroad Grade connector trail downhill until it reached the West Tiger #3 Trail.
Joining the West Tiger #3 Trail
West Tiger #3 Trail is popular with hikers of many skill levels
Here’s where I really met the crowds. I passed scores of dayhikers ascending and descending the mountain. The West Tiger #3 Trail is rocky and steep and wide enough for several people to walk abreast. I was reminded of why I typically avoid the trail, but it was the fastest route back to my car.
All in all another lovely hike on the TMT trail and I’m sure it won’t be my last.
View my other hikes on the Tiger Mountain Trail here:
- Through-Hiking the Tiger Mountain Trail in the Issaquah Alps – June 26, 2018
- Tiger Mountain Trail – Poo Poo Point Trail Loop – March 29, 2017
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