Tiger Mountain

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Squak Mountain, Cougar Mountain, and Seattle seen from the summit of West Tiger #3

Tiger Mountain in a mountain range in the U.S. state of Washington. It is comprised of six peaks in the center of the Issaquah Alps forming a 13,500-acre triangle between Interstate 90 (I-90) on the north, the Issaquah-Hobart Road on the southwest, and Washington State Route 18 (SR-18) on the southeast. Immediately to the west is Squak Mountain followed by Cougar Mountain, to the south east are Mc Donald and Taylor Mountains, and Rattlesnake Ridge.

It was established as a state forest in 1981. In 1989, the entire Issaquah Plateau in the northwest corner was designated as a conservation area–the West Tiger Mountain Natural Resources Conservation Area–accessed by a large trailhead at Exit 20 on I-90. This is the most popular hiking destination in the Seattle area.

The most crowded trail leads to the bald summit of West Tiger #3, with a panoramic view of Seattle and points to the south and east. The nearby peaks of West Tiger #2 and West Tiger #1 provide essentially the same view, but with fewer obstructions the higher one goes. A bare shoulder of West Tiger Mountain called Poo Poo Point is a popular launching site for paragliders and hang gliders.

State Route 18 bypasses the congested highways of the metro Seattle area. It reaches an elevation of 1375 feet between Tiger and Taylor Mountain, where another major trailhead is located. This provides access to South Tiger Mountain with no views, Middle Tiger Mountain with a 45 degree window looking down on the Cedar Hills Garbage Dump, and East Tiger Mountain with a panoramic view south toward Mount Rainier.

Many trails on Tiger Mountain have wide beds and slope very gently because they are built on the remnants of 1920s logging railroads, long after the rails and crossties were salvaged in the Great Depression. Near Middle Tiger Mountain is the site of a fatal 1924 train wreck where visitors can still see artifacts.

In the most remote part of the forest, 15 Mile Creek arises in the pass between East and West Tiger. The creek carves a miniature "Grand Canyon" through sandstone.