Crosshaul
Issaquah AlpsBest Year-round
A short connector through East Tiger's working forest that links longer trails into proper loop routes.
About This Trail
Crosshaul is one of those trail segments you walk through rather than walk to. It runs about a quarter mile through second-growth timber on East Tiger Mountain, connecting the Northwest Timber Trail network to DNR access road 5700. The forest here is thick and recovering, typical of a working landscape where logging and recreation coexist.
Most hikers encounter Crosshaul as part of a bigger loop. The classic circuit strings together Connector Trail, Northwest Timber, Joyride, Silent Swamp, Preston Railroad Grade, Bailout, and Crosshaul into a roughly 12-mile day. On its own, this segment is over in a few minutes, but it fills a gap that makes those longer routes possible.
Mountain bikers share this trail, riding one-way uphill while hikers travel both directions. The trail is well-marked but not heavily trafficked, and the intersections can be tricky to spot, especially where it meets access roads. A GPS app or the DNR Tiger Mountain Forest map is worth having along.
Forecast
Astronomy
Trail Conditions
“Began my hike from the upper parking lot off Highway 18 at Tiger Summit for trails near East Tiger Mtn.”
Last report: Jan 25, 2026
Scorecard
Safety & Considerations
Today's Hazard
- Strong sun — sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses recommended
Persistent Hazards
- Shared with mountain bikers (one-way bike traffic uphill)
- Trail junctions can be hard to spot near access roads
Getting There
Park at Tiger Summit Trailhead off Highway 18. From I-90 Exit 25, head south 4.2 miles. Turn into the wide pullout on the right, then follow the gravel road 0.3 miles. Discover Pass required.
From Tiger Summit Trailhead, take the Connector Trail, cross DNR 4000 Road, then follow Northwest Timber Trail or Master Link Trail to reach Crosshaul. Not a standalone destination; plan it as part of a longer loop.
No special timing needed. Works anytime as part of a bigger East Tiger loop.
Recent Reports
The loop we hiked included many trails: Connector Trail, Northwest Timber Trail, Joyride Trail, Silent Swamp Trail, Preston Railroad Grade Trail, Bailout Trail, Crosshaul Trail and Masterlink Trail. Including some additional exploration, the loop is about 12 miles.
Longer trip than I planned. I was hoping to go down the Predator Trails but on the way down I could not find the trail intersection.
Began my hike from the upper parking lot off Highway 18 at Tiger Summit for trails near East Tiger Mtn. Started on the Connector Trail, crossed the DNR 4000 Road, then onto the Northwest Timber Trail.
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