Middle Tiger
Issaquah AlpsBest Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
The middle summit of Tiger Mountain, recently clearcut to a long-buried view of Rainier and Seattle.
About This Trail
Middle Tiger sits between West Tiger and East Tiger, the central peak in the cluster of summits that defines Tiger Mountain State Forest. The trail leaves the Tiger Summit trailhead off Highway 18 and climbs steadily through second-growth Douglas fir on a working-forest grade, crossing the Main Tiger Mountain Road twice on the way up. Sixteen hundred feet of gain spread across three and a half miles in keeps the climb honest without ever turning brutal.
For decades the summit was a forested anticlimax with no view at all. A 2024 timber harvest changed that. The clearcut opened the top to a panorama running from Rainier south to the Seattle skyline west, and the new perspective has rerouted Middle Tiger from a workout-only objective into a genuine destination. Loose stumps and slash now define the summit; the cut will green up over the next decade.
Tiger Mountain is a working forest, not a wilderness. Logging roads, biking trails, and other hikers are part of the landscape. Trails stay open year-round at this elevation, and the network connects to West Tiger 3, East Tiger, and Poo Top for hikers stringing together longer days.
Seasonal Highlights
Astronomy
Trail Conditions
Scorecard
Tiger Summit trailhead serves multiple peaks and fills on weekends. Middle Tiger draws fewer hikers than West Tiger 3, especially weekday mornings.
Safety & Considerations
Today's Hazard
- Strong sun — sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses recommended
Persistent Hazards
- Logging operations in the State Forest can close roads and trails on short notice
- Mountain bikes share several segments — listen on descents
Getting There
Paved Tiger Summit trailhead off Highway 18 with vault toilet. Discover Pass required. Overflow parking nearby on busy weekends.
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