Northwest Timber Trail
Issaquah AlpsBest Year-round
A gentle, mossy forest walk on Tiger Mountain's old logging grades, shared with a busy mountain bike network.
About This Trail
The Northwest Timber Trail follows an old logging grade through second-growth and remnant old-growth forest on the west slopes of Tiger Mountain. The grade is gentle, gaining barely 150 feet over 2.2 miles, making it one of the flattest trails in the Tiger Mountain State Forest system. Moss-draped bigleaf maples arch over the path, and small seasonal streams cross at intervals.
The trail passes through a replanted clearcut that opens the canopy briefly before returning to dense forest. Old-growth stumps with springboard notches line the path, evidence of the logging that shaped this landscape in the early 1900s. The understory is lush with sword fern, salal, and trillium in spring.
This trail sees heavy mountain bike traffic. Trip reports consistently note encountering more cyclists than hikers, particularly on weekends. The trail surface is maintained for mixed use, with bermed corners and purpose-built features for bikes. Hikers should stay alert and yield to descending riders. The Northwest Timber Trail connects to a web of other trails at Tiger Summit, including the Iverson Railroad Trail, Crosshaul, Silent Swamp Loop, Preston Railroad Grade, and multiple mountain bike-specific routes like Joyride and Master Link, enabling loops of 5 to 12 miles.
Forecast
Astronomy
Trail Conditions
“This is great trail – well developed, lots of parking, and good signage.”
Last report: May 17, 2026
Scorecard
Safety & Considerations
Persistent Hazards
- Heavy mountain bike traffic; stay alert and yield to descending riders
- Trail surface can be muddy and slippery in wet conditions
Getting There
Tiger Summit Trailhead off Highway 18. The DNR lot was rebuilt and reopened in March 2026 with paved stalls, restrooms, and expanded capacity. Discover Pass required. Alternative free parking near Highway 18 with a 0.3-mile walk up Road 4000.
Weekday mornings see fewer mountain bikers. The trail is accessible year-round and rarely has snow at this elevation.
Recent Reports
This is great trail – well developed, lots of parking, and good signage. Following the WTA directions, I pulled off SR18 into an overflow parking lot and headed up the forest road to the upper parking lot.
Good: there is a beautiful multi-level waterfall in the middle of the trail, we were properly impressed! Not so good: - Busy mountain bike traffic, especially closer to the trail head, doesn't facilitate nice walking experience.
A great day on the trail. Seven of us set out from the Tiger Summit Trailhead just after 9:00 AM , heading up to the East Tiger summit in cool, crisp air — perfect for a rigorous climb, though layers were coming off before long.
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