A nice set of easy trails, close to Seattle, in nearby Issaquah. Trails are wide and well-marked, a great place to bring your dog. Click the link for individual hikes and detailed information. 2. Middle Tiger Mountain A nice route to a forested summit of Tiger Mountain. Route: There are two main routes, the one described in Day Hiking: Snoqualmie Region (Done in a Day) and the variation shown on the map below. Not a huge difference, the alternate route has more road vs. trail time, but either way is pleasant. Both routes start on the West Side Road; to get to the trailhead, take the left (west) fork after pulling into the lower lot along the road. If the gate is locked, park in the lower lot, and walk the 0.25 miles to the upper lot. Pass the lot and continue on the road. About 1.5 miles in, there is a junction with the Tiger Mountain Trail (see the marker on the map), follow the trail for about 2 miles to Milan's Crossing where it joins the Middle Tiger Trail (see marker on map).
The last 0.5 miles is the steepest of the hike. The summit is a small clearing in the forest.
A trail descends beyond, but it's not a trail shown in the guidebook. The entire route is about 8.25 miles (the alternate is about 9 miles). Map: View Hike: Middle Tiger, Issaquah, WA in a larger map
3. Twin Falls (North Bend) Another popular hike, this is a good one to bring your dog on as well. Map: View Hike: Twin Falls in a larger map
4. Mt Si The classic Seattle hike; do not expect solitude here; it's estimated to have 30 to 50 thousand visitors per year. Map:
5. Mt Teneriffe An underrated road trail just beyond Mt Si; if you want to avoid the crowds, you will find less here, but the views are better. Click the link for detailed information. A challenging peak close to Seattle; click the link for detailed information. ![]()
7. Little Bandera Mountain A nice hike with excellent views rewarding those scramble up the last steep mile of the trail. The best views are actually from Little Bandera, and that's where most people turn around. The Little Bandera summit is at roughly 5050-5100 feet, the true Bandera Mountain summit, a mile east along the ridge is at 5241 feet. Route: Start at Ira Spring Trailhead, follow trail approximately 2.8 miles to the junction with the Bandera Mountain trail; look for the sign just above the treeline. Follow the very steep trail up until you gain the ridge, and then follow it to Little Bandera and if you like, the Bandera summit. Map:
View Hike: Little Bandera Mountain in a larger map
8. Pollalie Ridge - Tired Creek - Pete Lake - Cooper River Trails Stretching the definition of 'close to Seattle' here, but you can hit the trailhead around 2 hours from Seattle. You won't see a lot of people when back on the trails. Map: View Hike: Pollalie Ridge To Tired Creek To Pete Lake To Cooper River, Cle Elum, WA in a larger map
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