Taming the Tigers: 3,2,1,East,Mid,South,Poo Poo Point Loop (+ High School/Adventure/Tradition)
25 mile loop encompassing all of the Tiger summits and many of the features. Issaquah, WA. Brutal thigh burning starts the day on Cable Line Trail to Tiger Mountain 3. From 3, knock out 2 and 1, nearby, then traverse and descend to reach East, circling back around toward the western flank and ascending Middle Tiger, then down through the train wreck site and to South summit, near Carol Hapke Launch Area. Then you'll head back for a bit and set sights on Poo Poo Point, and down Nook Trail to complete a loop. If you throw in a Tradition Lake loop at the end, that's a substantial and rather thorough coverage of Tiger Mountain. Though to be sure, not 100% complete. Southeast and Northwest aspects of Tiger have vast trail systems as well, though not as popular due to being a couple extra miles down the road our of Preston and the Holder Creek area. If you'd like to enjoy this route but don't want to mess with Cable Line, just take the West Tiger 3 trail up to exchange steepness and rougher trail conditions for extra mileage. Start early and bring the 10 essentials.
http://www.switchbacks.com/maps/PDFs/Tiger_Mountain.pdf
Trail Route for Taming the Tigers:
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1. Cable Line Trail (S, directly up ridge) -> West Tiger Summit #3
2. Tiger #2 Trail (from WTS3; SE; via trail behind #3) -> West Tiger Summit 2
3. Tiger #2 Trail (from WTS2, is actually a road) -> West Tiger Summit #1
4. West Tiger Summit #1 Area (actual summit area restricted due to radio health hazard) -> Bypass Trail (NNE; behind the hiker's hut)
5. Bypass Trail (NNE) -> Preston Trail (Continue E at Junction with Poo Top Trail)
6. Preston Trail (Continues NE, then turns S) -> Bootleg Trail (Junction with Preston, continue ESE)
7. Bootleg Trail (Zig-zags, switchbacks, along eastmost WTS1 shoulder) -> East Tiger Mountain Trail (turns sharply SSE from Bootleg Trail)
8. East Tiger Mountain Trail (Continues SE then S)-> Preston Railroad Grade Trail (At junction turn W (right) then follow south)
9. Preston Railroad Grade (Eventually turns W, then junction)-> East Tiger Summit Trail (from junction, turn directly south; ignore boot path junction; intersecting road is more direct route)
10. East Tiger Summit Trail (NNE, to north ridge, then SSW climb, simple path)-> East Tiger Summit
11. East Tiger Summit -> East Tiger Summit Trail (just follow your original path OR potentially bushwhack a much steeper descent down the western face to rejoin the East Tiger Summit Trail just before it connects with Preston Railroad Grade and reduce doubling back)
12. East Tiger Summit Trail -> Preston Railroad Grade (rejoins except continue opposite direction from original route, SSEward then junction with road)
13. Westbound Preston Railroad Grade Trail (I guess?) / Drivable road (Head N, then W) -> Road Ends, Seems to Dump into TMT
Tiger Montain Trail (?; Turns SE) -> Tiger Middle Summit
14. Tiger Middle Summit -> Southbound TMT
15. TMT -> West Side Road Junction (to SSE)
16. West Side Road (gradually turns east) -> South Tiger Mountain Traverse Trail (S, beside N facing ridge)
17. Tiger Mountain Traverse Trail -> East Summit trail (turns east from junction; not sure if marked)
18. Summit Trail -> Tiger Mountain East Summit (Up the western face)
19. Tiger Mountain South Summit -> Summit Trail (follow path almost all the way back to Middle Tiger,
20. Summit Trail -> South Tiger Traverse Trail follow N until road junction) alternative continue S at Traverse trail junction (left) and extend trip)
21. South Tiger Traverse Trail -> Road junction (follow E then N)
22. Road -> West Side Road (alternatively, you can take TMT, but it will add more distance and gains)
** From this point do not follow TMT heading South; only North, until near Middle Mountain**
23. West Side Road -> TMT (road will turn N, then follow TMT W)
24. Tiger Mountain Trail (long distance) -> One View Trail (leftmost, continue course, do not go back up middle summit, do not join other trails, stay on TMT)
25. One View Trail -> Poo Poo Point Trail (turn sharply SSW from One View; junction with W Tiger Railroad Regrade is too far)
26. Poo Poo Point Trail -> Poo Poo Point (heads roughly SSW)
** From here you are looping back to parking via an unretraced loop that includes uphill and downhill**
** To extend trip to include High School Trail and Lake Tradition, skip next step and see Extra Credit below **
27. Poo Poo Point -> Poo Poo Point Trail (go E)
Poo Poo Point Trail (exit after turning N -> West Tiger Railroad Grade (starts out heading E)
28. West Tiger Railroad Grade -> Section Line Trail
Section Line Trail -> Talus Rock Trail
29. Talus Rocks Trail (only opn this for a short distance) -> Nook Trail (be sure to turn NNW onto Nook)
** Last Chance for Extra Credit **
30. Nook Trail -> Bus Trail (Follow NW (left))
31. Bus Trail - Cable Line Trail Parking Area
** Extra Credit Possibilities**
After hitting all of Tiger's peaks, including the true summit, train wreck site