Tiger Mountain - West Tiger Mtn #3

Trail Route: follow West Tiger Mountain #3 trail to the summit

Trail Report:

Most guide books, including my favorite, do a good job of warning this is a very popular trail. I did a drive by on a early March weekend and saw cars overflowing the parking lot all the way back to the freeway -- so I decided to do this hike on a weekday.

I thought a Tuesday morning would be a good time...but found I was not alone. There were about 12 cars in the parking lot at 9:30am and I must of passed at least 20 people (half with dogs) on the hike. Everyone was friendly -- but this was not a un-crowded hike.

That being said -- this trail has a real payoff, unlike most of Cougar and Squak hikes. So I think it was well worth it -- however, I am not sure I would do this hike on the weekend. This was my first hike on Tiger, so I was a bit concerned about finding the trail without a map. But this basic hike is well marked and unlike Cougar, there really aren't that many inter-connecting trails.

Just follow the "west tiger #3" trail signs out of the parking lot and the lower level.

Once you pass through a bike barrier, you are on the main trail. For the first mile, its a real uphill grind. The trail is fairly wide and basically a dual trail width for 90% of the hike. The trail is one of the best maintained I have seen recently. Since its so popular, its easy to understand why the trail is so established and well worn. During this time of the year, there were a couple of filter views of Issaquah and Lake Sammamish in the distance.

There are about three junctions along the way. They are all well marked, but if in doubt -- just follow the widest uphill trail.

After the first mile, the trail mellows out and becomes much more enjoyable. At the point pictured below, you have basically passed the steepest part and have a easier hike to the summit.

One interesting part is the intersection of the Cable Line trail, it follows the main trail up to the summit. Some maps show this as a trail -- and it looks like a very confusing intersecting trail option. BUT this is not a real trail and is full of rocks -- plus its not even an a real good option to the summit.

After passing the Cable Line, the snow became more appearent on the trail. I was lucky and it had snowed earlier and lots of hikers had already made tracks on the snow to show the route to the summit. From this point to the top, the hike gets a bit steep and narrow, but you are so close to the top its easy to push through it! (Dont let your friends quit at this point)

Right before you reach the top, there is a fantastic open view to the East. The trail is very narrow and has a steep falloff at this point.

After a couple more steep bits, you reach the top of Tiger Mountain 3 with a Summit of 2522 feet.

The day I did this hike, it was very cloudy so there was no fantastic view...but it still was a great summit with a real clearing so you can take a break and enjoy being at the top.

I was thinking about going on to Tiger Mtn #2, but the snow covered over the trail at this point and I wasnt sure where the trail headed. In any case, I turned around and headed back down.


On the way back, I took some time to enjoy some of the sounds of the mountain. There were lots of birds and creeks running sounds on the lower half of the mountain.

If it wasnt for the crowds (even on a Tuesday!) it would be my favorite hike.

One warning - the summit is at 2520 feet, so it will be snowing if the forecast calls for "snow in the foothills".

Summary:

Current trail condition: Mostly dry, some mud patches at midway, and snow on the trail near (and at) the Summit. Hiking boots were ok.

Crowded, but enjoyable hike with well maintained trails. Lots of dogs (not sure why) and parking can be an issue on busy weekends. The route is well marked and easy to find, although I would always travel with a map (Green Trails: Tiger Mountain 204S) or a good local guide book, like this one. The summit has a great view, its a bit of a steep haul but dont quit -- its well worth it. Views of Seattle, Tiger Mtn 2, and Mount Rainier from the summit. Filtered views along the way during the winter.

No fee and free parking lot -- if primary lot is full, you can park on the paved road before the white gate and walk in.

Great hike, but I would do it on a weekday to avoid the crowds.


Basics:
Area - Tiger Mountain (Near Issaquah,Washington)
Trails - Green Trails map: Tiger Mountain 204S
Elevation - Gain of 2,000 feet - start at 480 ft to top of 2,522 ft
Length - 5 miles out and back - 2.5 hours moderate uphill
Trail - Wide dirt trail, limited stops along the way. Well marked and maintained.
Bikes - Not allowed on this hike
View - A couple along the way, with a BIG view at the top
Getting There - Take I-90 to Exit 20. The Entrance is on the south-side of the freeway.
Fee- None, free parking
Other Trails - Many, all main trails are well marked.

Arnold might close some State Parks

Under a proposed budget plan, the California Governor will close 48 state parks out of 278 existing parks. The plan would close two major hiking areas in the Bay Area including Henry W. Coe State Park and Portola-Redwood State Park.

While I have not hiked Henry Coe yet...it does seem to be a favorite hiking park for many.

Portola-Redwood State park is one of my favorites, given how truly "remote" it is -- even though its a short drive from the Peninsula or the South Bay. It provides a number of hikes including one long remote 13-mile hike that I did last year.

For a map and list of the proposed closures, click here

More coverage of the proposed park closings:
SFGate.com
LATimes.com

Cougar Mtn - SR900 to Mine Shaft

Date of Hike: July 2007

Route: Squak Mtn Connector Trail > Wilderness Cliffs Trail > Wilderness Peak Trail > Shy Bear Trail > Fred's Railroad Trail > Clay Pit Road > Mine Shaft Trail > East Fork Trail > Fred's Railroad Trail > Return

This is a nice hike that doesnt seem like 8 miles -- but it is. The hike is all shade and doesnt provide any views of the area, but your reward is a nice workout and a unique look at the Mine Shaft. Overall a pretty nice hike for warm summer days.

This hike starts from the very limited parking area (two cars) off SR 900 (Renton- Issaquah Road) about 4 miles from I90. There is an alternate start at the main parking lot (Wilderness Creek Trailhead).

The Squak Mtn Connector is all business trail, with a moderate incline right up the hill from the parking spot.



Near the end of the Squak Mtn Connector trail you will pass an abandoned car of the trail. Not sure how this car got here, but it is a funny sight to see.

With this routing you basically keep right all the way up the mountain. All of the trails are well maintained and are perfect for morning hikes.


The King County park trails are marked, but since there are so many intersections, its best to take a Map with you. There is an excellent map on the County Park Website, you can view the PDF file here.

The Wilderness Cliffs and Peak trail offer a nice workout uphill, but offer no views or anything too out of the ordinary.

Upon reaching Fred's Railroad Trail, you will enter a dramatic clearing which offers are interesting view of the cottonwood? trees.



Fred's Railroad trail connects with the Clay Pit Road, which is a very developed road used to move earth from the nearby Clay Pit.


The Mine Shaft Trail is located about .3 miles up the Clay Pit Road. Its a well marked turn to the right. The trail seems fairly mundane until you reach a graded mine shaft pit.


These photos dont do the view justice. You can actually see down into the mine shaft a far bit. And it gives you a real sense that there was a real working mine here at one time.


The Mine Shaft Trail passes a small pond of black water and then connects with the East Fork Trail. At the end of the East Fork trail, you will again meet up with Fred's Railroad Trail which will lead back down to the parking spot.


More Photos here

Basics:
Area - Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park (Near Issaquah,Washington)
Trails - Sqauk Mtn. Connector, Wilderness Cliffs/Peek Trails, Shy Bear, Fred's Railroad and Mine Shaft Trails (Trail Map)
Length - 8 miles roundtrip - Easy Hike (uphill, but easy)
Trail - Loop, dirt trail, limited stops along the way. Well marked and maintained.
Bikes - Not allowed on this hike
View - None, except of a mine shaft
Getting There - Google Map
Fee- None, free parking
Weather - All Shade, can be wet if there have been recent rains
Other Trails - tons!

Hamms Gulch-Windy Hill Loop

UPDATE- June 2, 2007
Good news for dog owners -- They have cut back some of the foxtails from trails in the lower and upper areas of the Windy Hill preserve. This includes the Meadow and Anniversary Trails.

Since the options of long hikes (6+ miles) that allow dogs legally are somewhat limited in the Mid-peninsula area, I decided to take Jake to Windy Hill (again). The weather for this trip was much different from the begining of April. It is now the end of May and there has been no rain for weeks. The Corte Madera Creek runs year round, so it was the only wet spot for the entire 6 mile loop.

One warning for dog owners - the foxtails are starting to dry out and will become an issue shortly. Also we found a couple ticks on Jake during and after the hike.


We have done the Hamms Gulch Trail before in April, and the trail is in the same shape -- but dry this time. With the summer weather this trail is MUCH cooler than walking up Windy Hill on the Spring Ridge Trail. If your dog can do a 6+ mile hike, I would highly recommend this route:

Summer Route -
> Park on Alpine Road/Willowbrook
> Take connecting trails to Hamms Gulch Trail
> Turn right near the Summit on the Lost Trail
> Continue on the Anniversary Trail around Windy Hill
> Head down the Spring Trail (say hi to all the out-of-breath/hot/sweaty people going uphill)
> Right on the Meadow Trail which connects back to Alpine Road

The views from the Hamms Gulch trail are short but sweet -- although they are better on clear Winter/Spring days.


Near the top of the Hamms Gulch Trail there is a short trail leading to what look like a look-out point. Its a good rest stop, but not much view.

At the end of the Hamms Gulch Trail, you meet with the Lost Trail. This goes between Windy Hill and the Razorback Ridge Trail (this is next on the list!). Since dogs are not allowed on the Razorback Trail we headed toward Windy Hill on the Lost Trail.

This brief but enjoyable trail runs close to Highway 35/Skyline Blvd. The trail is in very good shape and there are some views.

The Lost Trail ends at the southern most Vista Point/parking lot at Windy Hill. Here there is a bathroom and good sized open parking lot (no gate). I guess people park up here and walk around the Windy Hill summit -- but walking UP this hill is half the fun, and its more enjoyable to walk down after walking up.
The Anniversary Trail wraps around Windy Hill with two options -- one on the Highway side and one with views of the Bay Area.

As I mentioned before -- the foxtail season is about to start, this trail was COVERED with fresh foxtail brush. I would NOT do this trail during the summer months (June/July/August) -- its just too risky with dogs prone to foxtail injuries.

The way down the Spring Ridge Trail is fairly steep but manageable with a dog. At 8:45am it was starting to get a bit warm (t-shirts and shorts were fine -- no need for fleece).



On the way, we saw some deer on the hill. Jake didnt even notice them, but the deer definately saw us!

The total roundtrip took 2.5 hours -- with very limited stops for photos or for Jake to check things out. Its a good workout and very enjoyable with world class views on the way down.

Basics:
Area - Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District - Windy Hill in Portola Valley
Trail - Hamms Gulch Trail/Lost Trail/Anniversary Trail/Spring Ridge Trail (Trail Map)
Length - 6 miles roundtrip - Easy Hike (uphill, but easy)
Trail - Loop, dirt trail, limited stops along the way. Well marked and maintained, very dry starting in May.
Dogs - Some
Bikes - Not allowed on Hamms Gulch, allowed on other trails
View - Just a few on first half -- the second half is ALL VIEW
Getting There - Google Map Take 280 to Alpine Road Exit, head West toward Portola Valley. The parking lot is before Willowbrook Road.
Fee- None, free parking
Weather - First Half - Lots of Shade, can be cool; Second Half - in the Sun
Other Trails - there are other trails nearby including the Razorback Ridge Trail and Portola Ranch Trails

Windy Hill - Spring Ridge Trail

Windy Hill - Spring Ridge Trail (part of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District)

This popular hike starts at the Parking Lot off Portola Road in Portola Valley. The lot was empty when I arrived at 8am, but was PACKED FULL when I returned at 10:30am. My suggestion is to do this hike early in the morning, during the Spring/Summer the area can get a bit warm, but the mornings are usually cool and clear. The area is open at Dawn and closes after Sunset.

This is the entrance to the Betsy Crowder Trail which is a nice shortcut to the main Spring Ridge Trail. This trail is only open to Hikers and Horses (seasonal only)...so its a bit more private than the main trail.


The trail is very well traveled and is currently in great condition. You will pass Sausal Pond on the left which is full of birds, ducks and frogs. The Trail is a ways from the Pond, but you can still hear all the activity.

The Betsy Crowder trail will meet up with the Spring Ridge Trail and you will continue up Windy Hill to the summit on this very WIDE trail. The Spring Ridge Trail is open to Bikes and Horses and can get very "busy" during peak times. The trail starts out with a easy incline but at about half way you will notice the trail gets steep. Even Dogs have a tough time making it up at this point when its too hot.

The Views from this trail are great, you can see San Francisco, Mt. Diablo, San Jose, as well as the area towns of Portola Valley and Woodside.


At mid-point you might thing about turning back, since the trail gets quite steep -- even though its very wide and easy to walk on. But keep going up! You will pass through a zig-zag part and before you know it you will be at one of the Skyline Entrances.

At this point, continue up the Anniversary Trail up to the true Summit (just 0.2 miles) . Here you get a 360 view of the Bay Area and can see the Pacific Ocean on a clear day.

The way back down is great with even more views and a very EASY walk down. There are a lot of dogs on this trail and unfortunately some dog owners are not cleaning up after their pets. But that was my only complaint. This is a great trail that is very well maintained and should be a "must do" hike if you live in the Bay Area.

My route: Start on Parking Lot off Portola Road (NOT off Hwy 35). Take the Betsy Crowder Trail to the Spring Ridge Trail then on to Anniversary Trail to the Summit.

More Photos


Basics:
Area - Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District - Windy Hill in Portola Valley
Trail - Betsy Crowder Trail/Spring Ridge/Anniversary Trail (Trail Map)
Length - 5.2 miles roundtrip - Moderate Hike (some steep parts)
Trail - Up and Back-style, dirt trail/dirt road, some stops along the way. Very well marked and maintained. No roads to cross.
Dogs - Yes - Lots!
Bikes - Yes, on most main trails
View - Tons, bring a camera
Getting There - Google Map Take 280 to Alpine Road Exit, head West toward Portola Valley. Turn Right on Portola Road (first stop sign). The Parking Lot has a sign and will be on the Left after the Sequoias Retirement Community.
Fee- None, free parking
Weather - If you can see Fog, bring a jacket -- otherwise you might want to pack a sweater for cool mornings. I found it really only "windy" at the Summit.
Other Trails - there are other trails within this park. Trail maps and info available at the Parking Lot.

San Bruno Mountain - Summit Loop Trail

This is a great hike for a very CLEAR day in the Bay Area. There are multiple places to take great photos, but again its best when its a very clear day. From the summit loop trail you can see San Francisco, Colma, and the Pacific Ocean.


The trail leads from the parking lot straight up the mountain to the Radio/TV Towers. Its a -very- single file dirt trail, no dogs or bikes allowed.

A popular trail book says to take start at the Trailhead at the Parking lot...but I would say its a much better "payoff" to start the trail from the service road (basically the reverse route of the normal way).

This way you will capture the BEST views on your way back and while you are headed downhill -- so you have view all the way down, rather than having to turn around each time to enjoy the view.

All in all, it was a nice morning hike that I would do again on a very clear day.

More Photos


Basics:
Area - San Bruno Mountain State and County Park
Trail - Summit Loop Trail (Trail Map)
Length - 3.13 miles - Moderate Hike, 2 hours with stops
Trail - Loop-style, Single File dirt trail, some stops along the way. Crosses two roads at the top, no traffic. Somewhat well marked.
Dogs - No
Bikes - No (I did see one, but its clearly NOT a bike trail)
View - Plenty, bring a camera
Getting There - Google MAP Note - The Radio Road turnoff on Guadalupe Canyon Parkway is where the entrance is located. Its well marked. Get to the Trailhead by turning RIGHT after passing the Gatehouse, the road will go back under the Parkway.
Fee- YES, currently it was $5
Weather - It can get windy so bring a jacket, plus if its Foggy it will be very cool.
Other Trails - there are other trails within this park


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