Hike of the Week Fridays -Taylor Mountain - Issaquah

PLEASE READ THE DESCRIPTION IN ITS ENTIRETY AND THE ACCOMPANYING LINKSSO SEE IF THIS HIKE IS APPROPRIATE BEFORE YOU RSVP.

TAYLOR MOUNTAIN FOREST

http://www.kingcounty.gov/recreation/parks/trails/backcountry/taylor_trails.aspx

Taylor Mountain Forest is located south and east of Tiger Mountain, south of I-90 and east of SR 18, between the communities of Hobart and North Bend in eastern King County. The 1822-acre site, which offers sweeping views of Mount Rainier, forested wetlands, and meadows of wild flowers, provides an important habitat link between the City of Seattle's Cedar River Watershed and Tiger Mountain State Forest.

Taylor Mountain represents an experiment in forest management. Over the decades, loggers took what they could from the 1700-acre forest, leaving behind a mess of scrub brush and second- (and third-) growth trees. But that young forest has filled in nicely and nature is once more proving that, given the chance, it can recover on its own.

Few true trails exist as yet in the Taylor Mountain Forest, but there are some rough-hewn routes, and there are many miles of old logging road to explore. The best bet is to grab a map (Taylor Mountain is well represented on the corner of the Green Trails Tiger Mountain map) and go exploring.

A faint trail leads away from the Issaquah-Hobart Road alongside Holder Creek. You can follow this path for up to 2 miles as it parallels the creek along its first mile. Enjoy the lush green maple and alder groves, heavily laden with moss and fern that flank the creek. The last mile of this path climbs the long ridge that separates Holder Creek from Carey Creek. You'll find an old logging road at 1100 feet near the 2-mile mark. Turn around here.

Driving Directions:

From I-90 take exit 17 (Front Street), and turn right (south) onto Front Street and continue south through Issaquah. Front Street becomes Issaquah-Hobart Road as you leave town. Continue south along this road to its junction with State Route 18. Cross under SR 18 and drive another 0.25 mile, passing Holder Creek at SE 188th Street. Park near Holder Creek.