Taylor Mountain is close to Tiger and many of the trails are open year round. There is an unfounded reputation that the area is mostly muddy and less than desirable trails. What you will find ins
Taylor Mountain is close to Tiger and many of the trails are open year round. There is an unfounded reputation that the area is mostly muddy and less than desirable trails. What you will find instead are fun narrow trails that are open to mountain bikes. The lollipop loop described is 12 miles and 1600' of elevation gain.
There is a black bear that is seen quite often around the trails, so a bear bell is recommended so you don't startle him. He is generally in the Hold Knob/Whiskey Still area.
How to Find It
Take the Issaquah/Hobart Rd exit off of Route 18. It is 100 yeards from the exit on 276th Ave.
I-90 from Seattle
East on I-90
At exit 25 take ramp right for WA-18
Turn right onto SR-18
Take ramp right toward Hobart/Issaquah
Turn left onto Issaquah Hobart RD SE
Road name changes to 276th Ave
On the left look for a large sign stating Taylor Mountain. (On the right will be SE 188th SE)
Turn left at the Taylor Mountain sign
Turn right at the first intersection for the Trail Head
34 Miles around a 40 minute drive from Seattle
SR-18
East on SR-18 East
Take ramp right toward Hobart / Issaquah
Turn right onto 276th Ave SE
On the right look for a large sign stating Taylor Mountain. (On the left will be SE 188th SE)
Turn right at the Taylor Mountain sign
Turn right at the first intersection for the Trail Head
Typical Conditions
Expect trail to be very loose and dusty mid to late summer and muddy after a good rain. A lot of nettles and salmonberry; singletrack can get pretty overgrown. Some of the trails are creekbed, others are smooth and fast.
The upper trails are good winter trails. Low elevation means no snow, but the lower areas around the creeks can get pretty muddy.
Advocacy & Stewardship
WTA has been working there for the past 4 or 5 winters, usually 20-30 days.
Turn by Turn
Note that the description below does not include all of the current loops. Most of the trails have wooden signs at their start.There are usually trail maps at the parking lot.
Head North on the east side of the parking lot.
Find the Gated Road on your right ignore it and take the trail on the other side of the road.
This trail is called Holder Ridge
Continue heading in the uphill direction ignoring all the side trails.
At 3/4 of a mile look south on a clear day for great views of Mt Rainier
Continue climbing gaining just short of 700' since leaving the trail head.
Come to an intersection with a trail heading down and one continuing up
For now we will ignore this downhill trail.
Continue climbing on the switchbacks
This section of trail is called Holder Knob
The trail eventually comes to a road. Head down this road until it comes to a T. You will see a trail to your left and right.
The trail to the right goes up to the intersection we ignored earlier.(Yeah I know you can skip Holder knob climb and head down Whisky Still, but I wanted to explore everything.)
Take the trail to the left this trail is called Whisky Still. Climbing done for a while now
Down Whisky Still fun windy trail come out to the gravel road and keep going straight do not go up the road to your left.
Take the first right this trail is called Mt. Beaver. (Keep yourself in check as to not scare any horses on this section)
Cross the bridge and ignore the stuff to the right. (The section to the right dead ends and is a mud pit)
After the bridge over Carey Creek hang a left onto Carey Creek trail.
Continue on this trail crossing the creek once. Ignore all the side trails and stay on the main trail.
Carey Creek trail will soon exit to a gravel road.
Take a left onto the road you will come to Elk Ridge trailhead on your right.
Continue on the road it is a nice gentle climb coming to an intersection.
Take the road to the left
(Going straight on the road instead will take you back to the cars)
Will see a trail on the left called Boot Hill. This section of trail is rolling in the downhill direction
Ignore the trail to the left (Mt. Beaver) and continue straight
Come to a road keep straight this will put you back on Whisky Still. Rolling climb back to another road
Exit Whisky Still and continue straight across the road to the trail on the other side.
Climb up to an intersection and take a left. This is Holder Ridge, follow it back to the cars
