Poo Poo Point Hiking Guide
Poo Poo Point is a grassy launch ramp on the west side of Tiger Mountain where paragliders step off into the air above Issaquah, and watching them go is half the reason to climb up there. The Chirico Trail takes the direct approach: 1,750 feet of gain in under two miles, unrelentingly steep, on a trail that starts from a free lot beside a highway. No pass, no permit, just a lot of uphill.
The Chirico Trail
There are two routes up and this is the short, brutal one. From the paraglider landing field on Issaquah-Hobart Road the trail climbs almost immediately and does not stop, gaining most of its elevation in a mile and a half of switchbacks. The alternative High School Trail from Issaquah is longer and gentler at around seven miles round trip. Most people take the Chirico for the efficiency and regret it around the halfway mark.
The Paragliders
On a day with the right wind, the launch is busy with pilots laying out canopies and stepping off the slope one after another. It is genuinely good entertainment and worth timing your arrival for a fair-weather afternoon. Keep clear of the launch area itself and the laid-out lines — pilots need clean ground and a clear run, and hikers wandering through the launch zone are a real hazard to them.
Free Parking, Which Matters Here
Like Rattlesnake Ledge, this trailhead needs neither a Discover Pass nor a Northwest Forest Pass, which in western Washington is a meaningful convenience. The lot beside the landing field is free but modest and fills quickly on fine weekends. It sits right on a fast road, so take care pulling in and out, and do not leave valuables visible — this is a well-known break-in spot.
Year-Round Trail
Tiger Mountain is low enough to hike through winter, and the Chirico gets used hard in every season. Expect deep mud from October through May and slick roots throughout — this is a trail where poles and real boots pay for themselves. Summer brings heat on the exposed upper meadow. The view over Issaquah, Lake Sammamish and out toward the Olympics on a clear day is the constant.
Dogs and Sharing
Leashed dogs are permitted and common. The trail is narrow and steep enough that passing takes cooperation, and trail runners use it heavily as a hill workout. Step aside on the switchback corners rather than the straights. The upper meadow is open and grassy, which makes it a pleasant place to sit — just keep out of the marked launch corridor while pilots are working.
Hiking tips for Poo Poo Point
- Take the Chirico Trail for the direct climb or the High School Trail for a longer, gentler route — they are different days.
- Time a fair-weather afternoon to watch paragliders launching, and stay well clear of the launch corridor and laid-out lines.
- Park free here, no Discover or Northwest Forest Pass needed, but do not leave anything visible in the car.
- Bring poles and real boots from October through May; the tread turns to slick mud and roots for most of the year.
- Step aside on switchback corners rather than straights — the trail is narrow and heavily used by runners.
Nearby trails to explore
- Rattlesnake Ledge
- Little Si
- Twin Falls
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Poo Poo Point is Seattle's favourite after-work grind with a show at the top. Use TrailMates to find Eastside hikers doing evening laps up Tiger Mountain. Download the TrailMates app to connect.