Poo Poo Point
Trail description
Poo Poo Point is the famous paragliding launch on the west side of Tiger Mountain, right above Issaquah. The classic approach is the Chirico Trail, a steady forest climb over hundreds of stone steps that ends at two open, grassy launch meadows. On a fair-weather afternoon the sky here fills with paragliders and hang gliders, and watching launches from the grass is half the fun. The viewpoint looks out over Issaquah, Lake Sammamish and the Squak and Cougar Mountain ridges, with Bellevue, Seattle and Mount Rainier appearing on clear days. The odd name comes from the "poo poo" sound of steam-whistle signals used by logging crews on Tiger Mountain a century ago. The trail is hikeable year-round and gets very busy on sunny weekends, so come early or on a weekday. A longer, gentler alternative approaches from the Issaquah High School trailhead via the Poo Poo Point Trail. Dogs are welcome on leash, and the meadows make a great lunch spot as long as you leave the launch lanes clear.