[puzzlr]

I check the DNR's "Other Projects" site occasionally. Right now it has some links for the "West Snoqualmie Corridor Recreation Planning Area - Phase 3" project at https://www.dnr.wa.gov/other-projects . The DNR's definition of Snoqualmie Corridor includes Tiger Mountain, Raging River, Rattlesnake, Mitchell Hill, Echo Glen, and the the Mount Si and Middle Fork NRCAs.

Snoqualmie Corridor

I mostly ignore things planned for the area outside of the Middle Fork (the previous phases had lots of those, this one has none). But this one jumped out at me because I just recently hiked some trails to and from the Highpoint area. This is a big expansion of the existing parking areas for hiking Tiger Mountain and badly needed, IMO.

Highpoint trailhead proposal

[Secret Agent Man]

What happens to the existing Cable Line trail? Or is it far enough west that it's off the map? That's an important trail to protect.

[Huron]

Thanks for pointing that out puzzlr. That map aligns roughly with the area in red below. It's all East of Cable Line. Looks like this is a two-birds-one-stone thing to both expand the trailhead and eliminate some of the problem visitors along the access road. Likely a pass would then be required for all areas of Highpoint as well as possible evening/night access restrictions. Hard to believe they could pull something like this off when they can't even keep the current toilets open.

[cascadeclimber]

[Kim Brown]

Though I have enjoyed the lesser-known/used, but well-maintained trails on Tiger over the years, the final plan always was to get more boots on the Tiger Mtn trail system; so while I'm an elitist bum who wants it all to myself, I guess it's time to share. It sure is a beautiful trail system back there; forests in an old growth stage again. It's pretty sweet. Thanks puzzlr for the update.

[Randito]

I think the expanded parking will be welcome. Hopefully there will be some additional trail work on the trails serviced by the new lots. It's awesome to have access to woodland hiking so adjacent to zillions of people. It really improves the livability of "Puget Sound City"

[Kim Brown]

The trails there are very well maintained. New trails built within the last decade, and several new bridges installed as well.

[Huron]

Like many public projects, they seem to be focusing on infrastructure rather than services. Improved services would create a better experience for more people. I’d like to see these services: - dog poo receptacles installed and regularly serviced - toilets cleaned and kept open - regular trash pickup along roads and trails I’d like these infrastructure improvements: - Permanent, minimal yet informative signage and no plastic+wire campaign style signs - Improve rather than eradicating steep trails - either maintain bridges properly or take them out

[Randito]

I agree that empty poop bag dispensers at the trailheads and full poop bag depositories 1/2 mile up the trails would be a big improvement and go a long way toward eliminating the full poop bags that line the early sections of trail.

[Kim Brown]

[Randito]

IME: A substantial percentage of doggos poop within the first 1/2 mile. However many people don't want to carry smelly full bags all the way up the hike and all the way down. Many of these people leave the full bags on the side of the trail with the stated intention of picking them up on the way out, but a very high percentage, blast right past their full bag on the way out, either forgetting about it completely or or being too engaged in their conversation or whatever to notice the bag as they go by. Having a full bag depository a half mile up the trail would require a park employee to haul the large stinky bag of bags out on a weekly basis from the depositories on the trails. I think the overall trail cleanliness would be improved. I think expecting people to behave in a more responsible manner and pack out their pooches poop is wishful thinking. Maybe what we need is a dog supplemental sticker for the Discover Pass , I you hike on state park / dnr lands with your furball you need to pay extra to pay for poop pick up.

[JonnyQuest]

[Huron]

Sorry to get this off on a tangent with the dog poo thing, but it illustrates the real problems with local trails. Trash, vandalism of facilities and vandalism of cars. I don't see anything in that plan to address those issues. In fact, it would only make them worse. Cars would be out of sight in little nooks and a second toilet would be tagged, trashed and locked just like the one that is there now. Agree that people should do the right thing. They don't. Rather than hire guns and badges to drive around in a ranger car, the lowest cost solution is to hire a clean-up crew. Services. Simple. Cheap. Effective. EDIT Going back to look at puzzlr's reference link, this is a DNR project. What most of us consider to be a single trailhead on a single trail system is made up from a mosaic of jurisdictions. The current trailhead parking area is owned by the City of Issaquah. So, I'm not sure if any coordination is happening between the two.

[zimmertr]

Do y'all really think there's a dog poo issue on the Issy Alps? I spend a lot of time on the Tiger and Cougar/Coal Creek areas and don't feel like I see the bags very often. Unlike, for example, somewhere in the ALW mid-summer. Anyway I'd be very happy to see some development at High Point. Not sure I like the idea of the steep trails being regraded though! Section Line is a favorite of mine and alternatives like the WT3 trail already exist for that purpose.

[Huron]

zimmertr, I probably wasn't clear. One post here was concerned about how the new trailhead would impact the popular and steep cable line trail. It has been significantly eroded in the last few years and has seen no maintenance. Steeper trails and trail sections have been re-routed with longer, lower grades and I fear Cable Line may be just closed rather than fixed. Most of the people on the lower area come just for that trail.