This is one of my favorite places. The sculpture of wild horses atop the hill off of I-90 at Vantage is majestic and makes you feel like you are in a storybook. Going east on I-90 at Vantage, follow the signs to the parking lot and hike the steep hill about 1/4 mile to the top. There you will experience the beauty of these wild horses.
These views of the Columbia River and Canyons are amazing! Whenever I drive to Eastern Washington this is always my favorite spot.
This sculpture is over 20 years old and according to the sculptor, is only half finished. The horses are supposed to be set free from a large basket to symbolize free will.
The hill is a bit steep so I would not recommend going to the top unless you are sure of foot. Also step loudly to ward off rattlesnakes.
You can read the story of the sculpture built by David Govedare here .
Although this is not a long hike, this is a must see if you are in the area.
We decided to venture to Tiger Mountain in Issaquah, a very popular hiking destination, and hike the West Tiger #3 trail. This is a 6 mile hike roundtrip and it took us 3 1/2 hours to complete. I would say this hike is good for ages 8 and up just because of the length and the elevation gain. However, if you have an energetic younger child that likes to exercise, go for it!
Tiger Mountain is supposed to be hikeable most of the year. We went in August and trail conditions were great!
We didn't park at the trailhead parking lot so we hiked a short distance through the forest to our destination.
Woodpeckers anyone?
I would rate this hike as medium in difficulty. My children might disagree. The climb was uphill the entire 3 miles to the top with an elevation gain of 2100 ft. which was a bit tiring for the boys. The trail however, was wide and very well maintained.
There are several signs that point you in the right direction so the trail is easy to follow.
The hike through the forest was calming and peaceful and we enjoyed looking at all the scenery.
We even made a friend along the way.
There are a couple of nice viewpoints towards the top and it was great to reach the summit.
Unfortunately for us, we could not enjoy it for long due to the crowd of around 60 teenage boys at the top. They were a bit exuberant to say the least. Maybe a running club or something. Like I said, this is a popular hiking destination.
I would say this hike was a great one for the challenge, but the views at the top weren't the best I have seen. So, if you are looking for a great hike for the climb, this is a good choice. After all of the great hikes I have done with my boys, they were underwhelmed with the views at the top and my oldest son was expecting more for all of the work it took to get to there.
To get here drive I-90 east of Issaquah to Exit 20 (High Point). Go right and right again on Frontage Road (hard to see sign). You will see this sign. You can park here without a parking pass. There is a trail that leads from this spot to the actual trailhead that is .3 miles away.
If you would like to park at the trailhead, drive past this sign and follow a dirt road for less than a mile and you will reach the parking lot. A Discovery Pass is required to park here. Discovery Passes (I found out) are different than Northwest Forest Passes, so you will not be able to use your Forest pass here. They are $10 for a day pass or $30 for the year.
There are bathrooms just past the trailhead opening.
To get to the High Point just follow the West Tiger #3 signs. If you have hiked Tiger mountain, let me know what you thought. Happy Hiking!
