Taylor Mountain Forest

There is a trail system of about 30 official miles at Taylor Mountain Forest, but many more exist outside the border. The trails are used by equestrians, hikers, and occasionally mountain bikers. This is a working forest, an ecological preservation that also provides passive recreational opportunities. The low elevation and paved access make it a good destination year-round. Being at the edge of the foothills, wildlife includes black bears and cougars. King County Parks partners with the Backcountry Horsemen of Washington (Tahoma Chapter) on trail stewardship. They have put in a majority of the trail work but with that comes walking on trail that smell of horse crap.

The large parking area is near where Issaquah Hobart Road SE passes under SR-18 and becomes 276th Avenue SE. The entrance to the Taylor Mountain parking lot is ¼ mile past SR-18 on the east side of 276th Avenue SE. The parking lot can accommodate trucks with horse trailers.

The Holder Ridge Trail starts at the parking lot and climbs gradually through young forest with occasional small views. The trail goes right over the top of Holder Ridge in the first mile. In about 2 miles is a short spur to the highpoint of Holder Knob where there is a picnic table and hitching posts for horses. Use the map and be sure to return via the A Road so you complete a loop. A bigger loop would be to keep going to the K Road and then take the Holder Creek back to the parking lot.

To get views, you will probably need to leave the county land and get onto the private timberlands where they clearcut. This is higher in elevation up on Taylor Mountain. A destination called Taylor Lookout once had a commanding view but it has overgrown. Still, there are other views to be found.

There is adjacent land inside the City of Seattle watershed. There are numerous bootleg trails that may or may not be restricted. They have been there for a long time.