Iverson Railroad Trail

The Iverson Railroad Trail begins at the north end of the Tiger Summit Trailhead parking lot and heads west along the south side of East Tiger Mountain. At the 0.3-mile, mark the trail splits — the left branch is shorter but steeper, the right longer and more gradual — before the two rejoin, just ahead of a sturdy bridge.

Around the 0.6-mile mark, the trees give way to the edge of a recent clear-cut, opening up views of Mount Rainier on clear days. The trail skirts the clear-cut's edge for roughly half a mile, offering warm sunshine and that signature mountain backdrop.

At 1.5 miles, a junction marks where the Iverson Trail continues to the left. The right branch is the Side Hustle Trail — the signage here is a bit confusing, but hikers are allowed on it (mountain bikers use it as a downhill-only run). The Iverson Railroad Trail ends at West Side Road after roughly 1.7 miles from the trailhead.

This trail combines well with others to form a variety of hikes, including trips to the Middle Tiger summit or South Tiger Mountain.

History

In 1896, William Washington Wood and Ivar C. Iverson cofounded the Wood & Iverson Co. They purchased timber acreage near Hobart in 1905. By 1915, they had opened a large sawmill southwest of the current SR 18/Issaquah Hobart Road interchange, and Hobart grew into a company town — complete with a general store, 35 company-built houses, a three-story hotel, and a post office, served by about 15 miles of company railroad track.

On Feb. 23, 1925, a logging train lost control on the downhill run near Holder Creek and plunged into the gully below, killing 35-year-old Nick Karis. The accident site is marked on a tree along the TMT Connector Trail, where a few wheels and other wreckage can still be found. The Wood & Iverson Co. was dissolved in 1945.