This was an exploratory hike on the trails east of the Teneriffe Falls Trail on the lower slopes of Mount Teneriffe. I parked near the school bus turnaround off the SE Mt. Si Road by the DNR blue gate. There is a kiosk with hiking info for going up the Mt. Teneriffe Trail on the old road. The road is only drivable a short distance to a large cement concrete water tank. The trail I hiked up takes off by the water tank. I was soon on an old road, now just a trail. The trail goes up hill, steep in a couple of places and comes out on to another old DNR road. I turned left and continued up hill on a moderate grade. The road is now only a trail. I went by a hill side covered in small flowers. I then came to a three-way junction, so I went left and was at the top of a steep hillside. I met a couple with three dogs who live in the area, so know the trails. I used my Gaia map to find my way around the area, as there are many trail junctions. You can do several different loops. The trails are not shown on the Green Trails for Mt. Si NRCA Map 206S, just the old DNR road.
From one of the loop trails, I took a side trail out to a viewpoint where I could see Mailbox Peak and McClellan Butte. I had fun looping around the different trails as I hiked the area. I could see some people getting lost if they don't have some navigation skills. All of the trails are on DNR land and have been there for many years. They had a good surface to hike on, not rocky or rooty. Some had been brushed and any fallen trees cut out. Made for a good day of hiking on some "new" trails for me, even after 72 years of hiking. I started at age 4. Did not see any wildlife, but there were a few flowers blooming.
I came back out on the Teneriffe Falls Trail about 1/4 mile from where it meets up with the Mt. Teneriffe Trail. There are two unsigned junctions for the loop trails I hiked that join the Teneriffe Falls Trail. I then hiked back down to the DNR blue gate near the school bus turn around where I had parked. No crowds on these trails. Another great day of hiking. George
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