Tiger Mountain

Tiger Mountain, just east of Issaquah near Seattle, is one of the Pacific Northwest's classic afternoon soaring sites — flyable all year but at its best from April through August. Three launches (North, West and South) cover the wind windows; the North and West sit at 1,650 feet AGL and the South about 200 feet lower. Thermic activity is best from 1:00 to 3:30 pm, with a soft evening glass-off from 4:00 to 6:30 pm. Site protocol is standard ridge etiquette: the pilot with the ridge on the right has right of way, first pilot into a thermal sets the direction, gliders on top yield to gliders below. No powered craft. The site is unofficially rated P2, but Tiger becomes a dangerous washing machine in easterly flow — mechanical turbulence off the trees masks itself well from launch. Watch the tree tops north and east of the clearing to catch it early.

Launch & conditions

North launch layout goes on the east side against the hill so the west side stays open for top-landing. South launch is a cliff-style take-off about 200 feet lower than the north — some hang-gliding activity from the north launch. If conditions allow, both north and south launches can be top-landed; incoming pilots have priority. Trees east of the south launch can hide an easterly component — if the northern tree tops are moving, the site is best left alone that day.

Getting there & local rules

From Seattle, drive east on I-90 to Issaquah, take Exit 17 (Front St N) south. Front Street becomes Issaquah-Hobart Road SE. Shortly past SE 111th, Seattle Paragliding is on your left with a paralleling parking lot; the grassy area east of the gravel is the LZ. Consult local pilots for landing approach details — the LZ uses a standard airline downwind pattern.

Local rules & hazards

A 6,000ft height cap applies because of nearby airports, and standard ridge rules are in force. The landing zone has power lines along its west side, so approach over the trees to the east. Avoid any easterly wind, which brings dangerous mechanical turbulence; trees by the south launch can mask east wind and make it look flyable.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Tiger Mountain, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Tiger Mountain with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.