Tiger Mountain via Bootleg Trail takes one through the east slopes. The path starts from the conservation area and ends soon after entering the state forest. Moreover, it is part of the massive trail network on this notable mountain.
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Tiger Mountain via Bootleg Trail at a Glance
Access: Preston Powerline Trail
Round Trip: 10.7 miles
Elevation Range: 500′-3004′
Essential Gear: none
GPS Track: available
Dog-Friendly: yes
Playlist: Guitars
Staying Close to Home for the Weekend
After last week’s trip, I wanted to hang out with the dogs this weekend before leaving again. What perfect timing that I found something wrong with the car the day before. I probably would’ve gotten stuck somewhere if I had gone anywhere with it.
The nice thing about living in the mountain’s foothills is not having to drive anywhere. In the past, we would go through the brushy old road behind the house. But that was until I discovered the spur trail by my neighbor’s home.
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Hiking to East Tiger Mountain via Bootleg Trail
We reached the Preston Trailhead shortly after crossing the Preston Powerline Trail. Then, we continued south into the state forest and soon crossed Soderman Creek. En route, we took an old trail and accidentally stumbled into a wasp nest.
Connor and I ran after I got the first sting and quickly went out onto the road. We stuck to the logging road instead of going through the debris as Cody and I had done once before. Then, we scrambled via the edge of the trees and took a bike trail to the top.
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Returning Through the Clearcut Forest
We didn’t long since there were many people and bikes around. Plus, the wildfire haze was the only thing we saw through the small opening to the south. After a quick selfie and a shot of the smoky view, we returned through the trail to the clearing.
There was a hidden roadway amid the logging debris we used to reach back at the lower road. But to avoid the wasps, we bypassed via Fifteenmile Creek. Before the trailhead, a blog follower, Debra, recognized us, and we chatted for a long while. Small world, indeed!
See more trip photos here.