If you've spent any time in Issaquah, you've probably looked up on a sunny afternoon and spotted colorful paragliders floating high above the city. But have you ever wondered where they're actually coming from? The answer is Poo Poo Point on Tiger Mountain.
The mountain has a long history with free flight. Hang gliders began using Tiger Mountain in the 1970s, taking advantage of a large clearing left behind by logging operations. Paragliding eventually followed, and today the launch area at Poo Poo Point has become one of the most recognizable places for the sport in our region.
And yes, we need to talk about that name! Despite what you might immediately assume, Poo Poo Point has nothing to do with what you think! The name reportedly comes from the sound of steam whistles once used during logging operations on Tiger Mountain. The whistles made a "poo-poo" sound that could be heard throughout the area, and somehow the name stuck.
Today, you don't have to be a paraglider to experience it. The Chirico Trail takes hikers up Tiger Mountain to the launch area, where you can sit on the grassy hillside, take in beautiful views across Issaquah and Lake Sammamish, and watch pilots quite literally run toward the edge of the mountain and take flight. It's one of those experiences that's just as entertaining as the hike itself. And if watching isn't adventurous enough for you, you can actually try it yourself. Tandem flights allow first-timers to fly alongside an experienced instructor, soaring above the Issaquah Alps and, when conditions cooperate, taking in views stretching toward Mount Rainier, Mount Si, Bellevue, Seattle, and beyond.
There's something pretty incredible about having an experience like this practically in our backyard. We drive past Tiger Mountain, hike its trails, and see those tiny colorful wings floating overhead all the time, but knowing the history behind them makes the view a little more special. So the next time you're driving through Issaquah and spot a paraglider floating above the trees, you'll know exactly where they came from. And who knows, maybe next time you'll be the one up there.
