runhills descending the Preston Railroad Trail
In the spring of 1990, the Department of Natural Resources, persuaded by a powerful hiking lobby that had become disgruntled at having to share the trail with an increasing number of bicycles, submitted a proposal that barred bikes from the singletrack of the Tiger Mountain State Forest. This move caught the attention of a group of mountain bikers who a few months earlier had unsuccessfully fought a similar proposal at the Cougar Mountain Regional Wildlife Park. Realizing that in order to challenge the organized hikers they would have to organize themselves, these concerned individuals met to band together and the Backcountry Bicycle Trails Club (now Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance) was born.
Despite the efforts of the BBTC, the Tiger Mountain Recreation Plan was adopted without amendment. Only a few short lengths of relatively unchallenging and less scenic trail were left open to bicycles (trails which, today, have also since come to be signed "closed"). Although unfortunate, the setback did not deter the BBTC from its goal of maintaining mountain bike access to Tiger Mountain singletrack. If bikes were going to be prohibited from the existing trails, then a solution was to build new trails! Thus, beginning in September of 1990, the BBTC engaged in a DNR-supported effort to scout, build, and maintain singletrack on the south side of Tiger Mountain State Forest.
The Preston Railway Trail is the grandest result of that effort. This classic trail follows the rehabilitated bed of the old Preston logging railroad as it switchbacks down the northeastern face of East Tiger Mountain, weaving among the spattering of tree stumps left after the route was cleared of years of neglect. Although a gentle grade, many sections of the trail are ribboned with exposed roots, and the indents left after removal of the old railroad ties still remain in places. The result is one of the more tiring descents you might encounter. Cyclists out for a jaunt down this trail can expect to bounce, stutter and weave their way along an exquisitely challenging and unique section of singletrack.
The upper end of the trail can be found at N 47° 29.356', W 121° 57.122', while the lower end is located at N 47° 29.927, W 121° 55.650'. Parking is available at the Tiger Summit Trailhead off Highway 18 at N 47° 27.997', W 121° 55.838'. From the trailhead, it is a 3 mile climb up to the upper end of the trail along the Main Tiger Mountain Road, then about 1.5 miles down the trail to the cache. If you want to make a loop out of it, you can continue on down the trail for another 2.5 miles past the cache, go left on the Road #5500 and then immediately right on the East Side Road #7000. Follow the East Side Road for 2 miles, then go right on the Northwest Timber Trail to hook back up with the Main Tiger Mountain Road again just above the parking lot.
GPS signal reception is okay around the cache site, but not great. I recorded a series of waypoints over about a 20 minute period at the site, then averaged them to arrive at the posted coordinates. Still, your results may differ significantly under the tree cover. For that reason, I have supplied hints and spoiler photos that should lead you right to the cache. The container is a .30-caliber drab olive ammo can with "GEOCACHE" stenciled in yellow on multiple sides and an "Official Geocache" sticker affixed.
Enjoy!