Poo Poo Point – Chirico Trail

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Region: Puget Sound

Roundtrip Miles: 3.8

Elevation Gain (feet): 1760

Best Month(s): any; spring is especially nice though

Hikeable: year-round

Trailhead Coordinates: 47.5000, -122.0219

Pass: no pass

Features: mountain views, summit, fall foliage

Water: none available

Summary: The views from Poo Poo Point overlooking the valley (looking north) and the lower South Launch Viewpoint of Mount Rainier (looking south) are beautiful. However, the trail is nasty and there were way too many people for me to love this hike. I went on a weekday in the morning, arriving at the trailhead around 10am, and there were only a few parking spots left. The trail is almost entirely an uphill ascent save for a few short runs of flat ground. This wouldn’t bother me if it weren’t for the fact that the trail is so rocky that you’re almost guaranteed to trip at some point. It’s rather narrow, which requires you to be hyper vigilant about finding areas to step aside for passing hikers, especially if you have a dog and want to politely yield to dogless humans and allow them to pass without being knocked about by your pupper. The trail wasn’t unenjoyable, just not my favorite. You will either have backlighting at the Mount Rainier view or the Poo Poo Point view, the way they are oriented. I reached the Mount Rainier view around 11:30 and it was backlit as the sun was directly south. The other side of the mountain though was perfect with the sun behind me, offering a gorgeous view of the valley, Issaquah, and Lake Sammamish. Poo Poo Point is only 10 minutes further up the trail from this first southern viewpoint. There are picnic tables and plenty of hillside to relax and take in the views at the top. If you’re lucky, you might get to see some paragliders launch from the point. The trip down was so steep that I had to use my knee brace, and again, lots of rocks to trip over as you navigate the switchbacks. While the hike up took me about 1.5 hours, the hike down took me about an hour. The nicest part of the trail itself is that it is all shaded in the trees, making for a pleasant hike even on warmer days.

Post-hike Food Stop:

  1. Rogue Brewhouse* (Issaquah): Buffalo Chicken Sliders, Yaquina Bay Chowder, Halibut and Chips
  2. Issaquah Cafe (Issaquah): Strawberry Rhubarb French Toast, Monte Cristo, Fish and Chips, slice of pie
  3. Masa Mexican Kitchen and Cantina* (Issaquah): brunch (sat and sun 11am-3pm) – huevos rancheros, buttermilk pancakes; lunch/dinner – pork tacos, fish tacos, enchiladas

Note: The restaurants and breweries denoted with * are potentially dog-friendly for their outdoor seating. Their patio dining may only be open during summer, however. You should always check with each restaurant to see if outdoor space has a separate entrance and if they are willing to accommodate well-behaved dogs. I would never assume just because a place has allowed dogs in the past that this is still the case.