Dog Mountain Hike

Overview

Dog Mountain is a popular hike due to its easy access right off Highway 14, beautiful views, spring wildflower displays, and relatively short distance. Don't let the distance and low elevation fool you, however; the trails are very steep and will require some fitness and perseverance. This loop is known for prime wildflower viewing in May and June, but hikes in the summer and fall are rewarding as well. In winter, there is often snow on the summit but the magic of an uncrowded perch offers its own delight. For an easier hike, you can walk 1.5 miles up to the lower viewpoint. For the more difficult hike detailed here, go all the way to the summit and loop back down. It is even possible to continue to Augspurger Mountain from this area. The trail up Dog Mountain is the original route of the Cascade Crest Trail, which became the Pacific Crest Trail, on the Washington side of the Columbia River. This hike is extremely popular and the parking area fills early. To avoid frustration, even on weekdays, try to arrive before 8:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m. between March and July. There's a weekend permit system in place between March 31st and July 1st. Permits for the Dog Mountain Trail System are required on Saturdays and Sundays between April 23rd and June 12th, 2022 and Memorial Day (May 30, 2022). There are 200 permits per day available for online reservation. You can reserve your permit by visiting https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/273800 Starting from the Dog Mountain Trailhead, hike steeply up through the white oak/ponderosa pine woods on Trail 147 for 0.7 miles to a junction. The open forest floor in this lower section is filled with poison oak, so stay on the trail. Ball-head cluster lily, cryptantha, and lupine bloom trailside in the spring. At this first junction, an older version of the trail, marked "more difficult" veers left, and the newer, "less difficult" trail is off to the right. The older steeper route has little to offer over the newer version. Follow the "less difficult" trail to the

Trail Stats

Photos

400px-Dog_mtn

400px-Dog_mtn

160px-DogMountain8

160px-DogMountain8

250px-DogMtnHike2

250px-DogMtnHike2

250px-Starvation_Ridge_from_Dog_Mountain

250px-Starvation_Ridge_from_Dog_Mountain

250px-Ball-head_cluster_lily_%28Brodiaea_congesta%29%2C_Dog_Mountain

250px-Ball-head_cluster_lily_%28Brodiaea_congesta%29%2C_Dog_Mountain

400px-DogMtnHike1

400px-DogMtnHike1

Tags