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Trail Details Last Updated: 5/9/2016
When I first moved up to Portland, everyone would ask me if I had hiked Dog Mountain, like everyone! Pretty soon I had built this idea of a terrible trail in my head and I began to push off any plans for actually going out to try it myself. Of course when I finally went for it and got there, I discovered it really wasn’t that bad. That’s not to say it’s an easy climb at nearly 3,000 vertical-feet over the course of just 2.9 or 3.4 miles depending on your route but while Dog Mountain hits hard, it goes by far quicker than you think!
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How tough is the hike? That’s relative. Dog Mountain is by no means the biggest climb in the Columbia River Gorge, nor is it the steepest. It’s not exposed and it’s not technical at all but it is consistent, rugged and direct and tough enough to be a very common training trail for serious hikers though it’s still nothing like the crazy-incline of Starvation Ridge, the long slog of a normal Defiance hike or the navigation of Table Mountain’s boulders. Sure, it’s a popular training trail (though anyone who says it’s a fair test for being ready to take on Mount Hood needs to explain that one to me) but it’s mostly visited by those who just want to enjoy a serious, but totally doable, half-day hike.
What you’ll get out of the hike? In all honesty, there are four reasons I can think of to hike Dog Mountain: Spring flowers, gorge river views, winter snow and just for some good training. In the dozen plus, plus, plus times I’ve been up the mountain, I’ve had a lot of great views and fun but I can think of many far better hikes if you’re just looking to enjoy nature and happen to miss the flower window. That said, there’s a reason why so many of us go back. At just over an hour from Portland and easily accessible most of the year, it’s a fast workout, some of the best local training and it’s not without its perks.
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Getting there: Dog Mountain is easy to find on Google or Apple Maps but it can be painful to get to as it is one of Washington’s most popular hikes Spring, Summer and Fall. The trailhead parking lot is pretty large but it fills up regularly in peak season. In 2016, marked parking spots were added and a shuttle runs for a few months to help though if you can’t find room, I’d really suggest picking another trail for the day, 70 or 80 cars just isn’t a fun time on the mountain.
A Northwest Forest Pass or Interagency / National Park Pass is required for each car which you can pick up at local supermarkets, sports stores or for $5 by cash and check at the trailhead.
About the trail: There are two routes to the top of the mountain as you leave the parking lot. The main path starts to the far right past the information board and heads up to the restrooms (1/1th of a mile in) before begining up the mountain. The other, less used route is located more towards the left of the lot and starts out along the Augspurger Trail (an aggressive 4700′ hike) that wanders far back into the forest before rejoining the main trail just under the summit.
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The main route kicks into full gear from the restrooms on with a series of well over a dozen switchbacks that quickly move you along the edge of the mountain, up 700′ over around 0.7 miles offering a few nice views down to the river on the way. After leveling out at the start of the forest, the trail forks into two routes: more difficult to the left and less difficult to the right. While there’s only a 0.4 mile difference between the two routes each way, consider that the remaining ~2000′ is over a very short 2.2 or 2.6 miles so that little distance adds up.
Less difficult is certainly less steep though that doesn’t make it easy and personally, I find pushing through a few degrees of extra incline beats extra mileage on the way up (I always return down the less difficult way to make my knees not hate me as much).
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Assuming you follow my routing, you’ll actually start fairly flat as you head out into the forest. That does not last however as the trail quickly returns to high gear, climbing directly up a few large hills. Happily there are a few small breaks between some of the bigger incline sections to ease back but they’re not long and if you don’t feel winded in the first half of this route, I’m impressed. After a third and even longer hill climb, the trail turns sharply right, easing back a bit as it travels up a ridge (can be a little slippery in wet conditions) to connect back up with the less difficult route at a marked sign post. There’s one mile from here to the summit but the climbing is hardly done.
As the trails reconnect, I strongly suggest taking a good break. My goal these days is to make this my first and only stop but no matter what your pace is, know that the crux of the climb is right ahead of you as you push over two final steep stretches with just a short switchback between them. Thankfully all of these “hills” only last a few minutes, provided that you keep moving. As you make your way up the last few feet of red-dirt, it becomes clear that the trail is changing and turning to the right, you exit the forest for whatever conditions lie above.
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While the summit is still several hundred vertical feet above you, you’ll be out on the open mountain from here on out and it can be incredibly windy out here even if the forest conditions were calm so definitely come prepared, especially in wet and cold weather. The next few minutes of the trail continue up hill but at a much more relaxed pace than what was before you as you traverse the lower ridge of the mountain until you reach a large flat spot with a view east and west along the river. This is by far the best viewpoint of the gorge and totally worth stopping at though I’d suggest doing so on the return less you let your legs get too adjusted to flat.
From the viewpoint, the trail switches back up to the left, a few dozen feet above where you just walked and right between some large boulders. Again, it’s all uphill but not overly aggressive. A washed out sign post marks the last 1/10th of a mile to go and a final hard right switchback takes you up to the summit platau. There is no marker at the top, no benchmark, no bench so sit on your pack or the grass and kick back, you’ve made it!
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Coming back down, I’d suggest switching up the route to try a new view. Less difficult is a newer trail and was built with some sense of enjoyment rather than pain so you’ll find a few viewpoints along the way and a far more gentle pace though it’s certainly longer. In spring there’s also likely to be more flowers on this route than the more difficult fork offers though in winter there may also be more ice since you’re exposed to the elements.
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What’s around: Dog Mountain is located a ways after the Bridge of the Gods and before Hood River Bridge so as you’d expect, there’s not a whole lot right near the trail though there are 2 restrooms (no water here or along the trail!) a short way up. Heading back towards Portland, you’ll pass a few buildings including the Home Valley market who carries a range of outdoor gear in addition to gas station type food. I’m a big fan of their existence and encourage you to consider picking up a snack to help insure they stay around for my next visit. If not, Stevenson has a few more options a couple minutes further west.
Directions, tips & other trail details:
- Official Rating: Difficult
- My Rating: It’s going on Facebook
- Start point: Dog Mountain Trailhead, Hwy 14
- Distance: 5.8 miles (more difficult) – 6.4 miles (less difficult) r/t
- Duration: 2.5 – 4 hours
- Climb: 2800′ gain at 800’+ / mile
- Facilities: Restrooms just past the trailhead, no water
- Crowds: Very busy on weekends
- Cost / Permits: Northwest Forest Pass, NPS Pass or $5 Day Parking Fee
Additional Reading: