The Dog Mountain Trail in Washington
The Dog Mountain trail promises adventure, stunning vistas, and a touch of wilderness. If you’re a seasoned hiker or someone looking to challenge themselves in nature, this trail offers up a truly epic reward at the top!
We LOVE this hike in Washington, and we are sure you will, too. Here’s a quick rundown of everything you need to know before you tackle it.
Table of Contents
Dog Mountain Trail
Distance: 6.5 miles
Type of Trail: Loop
Difficulty: Hard
Elevation Gain: 2,988 feet
Other important notes:
- Dogs are allowed
- This trail has a fee – display a NW Forest Pass or pay $5.
- On average, people take about 5 hours to complete this trail.
- Restroom facilities are approximately 100 yards up on the trail.
- A special permit is required to hike Dog Mountain on Saturdays and Sundays during peak wildflower season. You can find the specific dates each year here.
Getting There and Parking
Finding your way to the Dog Mountain trailhead is relatively straightforward. Located in Washington’s Columbia River Gorge area, you’ll want to set your GPS to guide you to this trailhead parking lot.
However, be prepared for an early start; the parking lot fills up quickly, even as early as 7:45 AM (which is when we got here, and we got the LAST spot!).
Some fortunate hikers find spots on the grassy edges when the lot is full, but those trying to park along the highway might be ticketed.
The Trail: Difficult vs. More Difficult
After parking, you’ll immediately start heading uphill, and you won’t stop until you summit!
After passing the on-trail restroom and a few initial switchbacks, the trail presents a choice between the “difficult” and “more difficult” paths, offering varying levels of challenge.
Most hikers tend to favor the “difficult trail” on the right, while the less-trodden “more difficult” trail is on the left. Surprisingly, the latter isn’t as much more demanding as you might expect. I mean, there’s no avoiding going uphill, so it really doesn’t matter.
We chose the “more difficult” simply so we could beat out some of the crowds, and we were happy with our decision.
Summiting Dog Mountain
As you venture further into the hike, you’ll find yourself surrounded by a lush, shaded forest. The terrain steadily climbs, but the tree cover offers respite from the sun’s rays, thankfully!
It’s only once you near the summit that the tree shade starts to fade away, and the Columbia River Gorge starts to peep out and provide you with epic vistas!
But— The one notable feature of Dog Mountain is its wildflower displays in spring.
Vibrant and colorful, these wildflowers paint the trail and add a magical touch to the hike. This was why we were here and why most people do this hike.
Soon, the green and dirt path turns into a burst of yellow flowers that lead you the rest of the way to the very top of Dog Mountain!
Here is where you can see some stunning views while munching on your well-deserved snacks (definitely bring snacks; you’ll be hungry after this hike).
Heading Down Dog Mountain
We took the “difficult” route down to help our knees out a bit and to try the other route. Either way, it’s a steep descent, so don’t think you’ll get off easy.
Watch out for loose rocks and dirt on the final descent, as they can make your footing uncertain and potentially dangerous. Plus, there are lots of roots to trip on once you’re back in the forest.
Overall, I think both routes are very similar, but WOW, did our knees ache on the downhill. This is a steep trail, so keep this in mind.
Best Time to Hike Dog Mountain
One of the highlights of the Dog Mountain hike is the wildflower season, which is in spring. The trail comes alive with a riot of colors as wildflowers bloom along the path.
Plan your visit early in the morning to enjoy this spectacle and beat the crowds. We saw people sweating buckets going uphill midday, and we were glad we were already on our way down by that time.
The hike is good any time of the year, but the end of April until mid-June or so is the best to catch the wildflowers, which really makes this hike awesome!
Tips and Recommendations:
- Timing is Everything: Arrive early to secure a parking spot and enjoy a cooler hike with fewer people. Avoid afternoon hours when the trail can get crowded and hot!
- Parking: Don’t park on the highway. We saw people getting ticketed on our way out.
- Safety First: Bring essential hiking gear, stay hydrated, and be mindful of the challenging sections, especially during descent. Keep an eye out for loose rocks. Trekking poles might be a good idea to save those knees.
- Wildflower Permit: During wildflower season, a permit is required for your hike on the weekends.
- Fee: Consider obtaining a Northwest Pass or having $5 in exact change on hand.
We absolutely LOVE the Dog Mountain hike, particularly in spring. We hope this helped you plan your visit!
