Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area · Oregon, Washington

Dog Mountain

3.0 mi of trail, end to end · native material surface · trail No. 147 · trail class 3 · typical grade 12-20% · tread 18-24 inches wide

Begins at the forest's mile 0, 45.6995, -121.7066 - no trailhead mapped Drive to where the trail begins

Dog Mountain the Forest Service's write-up

$5/vehicle/day

A placeholder image
Photo: US Forest Service

Dog Mountain Day Use Area and Trailhead is the access point for two of the most scenic trails in the Gorge, Dog Mountain Trail #147 and Augspurger Trail #4407 . These two trails form a popular loop hike, if you connect via the 1.5 mile Dog-Augspurger Tie Trail .

The area is most popular for its spring-blooming yellow balsamroot meadows, which occur at its upper meadows. Look for other wildflowers, such as white phantom orchids, Indian paintbrush and purple lupine, that add color to the mix. During the peak spring wildflower season, a permit is required to park at the Dog Mtn Trailhead parking lot on Saturdays and Sundays. Permit season for 2025 is April 26 - June 15 and Memorial Day. If there are no permits available, hikers may take the FREE shuttle from Stevenson at the Skamania County Fairgrounds parking area 520 SW Rock Creek Drive and a hand stamp will serve as your hiking permit.

While Dog Mountain Trail tends to be the more popular route up, it is one of the most strenuous hikes in the Gorge due to its steep upward climb. It passes through an even-aged stand of old growth conifers, with an understory carpet of Oregon grape.

Those who choose to loop around via Augspurger Trail will not be disappointed by glimpses of the Columbia River meandering around Wind Mountain towards the western Gorge. Be prepared for potentially dramatic weather changes as you approach the summit.

The Dog Mountain fee site includes a gravel parking area, picnic table and vault toilet at the trailhead. For your safety, please remember that parking along Washington State Route 14 (SR-14) to access the Dog Mountain Trailhead is discouraged and visitors who park illegally may be fined and towed. Walking along the railroad tracks is both dangerous and illegal. Park safely in a designated parking spot located in the parking area and allow room for emergency vehicle and transit access.

Consider treating yourself to this hike on a weekday, as the lot tends to be full before 10 a.m. on weekends in the spring months.

Permit Info

During the peak spring wildflower season, a permit is required to park at the Dog Mtn Trailhead parking lot on Saturdays and Sundays. Permit season for 2024 is April 27 - June 16 and Memorial Day. If there are no permits available, hikers may take the FREE shuttle from Stevenson and a hand stamp will serve as your hiking permit.

Park only in designated spaces. There are about 70 spots and they fill quickly on weekends. Allow room for emergency vehicle and transit.

This hike on fs.usda.gov

Every trail in Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area

All 82 trails in Columbia River Gorge National Scenic AreaFind a trailForest on fs.usda.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the US Forest Service's National Forest System trails layer (public domain), read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end, and the class, surface, grade and tread width are the forest's own entries where it publishes them - a forest that publishes the centreline alone has none. The trailheads and the points along the way are the Service's recreation points, and the write-ups its own recarea text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the forest's own site before you go.