Hiking Dog Mountain in Washington State

Dog Mountain is located just off of Highway 14, 12 miles east of Stevenson, Washington in the scenic Columbia River Gorge. Which means it's about an hour from Vancouver, Washington and a bit further from Portland, Oregon.

Dog Mountain Trail and Augsperger Trail are used as conditioning hikes for mountain climbers. I was skeptical of this claim at first. But having done the hike I can see why. This sucker is tough!

This is not meant to disuade you, it's merely a friendly warning. Once you near the summit you will be amply rewarded for your effort.

Depending on the loop you take, Dog Mountain is 6-7 miles long roundtrip. They are serious miles too. You ascend over 2,800 ft. to reach the peak at 2,948 ft. This is a very steep and strenuous hike. But the views from the summit are very impressive.

This is a popular hike for fans of wild flowers. Why? Because half of the mountain is a huge open field, literally filled with wild flowers. It is one of the most beautiful and unique hillsides I've ever seen.

The starts off very steep through a thick pine forest. About a quarter of the way up, the forest thins out and you see the field of flowers. I recommend wearing sunscreen because there is little shade from here on out.

The trail continues to be steep all the way to the summit, with brief sections that level out a bit. In addition to sunscreen, bring water because you're going to get thirsty!

The trail is mainly packed dirt and gravel with some loose gravel higher up.

You may be interested to know that Dog Mountain earned its name from some pioneers in the area who had to eat their dogs to avoid starvation. No joke.

Ironically, loads of dog owners bring their furry friends along for the hike.