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You are here: Home / Outdoors / Dog Mountain Trail, Columbia River Gorge Area, WA

Dog Mountain Trail, Columbia River Gorge Area, WA

Dog Mountain Trail

About Dog Mountain trail

Dog Mountain trail is approximately 7 miles round trip: out-and-back trail in the Columbia River Gorge area in Washington state.

The best time to hike is between April and June when the wildflowers are blooming.

Great views of the Columbia Gorge from the top of this hike.

This is a moderately difficult hike with 2,800 feet in elevation gain.

Hiking Dog Mountain

Facts

Where

Dog Mountain trail is East of Stevenson, Washington on Highway 14.

Destination:Distance:
Packwood, WA30 miles
Mt. St. Helens34 miles
Mt. Rainier39 miles
Olympia, WA77 miles
Seattle, WA97 miles
Portland, OR117 miles
Mt. Hood152 miles
Spokane, WA301 miles
Distance from Dog Mountain Trail

Length

7 miles out and back.

Dog Mountain Trail sign

Start and end point

There is a well marked trailhead at one side of the Dog Mountain parking area. Follow this trail, and signs at the trail split (partway through the hike) to Dog Mountain.

This is typically an out and back. So you would hike back the way you hiked up.

Elevation 

Gain is 2,800 feet.

Surface

The trail is varied starting as dirt forest floor and transitioning into a rocky path as you reach the top.

Parking

Dog Mountain requires a permit on Saturdays and Sundays, from April 20th-June 16th, which is the season all the flowers are blooming on the mountain. This is in order to control the number of visitors to the trail and assist with parking issues.

To get a trail permit visit Recreation.com. There is a transit service that runs from Stevenson to the trailhead and will pick up.

There are approximately 70 parking spots, which fill up quickly during the blooming season, on weekends.

Permit

Permits are $1 and can be purchased on Recreation.com.

There is also a $5 parking fee. Or you can take the shuttle in from Stevenson for $2. For more information about the shuttle find the “transit” section on Recreation.com’s “need-to-know” tab.

Restrooms

There is an outhouse at the base of the trail. It might be a good idea to bring your own toilet paper.

Sign for Dog Mountain trail in the Columbia River Gorge area

Why head to the Dog Mountain trail?

During the blooming season of the Dog Mountain flowers, this trail is stunning. We went up on a cloudy day, but the sunny oranges of all the flowers made it feel like a summer day.

The trail is steep and challenging if you aren’t used to hiking lots of elevation. It’s a hike that can be done slowly with lots of stops to rest, or used for trail running, just depending on your speed ambitions. We did the hike after work one evening during the week to avoid having to get a permit. We saw a few other people and the parking lot was wide open.

Wildflowers on Dog Mountain in May

Things to see (aka. photo ops)

The flowers

The flowers bloom between late April and early June.

Meadows of wildflowers on Dog Mountain in May
flowers

The view

The view of the Columbia Gorge from Dog Mountain is stunning. Despite the cloudy day we had, it was still fantastic. On a sunny day, the river glistens and everything is vibrantly colorful.

View of the Columbia River Gorge from Dog Mountain

More information

Helpful links

Rails to Trails Conservancy

Washington Trails Association

What is the Pacific Northwest {for travelers}

Other hikes in the Pacific Northwest

Latourell Falls Loop Trail, Columbia River Gorge, OR

Smith Rock, Terrebonne, OR

Dog Mountain Trail, Columbia River Gorge Area, WA

Elk Mountain and Kings Mountain Loop Trail

Silver Star Mountain Trail, Skamania County, Washington

Tillamook Head Traverse Trail, Oregon

Cottage Grove Covered Bridge Trail – Oregon

Timberline Trail, Mt. Hood

Willapa Hills Trail, Chehalis

A Rainforest Adventure

If you go to Dog Mountain trail, share a photo with us. Tag us on Instagram @jauntyeverywhere or use #jauntyeveryday.

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