Dog Mountain
Southwest Washington
As of May 5, 2026, Dog Mountain is experiencing peak balsamroot wildflower bloom, with excellent volume and variety reported in the lower and upper meadows. The trail is generally clear of snow. Seasonal weekend parking permits are required and should be purchased in advance. The "very difficult" route is recommended for an ascent, with switchbacks for descent. Be prepared for scree on the last mile, particularly the final half-mile to the summit, which is fully exposed. Hikers should carry at least 2 liters of water. While some reports mention potential overgrowth on certain sections, recent reports indicate the main trails are clear and ready for enjoyment.
generated from 30 reports
Conditions at a Glance
Trail
Trail in good condition
1 of 1
Snow
Snow free
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Road
Road suitable for all vehicles
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Bugs
No bugs
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Sources
This is a fantastic wildflower hike right now, great volume (photos and video) and variety. The balsamroot in the lower meadows is thick and fresh. It is still thickening in the upper meadows, but the...
Earlier this week I hiked the "Dog and Cat" loop in the Gorge: aka, Dog Mountain and the Cook-Augspurger Traverse. I'd completed those hikes separately in the past, but the loop was a new adventure, a...
Seasonal weekend (Sat/Sun) parking permit required plus NW forest pass ($5).TH easily accessible from hwy.Bathrooms and trash cans serviced and available at TH.Rangers were present at TH when I return...
The trail was difficult. It defiantly left me sore. There is a restroom for those who are not aware off. You do have to buy parking permits 4 days in advanced. There were wild flowers available, but s...
We camped overnight at Beacon Rock State Park to have an easy drive in the morning. We arrived around 0730 and there was a lot of parking left.The rangers did not yet have their booth out checking per...
I scouted the upper loop at the summit of Dog Mountain ahead of an upcoming work party. (4/18)The summit loop is completely overgrown with thick branches (3 + inches wide) and will require small saws ...
The Triple Dog Dare: Hiking Dog Mountain Three Times in a Day!19.5 miles, 9,000 feet of gain, 9,000 feet of loss, and ~7.5 hours.First lap: “More difficult”started at ~10:30AM, with the parking lot ov...
It was quite brisk this morning with the freezing temperatures along with the blustery wind. Once out of the trees around 2400ft trail was a bit icy in sections. We didn’t use spikes or any traction a...
It was a moody but beautiful winter day on Dog Mountain. The forests were lovely and there was some ice and scant snow to be found near the top. The wind was from the west today so I avoided the expos...
Just a few downed trees across the trail but they were easy to get over them. The last half mile or so had a bit of icy snow crystals on the trail but we didn't use our cleats on the way up but decide...
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