Photo by Adam Sawyer
If you missed the wildflower display at the Tom McCall Preserve last week, fear not. As spring rolls into summer, a new meadow hits its peak every week in the Portland area. Over the next two weeks, the two words that will be at the tip of every flower lover’s tongue will be “Dog Mountain.”
Photo by Adam Sawyer
Dog Mountain is one of the most popular spring hiking destinations in the region. Considered an annual pilgrimage by many hikers, the upper meadows of the mountain explode with color in May and June. For many families, hiking Dog Mountain is a tradition. Generations have made this hike a staple of their Memorial Day weekend. For others it’s a celebration of spring, featuring one of the best wildflower displays in the gorge. Team all of that up with picturesque gorge views, and you’ve got a recipe for a crowded parking lot. If you’re hiking Dog Mountain on a sunny May or June weekend, prepare to get acquainted with several of your outdoor-loving neighbors. If you prefer to have the trail to yourself, leave early on a weekday.
To get there, take I-84 East to Cascade Locks Exit 44. Cross the Bridge of the Gods and make a right onto SR-14. Drive 12 miles to mile-marker 53.5 and look for the marked pull-off on the left.
Photo by Adam Sawyer
The hike begins at the far-right end of the parking lot. Head up past the restrooms and begin climbing, and climbing, and climbing some more. After a half a mile, stay right at the junction. Avoid the “Old Trail.” Continue another mile to the lower meadow viewpoint. If you’ve had enough or are traveling with younger hikers, this is a great spot to have a snack and turn back. What you’ve just accomplished is a sturdy, three-mile, 1,500-foot-elevation-gain hike.
If the summit is your destination, hike uphill another half mile until you rejoin the Old Trail. Put in another half mile of steep climbing to reach the site of an old lookout tower and the beginning of the final ascent. The trail splits here, and either way will reach the top, but the trail to the left is far more scenic. One more half-mile stretch and you’ve reached the summit.
To continue the loop, head down from the summit to the Augspurger trail junction. Turn right here and head down the mountain one mile, to the final junction of the descent. Turn left and enjoy the gentle grade of the final 2.7 miles to the parking lot, completing the seven-mile, 2,800-foot-elevation-gain loop.
–Adam Sawyer
Photo by Adam Sawyer
