Description of hike is that of a lesser grade, but longer distance. We took the shorter distance (about 6.7 miles total) and 2800 elevation gain. We took the trail to the right and stayed on the newer trail.
It was very windy up on top which caused us to leave pretty quickly after getting four contacts....
This hike starts at the Dog Mountain Trailhead, but not on the Dog Mountain Trail. Instead, start on the Augspurger Trail.
The Augspurger Trail (#4407) starts climbing immediately out of the parking lot. You'll cross a talus slope or two and there are views of Wind Mountain and the Columbia River to the west. After three miles and about 2200 feet of elevation gain, you'll come to a junction with the Dog Mountain Trail. Turn right on to the Dog Mountain Trail and after a brief steep climb, you'll break out into Dog Mountain's Summit Meadows. These meadows are filled with amazing flower displays in late May and early June. Continue up the Dog Mountain Trail 0.9 miles to a signed junction with the Summit Loop Trail. Turn left and continue upward on the Summit Loop Trail for about 1/10 of a mile to the summit of Dog Mountain.
From the summit, there are several ways back down. You can return the way you came. You can continue forward on the Summit Loop Trail directly to Puppy Dog Lookout. For the best views though, backtrack down the Summit Loop Trail to the junction with Dog Mountain Trail, then turn left and head downhill toward Columbia River. This way, you'll spend the most time the flower garden views. About a half mile from the top, you'll reach Puppy Dog Lookout, once the site of a fire lookout at about 2500 feet. Turn to the right and continue down Dog Mountain trail into the forest. At a signed trail junction with the "more difficult" trail, continue straight down the "less difficult" trail. You'll pass a lower viewpoint at about 1600 feet and the lower end of the more difficult trail at about 700 feet. The last half mile is heavily infested with poison oak, but the trail is wide and it's easy to avoid.
DIRECTIONS:
Travel East on Washington State Hwy 14 from Stevenson, WA. Go past Wind Mountain. The trailhead is past milepost 53, about ½ to ¾ of a mile. Turn off into the large dirt parking lot on the left. The Dog Mountain trail heads off to the right. The Augspurger Trail leaves from the same place headed up the hill to the west.
This can be a busy parking lot during the spring and summer months.