Wildflowers starting to bloom to midway up. Summit has yet to bloom. Lots of people, all having a great day!

Great day hike for a GS Troop getting ready for St Helens. Definitely feel the burn up and down! Trail snow free but still mushy in some spots, pockets of mosquitoes and poison oak. Lots of rocks, roots and uneven terrain on trail waiting to trip you up, recommend boots for stability. Viewpoint and summit very windy, some flowers just starting to peek out. Parking lot was full by 9:00am.

Definitely a heart-pumping hike! Worth it for the gorgeous views though. There were a few wildflowers blooming (trillium at lower elevations, Columbia Kittentail and a sprinkling of balsamroot at higher elevations), but it didn't seem to be peak flower season yet. Beware! The parking lot was FULL at 9:30, and there was parking law enforcement there when we got back around noon.

We decided Dog Mountain was appropriate for our pup's first hike up a mountain (albeit a tiny one!). The trail is gorgeous and leads you through a mossy forest with some relatively steep switchback--but there are enough low incline areas to make it a pretty moderate hike. This is the perfect trail to help get you ready for some of the bigger mountains. The trail was in great condition. Thete is still some lingering, compacted snow on the "hard route" but nothing you can't handle wearing trail runners. I was really impressed that this hike shows you a different side of the gorge :)

Went adventuring yesterday for the first time on Dog Mountain. It was a great day to be outside and the skies were clear, perfect for taking in the scenery. Just wanted to let folks know that the trail leading to the summit (on the right hand side if facing the mountain-this trail is a loop so you can indeed go left or right to start) was muddy but manageable. Once you near the first major view point there is a patch of snow/ice to pass but doable. Once at the summit, we decided to complete the loop and go down the trail on the North/west side of the mountain. This half of the mountain was still covered in snow at the top. You must be very careful taking this route as much of the snow was compacted and icy. If you are looking for a challenge- it's a fun choice but if you are concerned with safety I would recommended returning down the same trail on the more eastern/south side of the mountain. Happy hiking!