Easier and more scenic route take the "less difficult" trail. If you want to take the loop start with the "more difficult" trail, knees will appreciate it on the way down the "less difficult". Highly recommend get there first thing in the morning.

This was my first time on Dog Mountain. It's definitely a tough hike. The weather was gorgeous, but I was hoping more flowers were still in bloom despite reading the post under mine that says they were already wilting. ha! It was still so worth it.

I arrived at 8AM on Friday morning. The parking was fine, maybe 6 people there with me. The trail did not feel too crowded at all. As the day went on more people began to pack the trail, but I would definitely still not call it crowded.

Augspurger Trail is very overgrown. I attempted to go down this way but because it was my first time on the trail and I wasn't completely sure about the way to go I ended up turning around adding 2 miles to my trek. Oh well. Live and learn. The signs are not exactly clear. It wasn't just me who thought this either. I suggest go down the way you came up if you're a novice like me. Augspurger way far muddier than DM trail also. Some of the best flowers that were remaining were on the very beginning of Augspurger trail though.

Take plenty of water and empty your bladder before you head up.

Excellent early evening hike in the Columbia River Gorge!

The parking lot was about 2/3 full when I arrived at 3pm. I encountered many other hikers making their descent as I was sweating up the hill, but the trail never felt 'crowded'. I must have just missed the rush, because by the time I reached the meadows near the top I barely saw any more people and I had the summit to myself. I took the Augspurger trail back down, and only passed two parties of two the entire way back to the parking lot. What a great day for it!

There are still some wildflowers near the top, but most of them are wilted and drying up. Other than the brush growing in close over the trail in several spots, there weren't any obstacles. Bugs didn't seem to be a problem except for in the parking lot. There were only a handful of cars in the lot when I returned a little before 7pm, which I found a little surprising considering there were still two full hours of daylight left on this beautiful Spring day.