Despite that it was a cloudy Tuesday, the parking lot was far from empty around 8am. Wildflowers seemed to be just past peak, and still spectacular - I can see why this is such a popular spring hike. Got those classic gorge views from Puppy Dog Viewpoint, but soon after, the fog descended (or i ascended into it). Things were fully socked in from the top. The flowers popped even brighter amidst the gray, though! Continued beyond the peak, and looped back on the Aupsberger Trail. Great hike! 

Heading to Bend, OR for the long weekend, I decided to break my trip from Puyallup in half and spend the day in the loverly wildflowers and views of Dog Mountain near Stevenson

PASS PERMIT REQUIRED Weekends Recreation.gov Weekdays, use the credit card kiosk after parking and follow the directions clearly posted. A USFS ranger was staged at the entrance to help with crowds and visitor questions.

PARKING was a challenge arriving at lunch however, just east of the lot is an adjacent pullout which had at least 5 spots open. There is also a shuttle that operates through Skamania Fair Grounds. 

RESTROOM is located 1/4 mile up Dog Mountain Trail.

THE TRIP The loop trail begins steep through a lovely wooded area with excellent footing and switchbacks. At 1 mile there is a fork showing left (more challenging) and right (challenging). I took the right. At mile 2 an opening and first view of wildflowers and the Columbia River Gorge area. Continuing counterclockwise a loop around Dog Mountain and a bit more shelter from the sun through the trees. Wildflowers were an abundance. The summit is a small pigtail trail beyond the view in the trees.

HAZARDS Some sharp rocks underfoot otherwise none- noted.

7. 17 miles- 2900' elevation gain

Right off the bat, what everyone wants to know, flowers to me seem just past prime at the top and it's splendid.

Annual trip up this classic and still ain't bored of it after many years. Might be a good idea to pack a decent jacket since the top can get windy and chilly, especially if cloudy. Made way up and down the same way, and didn't take Augsperger's down. I don't mind the steepness down and it's shorter.

Seeing as I went on a Thursday afternoon, did not need to get a permit which is required at this time in the season for weekends and Memorial Day. Parking lot was not full at all and was easy to find a spot. Decent amount of people though across all ages and dogs too.

If you can snag a slice of good weather soon, go for it before blooms start going away.

Start: 315 PM

Top: 500 PM

End: 615 PM

Doing this hike during wild flower peak has been on my bucket list, and with the great weather forecast, I knew I had to go today!

I made the 3.5 hr drive from Seattle and arrived at 10:30am to a completely full parking lot (even on a Monday) and the overflow lot was full as well. I ended up finding a spot along the highway east of the main lot.

Taking the "more difficult" trail provided me with a significantly quieter trail, though it can at quite a price (that elevation gain is no joke! There was only 1 switch back?)

It was SUPER windy once you break the tree line and see the flowers, so much so that I was getting really cold, even with a couple layers added on. Because of this, I decided to go right when the trail forks again partway past the first stretch of flowers (at Puppy Dog viewpoint), and go into the trees. It was wind-free there, and allowed me to warm up. It's about 0.6 miles, then joins back with the main trail, opening up to a beautiful clearing full of flowers (and dare I saw, less people?).

this hike was in fact steep but well worth the effort, it took me and my dog about 4 hours, we chose the difficult route over the more difficult route lol the flowers were literally insane!!!! i’ve never seen so many loved it, got to the parking lot around 830am and it wasn’t very packed but around 1130amwhen i got down it was pretty full and there was a lot of people coming up. 

worth the effort, be sure to pack water there wasn’t any sources.