As we drove toward Dog Mountain from our hotel in Hood River, we drove into some low clouds covering the mountaintops above the gorge. Arrived at the parking lot a bit after 10am and it was mostly full. We hiked the main trail both up and down. As I hiked up much of the early morning rush was already hiking down. Wildflowers begin in the switchbacks that lead to the first junction. Once past the first junction I started hiking into the clouds and it got misty. Pretty low visibility and zero views at the first viewpoint, though the balsamroot were in peak bloom. Beyond the second junction when I arrived in the beginning of the open flower slopes, I was amazed to see the vast slopes of flowers on both sides of the trail. The best balsamroot fields I have ever seen, and at peak bloom! Unfortunate that the clouds were so thick and there were no views. I reached the summit 2 hours from the trailhead, including some photo stops. I did hike to the true summit in the woods, just to make it official. There was a good crowd at the summit viewpoint. I waited at the summit for over an hour, waiting for the clouds to hopefully lift and also waiting for my dad to catch up. At about 1:30, after I saw many hikers come and go from the top and when my dad arrived, the clouds began to lift and the sun broke through, lighting up the flower fields and opening up the great view downstream past Wind Mountain! The hike back down through the flowers was absolutely spectacular!

The balsamroot is at peak and this is a bucket list wildflower hike.

Finally hiked Dog Mountain to see the wildflower show in mid-May.  Past two years plans were cancelled due to, well, you know.

I got to the trailhead later than I would have liked - 09:00 - on Friday May 20, 2022.  The huge parking lot was COMPLETELY full and people waiting.  I circled the lot a couple times, drove off, then drove back and waited for about 20 mins as a trail runner finished his hike and took off (after stretching and goofing at his car for 20 mins all the while seeing me wait...but that's another story!).

Weather was GREAT, mostly sunny skies, a gentle breeze to start.  The climb up the trail was met with many people coming down - and lots of people passing me.  I was going slow-ish due to stopping to listen at the birds, see the trees, photograph the flowers.  LOTS of warblers serenaded me the whole day - Wilson's, Townsend's, a couple Nashville and even (I'm pretty sure) a Hermit!  What a great day to hear the spring migrants.  

Wildflowers are in peak bloom all over the mountain along the trail.  I forget what all I saw...but some highlights were:  Arrowleaf (and maybe other?) balsamroot, chocolate lily, harsh Paintbrush, Hooker's fairy bells, yellow desert parsley, Larkspur, woodland strawberry, Western serviceberry, Western Trilium (much more on the Augspurger Mountain trail as I headed down than on the Dog Mtn Trail), waterleaf, fairy slipper/calpyso orchid, starflower Solomon's seal, pioneer violet, vanilla leaf, fringe cup, Sierra (or leafy?) pea, spreading phlox, some sorts of penstemon, and I'm sure many more.  Of note:  most of the lupine up and down the mountain were not yet bloomed.

Approaching the meadow just below the "summit", a group of about 20-22 people were headed down (that explained some of the parking lot issues).  The upper meadows were just simply gorgeous with the wildflowers, the views of the Columbia River Gorge, and the puffing clouds and blue skies.  The upper portion of Mt. Hood was visible, but I couldn't see Adams nor St. Helens through the clouds to the north.  The summit had a handful of people quietly eating lunch.  Wind wasn't too bad on this lovely Friday early afternoon.

On the way down, I took the Augspurger connector trail and then down that Augspurger trail.  The upper portions were very muddy and lots and lots of trilliums were on the trailside.  Not nearly as many people on this trail as it seemed most people were doing Dog as out and back.  This is a very nice loop option with different views of the river as you walk through scree slopes.

No ticks nor rattlesnakes nor poison ivy encounters for me!  

The Balsamroot and just starting to bloom, and mostly buds on the upper slopes, but are very full on the lower slopes. Trailhead was about 3/4 full at 10am on a sunny Tuesday. People were all being mostly courteous both in the parking lot and on trail. All in all, a lot better than I had expected after hearing horror stories about crowds, plus the new implementation of a weekend permit system. 

In the woods there were some Chocolate Lilies and Calypso Orchids, we also spotted a woodpecker and some Douglas squirrels. Watch for poison oak on the first 0.6 mile, the path is plenty wide enough to avoid it. The upper 2.4 miles do not have any poison oak.

Just a quick report. Some flowers are out, but dog mountain is not at full bloom. I asked a guy that hikes here regularly and he said it was at about 20% right now. while looking at the arrowleaf balsamroot plants you can see about less then half the buds were open. 

Important note:

"Do to the number of hikers during peak season they require a "Dog Mountain Trail system Permit" for weekends (April 23 through June 12).

You will also need a parking pass which is either a day pass, the "Northwest Forest Pass" or the "America the Beautiful pass"

Link for Permits
<< https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/273800 >>

Please note:
<< https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/273800 >>
"Dog Mountain Trail System Permit is rquired April 23 through June 12 (Saturday and Sunday only)

More information of the Dog Mountain Trail (#147)
<< https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/crgnsa/recarea/?recid=29900 >>

Below is a "report" of my ramble (T) Up to Dog Mountain summit .. i will follow up with another "report" for the descend Dog Mountain back to (T).

10may2022 TUE ~08:45, i was the ~10th to arrive at the Dog Mountain Trailhead parking. After reading the FS Trail-map at the Trailhead, i decided to do the "More Difficult" (instead of the "MOST Difficult") route .. i did a CCW-Loop: (T) > V > Puppy Dog viewpoint > Dog Mountain > Dog-Augspurger Tie > Augspurger Trail > (T)

Any Wildflowers ?? Mostly from ~1,300 ft Up .. 😃

On the way up: (T) to (V). Some muddy sections .. could be slipper ,, though passable with care. Weather was nice and cool 40s_F. Encountered total of 3 people heading down. At (V) were a party of 5 people, and a pair of Hikers. A few minutes later, the party of 5 went Down. The pair of Hikers continued UP. And a few minutes later, i continued my way UP.

From (V) to Puppy Dog viewpoint, i encountered a female hiker coming Down. Upon reaching the viewpoint, gusty wind and chilly ~30s_F.. 4x Hikers arrived; they took a short break before they continued UP. After i put on my Layers, then i continued UP. A few minutes later, i encountered 1 hiker heading Down.

At the (Dog-Augspurger_Tie & Dog Mountain) junction, i encountered a pair of hikers who had just came Down from Dog Mountain summit (~0.3 miles away). We had a brief conversation, and they told me that they were continuing Down by the Dog-Augspurger-Tie: cos its "kinder to one's knees .. " 👍😊 .. i thanks them for their kind advise .. and that's what i did when heading Down back to (T).

At/near Dog Mountain summit, the former 3x hikers that i encountered earlier, had taken shelter from the gusty winds in the trees/shrubs; having a lunch break. Another ~6 hikers arrived, took some pictures, and then went Down.

Everyone were cheery, courteous and friendly .. 👍😊