Mount Rainier (L) and Mount Adams, seen from the viewpoint at the end of the ridge past Augspurger Mountain.

Go straight through this road junction.

Map of the hike, showing the optional descent loop via Dog Mountain. Note that Augspurger Mountain is mislabeled in the topo - its summit is the high point to the right of the word "Mtn" at the end of the red line.

• Start point: Dog Mountain Trailhead
• End point: Augspurger Mountain
• Trail Log: Trail Log
• Hike Type: Out-and-back
• Distance: 12.6 miles
• Elevation gain: 4767 feet
• Difficulty: Very Difficult
• Seasons: Late spring (overgrown or snowy otherwise)
• Family Friendly: No
• Backpackable: No
• Crowded: No

Hike Description

Starting at the Dog Mountain Trailhead, take the Augspurger Trail #4407 around the west flank of Dog Mountain. The trail ascends more gradually than other Dog Mountain trails and there are views of Wind Mountain and the Columbia Gorge. After 2.8 miles and 2200 feet of climbing, you'll reach a junction with the Dog Mountain Trail, which will switchback up to the right. Keep left to stay on the Augspurger Trail and go downhill on a smaller, brushy path into a basin. After .6 miles, the trail intersects with an old road. Take a right and head uphill another .6 miles, continuing straight through a four-way junction. When the road takes a hairpin left turn, look for some pink ribbons and a faint trail to your right. Continue on the Augspurger Trail as it climbs and switchbacks through the woods for 1.1 miles until you pop out onto an open ridge. There are powerlines below the ridge and fantastic views west, down the Gorge, and south, across the Gorge, to Mount Defiance and Mount Hood. Continue along the ridge and follow the faint trail as it climbs through brush and forest another 1.1 miles to the forested summit of Augspurger Mountain.

To reach a great viewpoint and lunch spot, continue on the trail as it descends steeply for .1 mile and pops out of the trees onto a long open ridge that is covered with wildflowers in late spring. There are excellent views to the north of Mount Saint Helens, Mount Rainier, and Mount Adams, as well as Silver Star Mountain to the west. You can stop here or continue down to the end the ridge, which adds approximately a mile round trip, with about 300 feet of elevation loss and regain. This part of the trail is especially overgrown in summer.

Retrace your steps to return to your car. When you reach the Dog Mountain Trail junction, turning right will take you back down the Augspurger Trail to the trailhead. If, instead, you turn left, you can take the Dog Mountain Trail #147 for 1 mile up to the summit of Dog Mountain, then continue down the Dog Mountain Trail to the trailhead. This adds approximately 1.4 miles and 750 feet of elevation gain to the hike.

WARNING: You'll be sharing the trailhead with the Dog Mountain crowds, so the parking area fills early. To avoid frustration, try to arrive before 8:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m. between March and October.

Maps

• Maps: Hike Finder

Regulations or Restrictions, etc.

A Northwest Forest Pass is required to park at the trailhead.

Trip Reports

• Search Trip Reports for Augspurger Mountain Hike

• Augsperger Mtn (7/11)
• Augspurger and Dog redux - 7/2/11

Related Discussions / Q&A

• Search Trail Q&A for Augspurger Mountain Hike

Guidebooks that cover this hike

• 100 Hikes in Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington, by William Sullivan

(only listed as an optional extension to the Dog Mountain hike)

Contributors

• Bosterson (creator)