Augspurger Mountain Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- 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: Difficult
- Seasons: Spring through fall; snowshoe in winter
- Family Friendly: No
- Backpackable: No
- Crowded: No
Contents |
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, recently cleared path into a basin. After .6 miles, the trail climbs slightly and intersects with a forest road. Take a right and head uphill another .6 miles, continuing straight through a four-way junction under powerlines. When the road takes a hairpin left turn, look for a trail to your right with a sign that says "Augspurger Mt., 2.5 mi." 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.
Note that a sign at the trailhead indicates that is 7.5 miles to the top of Augspurger Mountain. Several GPS measurements have it at just over 6 miles, however.
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.
WARNING: Permit required in April and May 2018 to access Auspurger Mountain via any of the trails beginning at the Dog Mountain Trailhead. See permit information below.
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
Regulations or Restrictions, etc.
- Northwest Forest Pass (or America the Beautiful Pass) required to park at the Dog Mountain Trailhead.
- On weekends from March 31st to July 1st, a trail permit for each hiker ($1.50) is required in addition to the Northwest Forest Pass; order in advance at Recreation.gov. Only 165 permits are available per day for those using the parking area at Dog Mountain Trailhead. Permits can be purchased 6 months in advance.
- Those taking the shuttle service have the cost of the permit included in the their ticket; shuttle users do not need to order in advance.
- $2 toll each way at the Bridge of the Gods
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Augspurger Mountain Hike
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Augspurger Mountain Hike
Guidebooks that cover this hike
- 100 Hikes in Northwest Oregon & Southwest Washington by William L. Sullivan (listed as optional extension to the Dog Mountain Hike)
Contributors
- Bosterson (creator)