Augspurger Trail #4407

This trail may be difficult to follow past its junction with the Dog-Augspurger Tie Trail and use of a GPS unit or map and compass while hiking is strongly suggested. This trail can be done as a long, demanding out-and-back to either the summit or the road on the north side or as a one-way with a shuttle. Note, however, that road access to the northern trailhead may require a 4WD vehicle and will require a current forest road map. There are few campsites or water sources along this trail; water sources may be non-existent by late summer. The #4407 starts at the Dog Mountain Trailhead and climbs around the west slope of Dog Mountain for 2.8 miles to a junction with the Dog-Augspurger Tie Trail. This stretch of trail offers great views of the Columbia River Gorge to the west. From this junction, the #4407 descends the ridge to an old road - now decommissioned - in the bottom of the drainage. Turn right (east) here and follow the old road to an intersection of service roads under a powerline. Follow the service road that heads northeast and within 500 feet or so you'll reach a continuation of the #4407 on the right. From the service road, follow the #4407 as it climbs to the top of a ridge with eye-level views of the powerlines and big views of the Columbia River beyond. From this open ground, the trail continues directly up the ridge, never veering far from its crest. This section can get over-grown so pay attention to avoid losing the sometimes faint tread. There are occasional views from along this ridge. At just under six miles from the trailhead, and after roughly 3,600 feet of gain, the trail will turn to the northeast across a shallow saddle and soon thereafter you'll reach the wooded, viewless summit of Augspurger Mountain. If you plan to turn-back from here, it's worth it to go a little further north on the trail to where there are some views. Continuing on from Augspurger summit, the #4407 descends the mountain's north-northwest ridge, never veering too far from its crest. This is a less-used section of trail and can get deeply overgrown, so pay close attention to avoid losing the sometimes obscure tread. At about 0.9 miles from the summit, the trail makes a sharp turn to the right (east) off the ridge, then a sharp turn to the left (north) to avoid some rock outcroppings on the ridge. Shortly after this zig-zag, you'll reach the #4407's end at its northern trailhead.