The best dog friendly cabin tips we can give come from watching our own dogs lose their minds in Mt. Hood snow for the first time, then limp back to the cabin with ice balls between their toes. Mountain trips are the best trips for dogs. They just need a little more thought than a beach weekend.
Before you leave home
Mt. Hood Village sits around 1,500 feet, which is nothing, but the trailheads you'll drive to range from 3,500 to 6,000 feet. Most dogs handle it fine. Older dogs and flat-faced breeds may tire faster. Pack the basics: leash (six feet, not retractable, for trail rules), collapsible water bowl, more food than usual because they'll burn it, a towel per dog, poop bags, and a copy of vaccination records in case you need an emergency vet. The nearest is in Sandy, about 20 minutes down the hill.
Check your flea and tick prevention. Ticks are active on the mountain from spring through fall, especially in the brushy lower trails.
Trails where dogs are welcome
Good news: most Mt. Hood National Forest trails allow leashed dogs. A few we like, and why:
- Salmon River Trail (Old Salmon River Trail section): flat, shaded, follows the river with plenty of spots to wade. Two minutes from the cabin. The ideal first-morning walk.
- Trillium Lake loop: two flat miles around the lake with the mountain reflected in it. Leash required, and crowded on summer weekends, so go early. We wrote a whole post on the best light at Trillium.
- Mirror Lake: about four miles round trip, moderate climb, dogs love the lake. The new trailhead has a big lot and a restroom.
- Wildwood Recreation Site: paved and boardwalk trails right in Welches, with an underwater fish-viewing window. Day-use fee. Great for dogs who aren't hikers.
Where dogs can't go: inside the Timberline Lodge, on ski lifts, and in some designated wilderness areas during certain seasons. Check the Forest Service site for the specific trail.
Snow is new to most dogs
Watching a dog discover snow is worth the whole trip. Then watch for the problems. Ice balls form between toe pads on long-haired dogs and hurt. Trim the fur between pads before the trip, or use paw balm or booties. Road salt and de-icer on parking lots irritate paws; rinse them after. Dogs get cold too, especially short-coated breeds. If your dog is shivering, they're done. Snow also hides things: creek edges, drop-offs, and the ends of groomed trails where they hit deep powder and sink.
Sno-Parks require a permit November through April, and dogs must be leashed in them. Skibowl and Meadows don't allow dogs in the base areas during ski operations.
The hot tub rule
Dogs and hot tubs don't mix. The water is too hot for them, the chemicals are bad for their skin and stomachs, and a dog jumping in after you is a real thing that happens. Keep the cover on when you're not in it, and keep the dog inside or on a leash while you soak. Wildwood Basecamp's tub sits on the deck, so this is easy to manage, but we say it every time because we've seen it go wrong.
Wildlife, and the other kind of danger
Black bears, cougars, coyotes, and elk all live here. Encounters are rare, and leashing your dog is the single best prevention. A dog that chases a deer into the woods can come back with a cougar behind it. Keep them close at dawn and dusk. Also watch for porcupines on lower trails and for the Salmon River itself, which runs fast and cold in spring snowmelt. A calm-looking eddy can have a strong pull.
Huckleberry season (late summer) is a dog favorite, though they'll eat as many as you do. Harmless, but you'll be picking purple out of their fur.
Cabin manners
Wildwood Basecamp sits on 1.6 wooded acres, but it isn't fenced, so don't assume the dog can free-roam. Wipe paws at the door; we leave towels. Keep dogs off the beds if they're muddy, or throw one of the provided blankets down first. Never leave a dog alone in the cabin who isn't crate-trained and calm; a barking dog on a quiet mountain road is a neighbor problem. And please don't let them dig in the yard. We know. It's very tempting dirt.
The reward
A tired, happy dog sleeping in front of a mountain cabin fireplace is the whole reason we do this. Wildwood Basecamp sleeps eight, has a bunkhouse lounge for the kids, and welcomes dogs without a lot of fuss. See the rest of our Mt. Hood rentals and go get some snow on that dog.