Dogback Mountain is located in the Linville Gorge Wilderness area, with steep, rocky slopes and cliffs. The summit of the mountain is accessible by vehicle via the Kistler Memorial Highway, but Dogback is also home to some of the most challenging trails in the region. Visitors to Dogback Mountain will find ample opportunity for hiking, camping, bouldering, and climbing as the rocky slopes of the mountain are very steep and contain dozens of routes for climbers. The Rock Jock Trail, which was originally created by climbers looking for a good spot, is an incredibly scenic trail for hikers. While much of the forests on Dogback Mountain were wiped out by a series of horrific wildfires, this trail still leads past some gorgeous views of the cliffs and the descending gorge.

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