Visit Us
Hours
Dungeness is open daily from sunrise to one half hour before sunset. Closing times are posted daily at the trailhead.
Driving Directions
Three miles west of Sequim on Highway 101, turn north onto Kitchen-Dick Road. After three miles Kitchen-Dick Road curves sharply to the right and becomes Lotzgesell Road. After 1/4 mile turn left into the Dungeness Recreation Area on Voice of America Road. Proceed through the Recreation Area, past the County campgrounds to the Refuge parking lot at the end of the road. The Main Trail begins in the visitor kiosk plaza adjacent to the parking lot.
For electronic navigation instructions use the following address:
600 Voice of America Road
Sequim, WA 98382
Warning: Do not use the Refuge mailing address for electronic navigation instructions. It will not get you to your intended destination.
Visitor Information
The Refuge office is open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm. The office is closed on all federal holidays. The phone number and mailing address for the Refuge are:
(360) 457-8451
715 Holgerson Road (Mail only, not for navigation or public access)
Sequim, WA 98382
Entrance Fees
$3 daily entrance fee per family or per group (up to 4 adults). Children under 16 enter free. Cash or check is accepted, please bring exact change. Refuge Annual Pass, Federal Recreational Lands Pass, Senior or Golden Age Pass, Access or Golden Access Pass, Military Pass, Volunteer Pass, Every Kid in a Park Pass, or a Federal Duck Stamp also admit a family or group (up to 4 adults). Recreation passes can be purchased in the Refuge office (except duck stamps). Learn more details about the Federal Recreational Lands Pass program.
Activities
From the quiet rustling of towhees in the forest to the raucous crashing of waves on the shore, Dungeness provides numerous recreational opportunities for visitors. To protect sensitive plants and animals, parts of the Refuge are closed to visitation. Please consult the Refuge map before starting your adventure.
Wildlife Viewing
Bald eagles, brant, rough-skinned newts, harbor seals, and black oystercatchers - these are a few of the animals you may see on a thoughtful hike at Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge. By planning the timing of your trip carefully and being attentive to your surroundings, you may encounter a fascinating array of species.
Consult the Watchable Wildlife Checklist for advice on typical habitats and seasonal abundance of species at the Refuge.
Hiking
An easy half mile trail leads visitors through the forest to an overlook on the bluff above Dungeness Spit. The trail continues down a steep hill to the Spit and becomes a five mile walk to the lighthouse. Please stay on the designated trails.
Boating
Many people enjoy the challenge of visiting the New Dungeness Lighthouse at the end of Dungeness Spit by kayak. Others access shellfish beds by boat in Refuge waters. Be sure to consult tide tables and keep an eye on the weather as conditions can deteriorate quickly.
Download Boating Map (Cline Spit boat launch)
Fishing and Shellfishing
The Strait side of Dungeness Spit is open to saltwater fishing year-round, except for the area beyond the Lighthouse. Tidelands in Dungeness Bay and Harbor, excluding closed areas shown on the Refuge map, are open to shellfishing May 15 to September 30. Access east and west of Graveyard Spit is by boat only.
Washington State fishing regulations apply. All oysters are privately owned and may not be harvested.
Interpretation
Information panels are available at the entrance kiosk and along the main trail to the Spit. As you hike the trail through the forest you will be able to learn about the plants and animals that live here as well as the cultural history of the Spit.
Photography
Perhaps the fastest growing activity on national wildlife refuges in the past ten years has been wildlife photography. You don’t need to purchase expensive equipment or have any experience to get started. A small camera or basic cell phone will do just fine for most visitors. Wildlife photography is a high-priority activity in the Refuge System. We welcome beginning and expert photographers alike to record their outdoor adventures on film, memory card or internal hard drive.
Lighthouse Tours
Daily tours of the historic New Dungeness Lighthouse are offered by volunteers of the New Dungeness Light Station Association from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Winter hours vary.
- Educational Use Permits, Fee Waivers
Trails
- Main Trail - .63 Miles
- Primitive Trail - .56 Miles
- Dungeness Spit Trail - 5 Miles (10 Miles Roundtrip)
- West Bluff Trail - .2 Miles
Other Facilities in the Complex
- Protection Island NWR
- San Juan Islands NWR
- Copalis NWR
- Flattery Rocks NWR
- Quillayute Needles NWR
Rules and Policies
Dungeness NWR has a daily entrance fee for Refuge use. Pets are not allowed. State licenses are required for fishing and shellfishing in the Refuge. Researchers will need to obtain a special use permit.
Download Guide to Activities and Regulations
Passes
The following list of valid passes allow entry for a family or group of up to four adults. The Daily Entrance Fee to the Refuge is $3. An Annual Dungeness NWR Pass is available for $12. Children under 16 enter free. Payment may be made by cash or check, please bring exact change. Valid entry passes also include the Federal Recreational Lands Pass, Senior or Golden Age Pass, Access or Golden Access Pass, Military Pass, Volunteer Pass, Every Kid in a Park Pass, and Federal Duck Stamp. All valid passes, except the Federal Duck Stamp, are available for purchase at the Refuge office. Please visit the Federal Recreational Lands Pass web site for pricing and more information about passes.
Special Use Permits
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issues permits under various wildlife laws and treaties at a number of offices throughout the country. Permits enable the public to engage in legitimate wildlife-related activities that would otherwise be prohibited by law. Service permit programs ensure that such activities are carried out in a manner that safeguards wildlife. Additionally, some permits promote conservation efforts by authorizing scientific research, generating data, or allowing wildlife management and rehabilitation activities to go forward. For more information contact the Refuge at (360) 457-8451.
Locations
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge parking, entrance station, and public restrooms.
For electronic navigation instructions use the following address:
600 Voice of America Road
Sequim, WA 98382
- From U.S. Highway 101, 3 miles west of Sequim, turn north on Kitchen Dick Road.
- Continue north for approximately 3.2 miles. The road turns sharply to the right and becomes Lotzgessel Road.
- In .2 miles turn left into the Dungeness County Recreation Area on Voice of America Road.
- Continue through the campground to the end of Voice of America Road and the Refuge parking lot.
Washington Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Complex Headquarters
- From U.S. Highway 101, 3 miles west of Sequim, turn north on Kitchen Dick Road.
- Continue north for approximately 3.2 miles. The road turns sharply to the right and becomes Lotzgessel Road.
- In .2 miles turn left into the Dungeness County Recreation Area on Voice of America Road.
- Continue through the campground to the end of Voice of America Road and the Refuge parking lot.
- Follow the brick path to the right of the Refuge Entrance and Fee Station for 30 yards to the office building.
The Historic New Dungeness Light House built in 1857
For electronic navigation instructions use the following address:
600 Voice of America Road
Sequim, WA 98382
- From U.S. Highway 101, 3 miles west of Sequim, turn north on Kitchen Dick Road.
- Continue north for approximately 3.2 miles. The road turns sharply to the right and becomes Lotzgessel Road.
- In .2 miles turn left into the Dungeness County Recreation Area on Voice of America Road.
- Continue through the campground to the end of Voice of America Road and the Refuge parking lot.
- By foot, take the Refuge's Main Trail, fee required, to the Dungeness Spit.
- Turn right onto the Spit and continue to the 5 mile mark.
- Total hiking distance is 5.5 miles each way, 11 miles roundtrip.