Plan Your Visit
The Refuge is open from sunrise to sunset every day. There is a
daily entrance fee of $3.00 per family. Children under 16 years of
age enter free. We also accept the following Federal Recreation Passes:
Golden Eagle, Golden Age, Golden Access, Federal Duck Stamp and the Dungeness
NWR Annual Pass. We also accept the new “America the Beautiful” passes:
Annual, Senior, Volunteer, and Access (http://www.fws.gov/refuges/generalInterest/passes.html).
The area where Dungeness NWR is located, northeast of the Olympic Mountains
on the Strait of San Juan de Fuca, has a pleasant and temperate climate. We
lie in a rainshadow northeast of the Olympic Mountains, and it is the driest
area in western Washington. Average annual rainfall and snowfall
are 16.5 and 3.5 inches, respectively. Most precipitation occurs
from November to January. The area generally receives more sunshine
and less cloudiness than other areas near Puget Sound. Freezing
is uncommon. Average temperatures range from a low of 30.9ºF
in the winter to 71.9ºF in the summer. During the latter half
of the summer and early fall, fog banks over the Pacific Ocean and Strait
of Juan de Fuca result in considerable fog and morning cloudiness in the
lower elevations. The prevailing winds are south to southeast in
winter and west to northwest in the summer. Strong winds of up to
60 mph are quite common in the Strait.
The Refuge is located at the end of Voice of America Road accessed through
the Dungeness Recreation Area. From Highway 101, take Kitchen-Dick
Road north. Follow the road as it dog-legs to the east (right) and
becomes Lotzgesell Road. You’ll see immediately on your left
the entrance to the Dungeness Recreation Area and Dungeness NWR.
Driving Directions
