Facility Rules and Policies

Litter

The refuge is a Leave No Trace location- make sure to pack out what you bring in!

Pets

Pets are never allowed on South Monomoy, North Monomoy, and Minimoy islands. These islands contain sensitive ecosystems, and provide critically important habitat for a huge variety of threatened shorebirds. 

On the Morris Island (mainland) trails, dogs are NOT permitted in the summer, from May 1st to September 15th, to protect nesting wildlife. Leashed dogs are allowed on the Morris Island trails in the off-season, which is from September 16th to April 30th.

Permitted Activities at Monomoy NWR

The following activities have been determined to be appropriate and compatible with Monomoy NWR's Comprehensive Conservation Plan. 

  • Hiking
  • Wildlife Observation
  • Jogging/Walking
  • Photography
  • Birding, Natural and Cultural History Tours
  • Recreational Fishing
  • Shell-fishing
  • Snowshoeing
  • Swimming/Beach Use 
Prohibited Activities at Monomoy NWR

The following activities are considered not compatible with the ongoing mission of conservation at the refuge which includes many sensitive habitats and species. 

Prohibited activities include: 

  • Bicycling
  • Camping
  • Picnicking
  • Over sand vehicles
  • Fires
  • Fireworks
  • Jet skiing
  • Kiteboarding
  • Mussel harvesting
  • Horseshoe crab harvesting

See the appendix of our Comprehensive Conservation Plan for a full list of all permitted and prohibited activities.