Facility 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.
Keep in mind, wildlife comes first on National Wildlife Refuges. There are several regulations in place to allow public access to the Refuge while still protecting the plants and animals that need these resources to survive. The detailed Refuge map will help you locate areas of the Refuge that are open to the public. Please respect the rules as you enjoy your visit.
Hours
The Refuge is open daily from sunrise to one half hour before sunset.
Be Aware
Hiking Dungeness Spit can be dangerous. Be sure to consult a tide table before you begin your hike. The bluff areas are unstable and extremely hazardous. They are closed to the public. Even at low tide, keep your eyes on the ocean and the beach logs. Driftwood logs are heavy, unstable, and can move unexpectedly. Waves and tides can turn them into powerful weapons.
Camping
No camping is allowed on the Refuge. Dungeness Recreation Area, adjacent to the Refuge, offers camping.
Hiking Trails
An easy 1/2 mile trail takes 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 5 mile beach walk to the Lighthouse. Visitors must stay on designated trails (Main or Primitive Trails) as the upland forest is otherwise closed to public entry to protect wildlife.
Pets
Pets are not allowed in the Refuge.
Boating
From May 15 to September 30, boating (no wake zone) is allowed up to the 100-yard shoreline buffer. Refuge waters are closed to boating from October 1 to May 14.
Boating Access
Public boat launches are located off-Refuge on Cline Spit and the Dungeness Landing which can be accessed from Marine Drive. Boats may land only at the designated landing site directly south of the New Dungeness Light Station from 9am to 5pm. Winter hours vary. Advance reservations required for landing at the Lighthouse; call (360) 457-8451.
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 Sept. 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.
Beach Use
Consult a Refuge Map for beach uses. Jogging is only allowed on the beach below the bluffs west of the Dungeness Spit. Jogging is not allowed on the forested trails or the Dungeness Spit to protect wildlife and promote wildlife viewing and photography.
Closed Areas (Year-Round)
Graveyard Spit, portions of Dungeness Spit, a 100-yard buffer zone around these areas, and all bluff areas are closed to public entry. Consult the Refuge map for specific closures.
Prohibited Activities
To minimize disturbance to wildlife, jet skiing and wind-surfing are not allowed on Refuge waters. Activities including, but not limited to, bicycling, walking pets, kite flying, ball playing, Frisbees, flying machines, fires, and camping are not allowed in the Refuge. Disturbing or removing any resources (except for fish and shellfish during designated seasons) is prohibited.
Marine Mammals
Harbor seals and their pups rest on Refuge shores and should not be approached or disturbed. They are protected by the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act.