Visit Us
Monomoy NWR offers a range of wildlife dependent recreational opportunities including fishing, photography, and hiking. The refuge includes over 3,500 acres of federally designated wilderness, which surrounds the historic Monomoy Light and lightkeepers house.
Driving Directions
Refuge Visitor Center
Our new visitor center is located at 791 Main Street in downtown Chatham, and features interpretive displays, maps, trail guides, and informational brochures. The visitor center is staffed by USFWS staff and the Friends of Monomoy NWR and open hours are subject to volunteer availability. Parking is available across the street next to the post office.
Morris Island Parking Lot and Trailhead
Parking and entrance to the Morris Island trails (the mainland section of the refuge) is located at 30 Wikis Way, Chatham MA 02633. Please note that the roads on Morris Island go through private neighborhoods, but there is a right-of-way over those roads for all refuge purposes, including visitation. Follow Morris Island Road to Tisquantum Road and follow signs for the refuge on the left, Wikis Way. Parking is available at this location but the lot may get full, especially during the high visitation summer months.
Island Access
Access to the offshore island portions of the refuge is by boat. The refuge does not operate any public boat service at this time.
Pets
Dogs and other pets are NEVER allowed on South Monomoy, North Monomoy, and Minimoy islands.
On Morris Island (mainland unit, accessed from parking lot at 30 Wikis Way), dogs are NOT permitted in the summer, from May 1st to September 15th. Leashed dogs are allowed only on the Morris Island trails in the off-season, which is from September 16th to April 30th.
For alternate dog-walking locations, we've compiled this list of locations and their corresponding dog policies for southeastern Cape Cod.
Other Facilities in the Complex
Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge is managed as part of the Eastern Massachusetts National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
Situated along the Atlantic Flyway in Massachusetts, the Eastern Massachusetts National Wildlife Refuge Complex is comprised of eight ecologically diverse refuges. The eight individual refuges include inland and coastal wetlands, forests, grasslands, and barrier beaches that provide important habitat for migratory birds, mammals, plants, reptiles and amphibians.
Complex headquarters is located at Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge, 680 Hudson Road, Sudbury, MA, 01776. Phone: (978) 443-4661.
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.
Locations
Visitor Center, staff offices, and intern housing for Monomoy NWR (beginning Fall 2025).
Visitor parking for the Morris Island (mainland) unit is available at 30 Wikis Way, Chatham MA, 02633. Visitors may access the trail system leading over dunes and to beaches from this lot.