Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge

Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington.

Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge is located along the northern coast of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. The refuge hosts one of the world's longest natural sand spit, which softens the rough sea waves to form a quiet bay and harbor, gravel beaches, and tide flats. Here, eelgrass beds in the bay and harbor provide food for Pacific black brant and a nursery for young salmon and steelhead. Tide flats teem with migrating shorebirds in spring and fall; flocks of waterfowl find food and rest in these protected waters during the winter. The refuge provides habitat for a wide diversity of wildlife species. Over 250 species of birds and 41 species of land mammals have been recorded on the refuge along with eight species of marine mammals. Approximately 8,000 black brant stage in the area during April. Shorebirds and water birds feed and rest along the water's edge; and about 600 harbor seals haul out to rest and have their pups on the end of Dungeness and Graveyard Spits.

Nearby Activities


Directions

The refuge is north of Highway 101, west of Sequim, in Clallam County, Washington, approximately 15 miles east of Port Angeles on the southerly side of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Turn north on Kitchen-Dick Road and continue 3 miles to Dungeness Recreation Area. Go through the recreation area to the refuge parking lot.

Additional Information

Photo Gallery