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    Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge

    4.6 (63 reviews)

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    The volunteers are extremely kind and knowledgeable. The place is such a safe haven for all wildlife and you can tell how much love and care is put into conserving the natural areas.

    US to the left and Canada to the right across the water!
    Rachel M.

    We stopped here on a whim on our drive home to Seattle. It was mid-October and the weather was surprisingly sunny and clear. We had our dog with us. Dogs are allowed on-leash on the trail to the wildlife refuge from the far parking lots but not allowed inside the actual refuge. Still, it was a nice, easy walk with lots of lookouts. We could see Canada across the water! There are restrooms along the way, as well as cans specifically for dog waste (no bags, though I would hope people would have their own on hand). There are also some benches if you want to take a rest stop. There were a few other people with dogs on the trail. It's a relatively narrow trail so I wouldn't recommend it if your dog is reactive towards other dogs or kids.

    Yolanda R.

    Dungeness Spit is one of the longest natural spits in the world. In addition to its own natural beauty, it is a great spot for bird watching. There are many places to park. Its an honor system which requires a $3 fee to use the park for day use. They have overnight opportunities too. Bring exact change and enjoy the long walk. Also, it is an easy and level hike except for the last 100 yards down to the beach. The hike along the beach is along the sand with pebbles and driftwood. Go as far as you like. The lighthouse is a few miles out at the end of the spit. The views of mountain, clouds and sea are great. Be sure to consult the tide charts so you don't get caught. And use the facilities at the trailhead before commencing. There is nothing once you get to the beach.

    Entrance sign
    Sheri H.

    Wow. I love any beach, and the ones here are spectacular. Saw several kinds of birds here. The trails are well worn. There are easy ones, which is what I took. There is a long hike to the Dungeness spit, one of the largest ones in the world. It's a long stretch of land out in the middle of the ocean, and a lighthouse is there. Camping is allowed here. There are picnic tables sprinkled about, and my friend and I had lunch at one while staring at the ocean below. There are also benches throughout. There are caution signs and fences put up to avoid going on the bluffs as they fall apart easily.

    The spit!
    Hannah S.

    This is a seriously cool hike and natural wonder to visit if you're in the area! It contains the largest natural "spit" in the US (Dungeness Spit) at just over 5 miles long! You can walk the entire length of the spit all the way to the lighthouse which is just over 10 miles round trip. For safety, it's recommended to go during low tide bc at high tide you'll have to climb over tons of logs which is hazardous and exhausting. Normally the lighthouse is open for tours but it's closed for now due to Covid. There's plenty of paved parking and also some decent bathrooms at the trailhead. Normally there's a $3 entrance fee per group/family, but the day I visited it was free! Once you enter the trail, you walk through the forest for about 15 minutes then the bay view opens up before you! There is a viewing deck to your right before you head down to the shoreline of the spit. The day I visited, it was so clear you could see Mt Rainier looming over the lighthouse in the distance! So cool! Normally you have a choice of path between a slightly (very slightly) shorter, more paved walk or the "primitive trail", but due to Covid safety measures, it's a one way walk now so you head out to the refuge on the primitive trail and come back on the other trail. Along the walk, there are some informational signs and lots of gorgeous trees and birds. It's a lovely, gentle hike for the most part but it does have a small incline at the end down towards the bay. Once you get down on the beach, you can see the bay and Canada our in front of you and then Sequim behind you! It's a great outing! Highly recommend!

    Olystacy B.

    I have been here numerous times but have never taken the time to review. This is a wonderful place to get some exercise, play, spend time with family and friends, and enjoy our beautiful Washington scenery. My kids love playing on the driftwood, I love the scenery, and walking out to the lighthouse (it is a trek, the distance is deceiving). There is a day use fee of 5.00 (BRING CASH) but it is so worth it to keep places like this open and operating for all of us to enjoy. The path to the spit is level and easy to walk. Anyone in any kind of decent shape should have zero problems navigating the trek to the beach. The only downfall is that the garbage cans are ALWAYS full here, as if someone isn't doing their job. It looks "trashy" to see over flowing garbage cans and garbage on the ground. I have been to the park numerous times and I can say it has been like this EVERY time, so I don't think it is just a fluke.

    Trail to the Sand Spit
    Jacques I.

    I've never been on a sand spit before 'til we visited the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge. While in Sequim we stopped by this wildlife refuge, which was absolutely stunning! Pretty cool that the sand spit here is the longest in the U.S.! We visited in the morning, around 10am and the parking lot was already full. Fortunately, someone was leaving as we arrived, so didn't have to park in the further lot like most people had to. The visitor's center was closed due to COVID-19, but signs indicated where to go through the forested area to visit the sand spit. Restrooms were open, but water fountain was shut off. It's an easy walk through the forest, as it's all flat. For social distancing measures, they have one path for those going to the sand spit and another separate trail for those exiting the sand spit area. Along the path you'll see lush trees and plants and hear birds chirping. Once you get to the sand spit area, there's an observation deck to see the spit from above. This is the only part of the trail that's a hill, as you go down to the sand spit and of course, upwards when you leave. Visit during low tide, and you will be able to walk along the spit and see Port Angeles and Canada from afar. Unfortunately, because of COVID-19, they blocked off much of the trail that leads to the lighthouse, so someday I'd like to visit again when things are back to normal. But it's a very peaceful and beautiful place where you can walk on the sand, dip your toes in the water and collect seashells. I definitely recommend visiting while in Sequim.

    Carolyn T.

    Enjoyed our walk here . The sandspit was awesome ... only wish we hard more time as could have walked to the lighthouse. Recommend longer visit if you have not been here before

    Jessica S.

    I will never tire myself with visiting this place. It is always a treat visiting the Refuge. I only wish I could retreat to this spectacular place for months on end. I often frequent the Refuge during the summer months, so visiting during the winter was fun! Seeing snow capped mountains bordered with the fresh ocean is something to witness! We saw several bald eagles which always brings a smile to my face. I will forever support this incredible place and encourage others to do so.

    Li N.

    It's a long trail if you would like to touch the lighthouse of the sand spit. Though we only have the kite and sit on the logs to relax for an hour. Lots to see on the spit, the birds, the logs, the sea one side and the bay the other side. Normally you need to pay $3 for the entry. Sometimes it's free. You can also choose to camp in the refuge. Nice campsites.

    marissa l.

    Very beautiful ! Not much to do but enjoy the scenery which is so worth it! The staff are very friendly and welcoming! They keep the place pretty clean and beautiful. There's a small fee for adults but well worth it to keep the place maintained. The lighthouse is 5 miles out so going with a few little ones it was tricky getting the kids to make it a mile out since there were so much exploration points they wanted to see

    Tom T.

    Would highly recommend! Beautiful scenery and only a short walk from the parking lot to the spit. Parking is free & could be sparse during peak times so you just have to wait for a spot to open While parking is free, you do have to pay entrance fee to get to the spit area that is roughly 5 miles out to the lighthouse. Fee us $3 via honor system in envelopes, so no change is available nor credit card machines, although day I was there, a "ranger" or docent was pretty much guarding the entrance to make sure you paid, but still had no change. The beach scenery is amazing with lots a huge driftwood logs al along the spit for ample photo opportunities. If you're in the area & have just a couple hours, it's well worth it, even if you only go a short hike out on the spit!

    Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge - Lighthouse
    Tanya S.

    Memorial Day Weekend visit was awesome! I initially wanted to hike over at one of the Alpine Lakes but saw the snow reports and decided to save that for summer. This was the perfect alternative. Found a campsite by pure luck, the campground has an amazing location. Our campsite was pretty private (look for #10) and we had our own mini- trail to the bluffs and could hear the waves crashing as we went to sleep. The trail led down to the spit. OMG - you wouldn't think that 10 mile roundtrip walk along the beach would be strenuous but we were both sore for days after the hike! Take snacks, water, and make sure you bring sunscreen because we forgot to. A friendly camper told us that whole trip would take 5.5 hrs and we scoffed but it DID end up taking us 4.5 hrs with a few stops. $3 entry fee which we forgot but luckily there were so many ppl giving extra that the gatekeeper let us through). Lighthouse keepers are visitors themselves, staying in the house in exchange for doing chores and giving tours. Sounds like a fun getaway for older couples, keep that one in the book for twenty more years.

    when the trail opens up to the beach, turn left and this is what you'll see (minus the people). coloring due to setting sun.

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    Great place to go for a short, easy hike. On a nice day you can get a view of the Olympics and the Cascades from the spit.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge

    Hi just checking in the website says no dogs allowed but on Yelp it says dogs allowed, which is it?

    So, as with all things in life, two things can be equally true: dogs ARE allowed in the recreation (i.e., camping) areas--but not the Refuge itself, savvy?

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge

    The beach scenery is amazing with lots a huge driftwood logs al along the spit for ample photo opportunities.

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    Sequim Bay State Park - What a view

    Sequim Bay State Park

    3.2(14 reviews)
    9.8 mi

    This is a gem of a campground! We had a big Olympic NP trip planned and needed a campground…read moresomewhat close to SeaTac airport to start our journey. This campground was small and quiet, and matched with the beautiful views it was really enjoyable. There are only around 30 sites here, squished between the coast and the main road. Each one has a bunch of space, though, and some privacy behind trees and bushes. There's a tent pad, picnic table, and fire pit at each site, although we were there during a fire ban. There was a nice bathroom that's an easy walk from any site, and a couple picnic pavilions as well. You can head to the Olympic trail from this campground, which stretches for a few hundred miles. You can also walk down to a boat launch and take in the view by the water. We were really pleased with this beautiful quiet campground and it was a great way to start our trip.

    This park has a really small area to access the very rocky beach. I only saw this area and learned…read morelater that it's much larger than that. Based on what I saw and did there with a friend, I wouldn't go back, as my main goal is to be and appreciate the beach. This park has tennis courts, basketball court, and ball fields, along with 3 rec areas for rent for a group. You will have to pay to camp/RV here and showers. There's a paved trail. Dogs are allowed but have to remain on leash.

    Photos
    Sequim Bay State Park - The lower section is close to the water

    The lower section is close to the water

    Sequim Bay State Park - Campsites

    Campsites

    Sequim Bay State Park

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    Dungeness River Nature Center - Our lattes from their Hurricane Coffee stand - a Happy Camper (blackberry mocha) and a Dark Raspberry Mocha - SO GOOD!

    Dungeness River Nature Center

    4.9(8 reviews)
    3.9 mi

    This place is awesome. We came here really by chance. We were directed here by our "AI" itinerary…read more(yep!) and had no idea it would be so great. Lovely Pacific Northwestern indigenous art, a remarkably professional and interesting exhibit inside of local flora and fauna (including a live tank of baby salmon, which you can find adult-size in the rivers around town); friendly person manning the desk and a cafe and gift shop that are not open every day so watch out for that. It's free - give them a donation, they really deserve it.

    We stumbled upon this hidden gem while looking for Christmas lights at the Railroad Bridge Park as…read moreit's located in the same complex - what a find!! It was closed at night when we first visited but it looked so interesting that we had to come back the next day to check it out and am so glad we did! It's surprisingly large inside with a very interesting little exhibit room which is like a nature museum - full of information and displays on all the nature and wildlife of the surrounding Dungeness River ecosystem. They're all about education and conservation here so you know how much I loved that! One of my favorite things was their display of rain gauges giving you a visual example of the staggering differences in rainfall amounts around the area - mind blowing how much rain some of these places get! They partner with the local Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, the Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society and the National Audubon Society. They offer all sorts of nature and wildlife programs, field trips and conferences, as well as birding walks and other tours. The center has a gift shop and a satellite stand from Hurricane Coffee. We tried their Happy Camper (a blackberry mocha) and their Dark Raspberry Mocha and we couldn't resist the freshly made Blueberry Coffee Cake displayed - everything was delicious! They have quite a few benches and picnic tables outside, as well as a lovely bird garden that was just teeming with local species. They even have a "bird blind" viewing area inside where you can watch in secret so as not to scare the birds - it was awesome! They have plenty of clean restrooms and a huge parking lot so there's room for everyone. The GPS brings you right to the river center - but you may get confused bc it looks like you're driving through a remote rural neighborhood- but just trust it bc it's at the end of the road lol! Once you're finished exploring the river center, be sure to pop out back and explore the historic railroad bridge over the beautiful and huge Dungeness River!! So worth it!

    Photos
    Dungeness River Nature Center - Inside the exhibit room - well worth a browse! Lots of interesting info

    Inside the exhibit room - well worth a browse! Lots of interesting info

    Dungeness River Nature Center - Front entrance

    Front entrance

    Dungeness River Nature Center - Yummm!

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    Yummm!

    Olympic Discovery Trail - A sign

    Olympic Discovery Trail

    4.7(6 reviews)
    5.6 mi

    This trail starts at Port Townsend and ends along the shores of the Pacific Ocean. It does cross…read moresome roads and does follow the highway a bit, but it's long enough to not see a lot of people on the trail. Keep an eye out for signage so you don't get lost when you do cross the roads. I walked the segment near Sequim. It's well maintained with a paved path which also goes on the Johnson Creek Trestle. The trestle itself is gorgeous. The creek it traverses isn't very large, although the trestle is more to avoid a steep drop and incline from the terrain. There's also a port-a-potty near it which seems like it doesn't get much use as it's one of the cleanest I've seen. Overall, incredible trail with gorgeous views! If you're in the area, be sure to check it out, you won't regret it.

    I can't ever see myself moving away from Oregon, but if I ever did, it would probably be to some…read moreplace off the Olympic Discovery Trail. This trail is truly amazing and really puts the entire trail system in Oregon to shame. Some friends and I rode nearly the entire trail last summer and I can not wait to go back and do it again First off, it is long! It goes across most of the Olympic Peninsula, but there are plans to connect it all the way to the ocean. That would be great because getting to it from La Push was quite the adventure. The paths vary from paved bike trails in the forest to flowy single track to urban on road riding. Make sure you know what your section is like before attempting it! We camped along the way except for the city portion around Port Angeles where we used Warm Showers to find a host, so if you're planning to bikepack it, make sure to look up areas you can pitch a tent in

    Photos
    Olympic Discovery Trail - Trestle

    Trestle

    Olympic Discovery Trail - Port-a-potty

    Port-a-potty

    Olympic Discovery Trail - Beautiful Elwha River just after sunset - view from the Elwha Channel River Bridge along the trail (Jan 2025)

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    Beautiful Elwha River just after sunset - view from the Elwha Channel River Bridge along the trail (Jan 2025)

    Sequim Off Leash Dog Park

    Sequim Off Leash Dog Park

    4.3(12 reviews)
    6.2 mi

    This was perfect for us to stop on a daytrip to Sequim. My friend's dog was getting a little antsy…read moreand we wanted her to get some of her energy out prior to going to the Olympic Game Farm so that she didn't jump out the window or something else at the farm. The dog park is separated into three gated areas. The smaller dog area is ample size to accommodate at least 50 dogs and their owners. The larger dog area is also decent in size. Both areas have water stations and covered benches just in case you want to sit down and watch the dogs play. The third area is for agility testing or for dogs to run the obstacle course. I will say that the majority of the dogs that were in the large pen were very friendly and kind of minded their own business. My friend's dog did get scratched in the nose as she entered though, so her nose was bleeding a bit but nothing major. The pens also come equipped with a few dog ball tossers and other toys to keep the doggies moving as well as doggie doo bags. I did sense a bit of community here as well as there were a few posters of dogs that have passed on as well as dogs that were lost were posted and several people talked about the dogs that passed on as if they were their own. Overall, a nice place to just let your dogs run.

    The park is great but the "board" and their "president" are terrible along with most of the elderly…read moreattendees. Brought my kids along as I usually do because they like to play with their dog and they got yelled at to stop running by the "president" I told them they are fine and ignored her. Then the lady screamed at my child calling him retarded for running. Needless to say there were some harsh words from me and another mother. They quickly posted new dog park rules after this making it more of an elderly park. Another time a mans dog had taken my dogs ball which I don't mind I let the dog play with it for a while but then my dog (a Doberman) was getting frustrated because he wanted his ball. So I went to try and get it from the dog we struggled for about 30 mins trying to retrieve the ball from the dog. All while the owner kept saying good girl and cheering his dog on in this game of take away. Oh I should also mention I was pregnant at the time. The dog stopped at the owner many times and he would just ignore me and let his dog keep the ball. This park seems to have a stigma against my Doberman even though it seems like he's the one being nipped at by people poodles If you go in the evening though at dusk you can usually avoid the rude elderly and you and your dog can actually enjoy it. This is just two times there has been many more incidences.

    Photos
    Sequim Off Leash Dog Park - This is 1 of 2 "large dog" areas; K9 agility run on the left. On right is 2d lg dog area; beyond that, the small dog area.

    This is 1 of 2 "large dog" areas; K9 agility run on the left. On right is 2d lg dog area; beyond that, the small dog area.

    Sequim Off Leash Dog Park
    Sequim Off Leash Dog Park

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    Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge - parks - Updated May 2026

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