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New Dungeness Lighthouse awaits those who trek to the end of Dungeness Spit.
Blue skies with birds soaring in the breeze, waves meeting the shore to create a symphony by rolling beach cobbles, ships making their way past Mount Baker in the deep blue water and the promise of spectacular 360-degree views from the tower of the New Dungeness Lighthouse make the trek to the end of Dungeness Spit well worth the effort.
A visit to the lighthouse is a treat any time, but September is a magical time on Dungeness Spit.
Venture to the spit on a weekday when most tourists have abandoned the popular hiking destination to return to work and school.
Although the spit is flat and an 11-mile roundtrip hike along mostly beach doesn’t sound too strenuous, the sand and beach cobbles add a touch of difficulty.
Hikers are restricted to periods between sunrise and sunset and need to allow enough time to walk both directions during low tide.
Check tide charts before starting out, layer clothing to be prepared for cool winds and quick-moving fog and pack plenty of water and a snack to enjoy on a picnic bench in the shadow of the lighthouse.
Plan to spend at least five hours walking to the lighthouse, touring the building, taking photos and enjoying one of the most magical views in the Northwest.
The lighthouse, completed in 1857, is one of the oldest light stations in the Northwest and is one of the very few that allow families the opportunity to be lighthouse keepers for a week.
Once reaching the lighthouse, hikers are greeted by friendly New Dungeness Light Station Association members and offered a free tour of the historic building to learn more about the early lighthouse keepers, the effort it has taken to preserve the structure and a quick lesson in maritime technology.
Climb to the top of the lighthouse on a winding and narrow staircase for amazing views of the Olympic Mountains, Strait of Juan de Fuca and Dungeness Spit, which is the longest natural spit in the United States.
Spend some time roaming around the grounds to watch dune grass sway in the breeze and to fantasize about what it would be like to live in a lighthouse.
A sign made of driftwood directs visitors back to the beach with one word — “reality.”
The “reality” of having 4.5 miles of sandy beach to travel along can seem a little daunting at first, but watching the birds and waves and glancing back at the lighthouse that has guided ships safely through the waters surrounding Dungeness Spit for decades make the return trek a little easier.
A few more details…New Dungeness Lighthouse is located near the end of the Dungeness Spit, which is a national wildlife refuge.
To reach the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge, take U.S. Highway 101 west of Sequim and turn north on Kitchen-Dick Road. Continue 3 miles along Voice of America Road to Dungeness Recreation Area.
Travel through the recreation area to the refuge parking lot.
There is a $3 per family daily entrance fee. Children younger than 16 enter for free.
The trailhead is well marked and volunteers provide information about the diverse wildlife that calls the refuge home.
A short trail takes visitors through a forest to an overlook on the bluff above Dungeness Spit. The trail continues down a steep hill to the spit and becomes a 4.5-mile beach walk to the lighthouse.
New Dungeness Lighthouse is open to visitors daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The lighthouse has a water fountain allowing visitors to sample artesian well water and a public restroom.
Members of the New Dungeness Light Station Association, who spend a week volunteering at the station, offer free guided tours of the lighthouse.
For more information about New Dungeness Lighthouse, visit www.newdungenesslighthouse.com.
