Washington Lights | New Dungeness Lighthouse

New Dungeness Lighthouse • Sequim, WA

Located 5 miles from the mainland, New Dungeness Light is situated at the end of the world's longest sand spit. One of the most memorable of my trips, this lighthouse is well worth visiting. It is very peaceful and relaxing at the end of the spit. You are surrounded by the ocean on all sides and the magnificent Olympic Mountain range looms in the background as you look south. Looking north across the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Mount Baker dominates the vista. The view from the hurricane deck is spectacular.

• H I S T O R Y •

Established in 1857 on the northwest side of the Olympic Peninsula, New Dungeness was the first lighthouse along the Strait of Juan de Fuca. First lit on December 14, 1857 it originally stood at 100 feet. In 1927, it was shortened to its current height of 63 feet. The lantern room was dismantled and replaced with the original lantern room from Admiralty Head lighthouse which had been demolished and rebuilt in 1903. The lighthouse sits near the end of the New Dungeness sand spit which, at over 5 miles, is the longest sand spit in North America, and perhaps the world. Originally situated one sixth of a mile from the tip of the spit, the light is now a half mile from the tip as the sand spit continues to grow. The Coast Guard stopped staffing the light in 1994, at which time the lighthouse was leased by the New Dungeness Chapter of the United States Lighthouse Society. The New Dungeness lighthouse has a rich history of shipwrecks along the spit.

• A T T R I B U T E S •

Location:	On the tip of the New Dungess sand spit, 5 miles out to sea.
Form:	Conical tower, integral to quarters
Composition:	Sandstone & stucco
Markings:	White with a red roof
Height:	63 feet
Present Optic:	VRB-25
Original Optic:	Third Order Fresnel
Focal Plane:	67 feet above sea level

• S T A T U S •

The lighthouse is kept operational by the New Dungess chapter of the United States Lighthouse Society. Volunteers take turns spending a week at the lighthouse as host. There is an 18-month waiting list for the privilege of serving as host. The light still serves as a maritime navigational aid.

• D I R E C T I O N S •

From Seattle: Take I-5 North or WA-99 to WA-104 (Exit 177 from I-5). Head Northwest on WA-104 to Kingston-Edmonds Ferry. Take the ferry west across the sound to WA-104. Follow WA-104, crossing the Hood Canal bridge. WA-101 becomes US-101. Follow US-101 into Sequim. Take a right onto Sequim Ave (at some corners Sequim Ave is marked as Sequim-Dungeness Way) and follow Sequim Ave to Anderson Road (Sequim Ave bears to the right; go straight to get on Anderson). Take a right onto Lotzgozell Road. Take another right onto Kitchen Dick Road. You will see signs for the New Dungeness Wildlife Refuge. The 5 mile hike out to the end of the spit takes about 2 hours. Although a portion of the spit is solid ground, humans are not permitted to walk on it because it has been designated as a national wildlife refuge. Therefore the entire hike out is on sand; it would be wise to bring at least 2 quarts of water per person.

• W A L L P A P E R •

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