Dungeness Beach Crossing

The Dungeness beach crossing can be strenuous during the hot summer months.

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Quick Facts

Amenities

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Beach/Water Access

Dungeness Beach is the closest beach to the Dungeness Historic District. The Dungeness beach crossing begins near the Greene-Miller Cemetery. There are two main routes to get to the beach from this point. One route is to follow the sandy road directly to the beach. The road is about half a mile long. It consists of soft sand and can be hilly in parts and flooded during certain times of the year. This route is not recommended during the hot summer months, for those with mobility issues, or those using strollers or beach wheelchairs.   

The recommended route is to follow a series of trails and boardwalks that begin at the Greene-Miller Cemetery. On the far side of the cemetery, a shaded trail follows the edge of the salt marsh. This path leads to a boardwalk that extends over the marsh, providing a view of the Beach Creek marsh area.  Wading shorebirds frequent these tidal areas, and manatees often surface to feed on the cord grasses in the summer. 

The path surface later changes to a sandy dune field. The trail turns slightly left and visitors will have to trudge up a small dune field. Extra attention should be paid to the signage along the trail. Please stay on the trail in this sensitive area. This dune crossing is not recommended in summer because of the exposure, soft sand, and hot sand temperature. The shaded path to Sea Camp Beach is a great alternative for those wishing to go to the beach.   

After the first dune crossing, a second boardwalk traverses the inter-dune meadow ecosystem. From here, you can reconnect with the vehicle road, or follow a footpath through the dunes to the beach. Please note the sand sifts often in this area and the footpath may not be readily visible and may have developed steep berms. Follow the wooden posts with arrows to the beach. The beach crossing is marked with a black and white striped pole. 

Once on the Dungeness beach, you are more than halfway around the southend loop. Visitors may find it easier to hike the beach north a mile to the dune crossing at Sea Camp Beach. A black and white striped pole on the beach indicates the dune crossing to the interior of the island.