WDFW Beach Season Information
Clam, mussel, and oyster seasons OPEN for harvest year-round.
No restrictions on hours of harvest.
Do not try to access the beach from the northern parking lot (near the restroom). The mud in the creek channel is extremely sticky and hazardous. An access route has been graveled from the southern parking lot. Use this trail to enter and leave the beach.
Private shellfish farms are adjacent to public tidelands in Quilcene Bay. Please do not trespass on private property. See Beach Map for access information to public tidelands in the outer bay.
WDFW shellfish seasons indicate the specific times of year when harvesting is permitted. Before heading to the beach, please also check the Department of Health (DOH) information below which is related to health of the shellfish and may be updated daily. To harvest on this beach, it must be both during the WDFW approved season and approved by the DOH.
The minimum size limit for clams on this beach is 1½ inches. This beach has a large population of Manila clams, although clams tend to be small. There are also some native littleneck clams and eastern softshell clams on this beach, but they are not as abundant as the Manila clams. Oysters are sparsely scattered across the western edge of the beach. Private tideland boundaries adjacent and interior to the WDFW tidelands are marked with white fiberglass posts, do not trespass. See Beach map for public harvest areas. The Northwest, Southwest, and Northeast units are a longer walk, but worth it for superior clam digging-. The West unit has fewer and lower-density clams than these other units. WDFW encourages harvesters to explore these outer Quilcene units without trespassing on the neighboring shellfish farm.
From the south, follow Highway 101 to Quilcene and turn right onto Linger Longer Road just as Highway 101 starts to curve to the left in Quilcene. (The former landmark for the turn was the Whistling Oyster Tavern, which is no longer in operation.) Follow Linger Longer Rd. about one mile to the WDFW parking area on the left.
From the north, follow either Highway 101 or Center Road to Quilcene and turn left onto Linger Longer Road as Highway 101 swings right as you pass through Quilcene. (The former landmark for the turn was the Whistling Oyster Tavern, which is no longer in operation.) Follow Linger Longer about one mile to the WDFW parking area.
The empty lot across the street from the paved WDFW parking lot is private property. Parking is not recommended. Overflow parking can be found at the Quilcene Yacht Club/Quilcene Boat Ramp, 1/4 mile south on Linger Longer Road.
Private tideland boundaries adjacent to the WDFW tidelands are marked with white fiberglass posts. Some of these private tideland areas have nets stretched across the beach surface to protect farmed clams from diving ducks. Please do not trespass on private property. There are two connected parking lots for the Quilcene Bay Tidelands, both accessed from Linger Longer Road. Due to issues with a sinkhole, the southern parking lot has been blocked off to car access. Harvesters are strongly encouraged to access the tidelands using the trail that leads east down the slope from the southern parking lot. Sticky mud below the slope of the northern lot can be very treacherous. From the northern lot, walk south past the boulders blocking the connector road between the two parking lots and down the gravel embankment. Follow the hard packed path from the southern parking lot out to the tidelands. Don't stray outside the marked path or you'll end up in soft mud.
A vault toilet is located at the northernmost of the two small parking lots. There are no trash receptacles at this site. Please pack out your garbage. Public restrooms, showers, swimming beach, and a picnic area are located at the Herb Beck Marina at the end of Linger Longer Road.