Cape Flattery

Take a short trek out to a dramatic seascape with the chance to catch a glimpse of some marine life while you watch the waves crash against a fairytale coastline.

From the parking lot, the wide graveled trail descends into mossy cedar forest. Before long reach the first of a series of boardwalks and wooden steps meant to help you avoid the mud that frequently lines the trail. As you near your destination a couple of paths lead off the main boardwalk out to observation platforms that give a front row seat to expanses of ocean filled with tree-topped fingers of rock, exposed cliffs riddled with caves and the sound of waves crashing against the cape. Continue onward to find a large observation deck built at the very tip of the cape that provides commanding views of Tatoosh Island, Vancouver Island and the ocean carved coastline. If you’re lucky, you may be able to pick out some whales in the distance, or find otters or seals lounging on the rocks below.

This little hike is the perfect addition to a trip out to the Pacific site of the Olympic Peninsula. The trail is well maintained and it should be approachable for almost any hiker, though roots and uneven terrain may trip up little feet. With little elevation gain, short milage and an impressive seascape, this is a great hike for those who are a little reluctant to get on the trail. Once you’ve soaked up the views, round out your hiking day by taking a trip down to Shi Shi Beach and exploring the Point of Arches. Keep in mind that the area is managed by the Makah Tribe and all visitors are required to purchase a parking permit from the tribe - Washburn’s in Neah Bay is a good place to get one.

History

Cape Flattery’s rocky cliffs not only overlook Tatoosh Island, but they have the distinction of being the most northwesterly point in the continental United States. Nearby Cape Alava only narrowly beats out Cape Flattery for the western most point by a little over 350 feet. Other than the Pacific Ocean, Cape Flattery is the oldest place name on the Washington Map still in use today. The cape was sighted by Captain James Cook on March 22, 1778, when it “flattered” the crew with hopes of a harbor or the entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Bad weather hid the “pretended” Strait of Juan de Fuca from Cook, but his name for the jut of land won out over the native name of “Klasset” and other early explorer’s attempts at a name, such as Claaset and Classet.

Tatoosh Island sits about a half-mile off Cape Flattery, and was named after a Makah chief by Captain John Meares in 1788. Meares met the chief on the island and observed the Makah hunting whales and drying salmon, using the island as a base. By the 1850s, there was an increasing need for a lighthouse near Cape Flattery. One was constructed and first lit on December 27, 1857. Over the years a number of facilities grew up on the 20-acre island including weather and radio stations. Throughout that time keepers manned the lighthouse until 1977 when it was automated. Today, the lighthouse is decommissioned and a solar powered light tower helps guides ships into the Strait. The Makah Tribe now control the island, with only a small fenced graveyard to serve as a reminder of the many people that once lived on the island.