Cape Flattery Guide: Hiking the NW Tip of the US (Map & Tips)

When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. See our Affiliate Policy. Halfway through our two-week Olympic Peninsula road trip, we decided to see how far northwest we could go. We drove along cliffside roads, hiked through a spruce forest with our dogs and watched baby whales breaching just offshore. This is Cape Flattery, the northwesternmost point in the contiguous United States. The view of Tatoosh Island from the Observation Deck Over about three-quarters of a mile, the trail changes from a dense Sitka spruce forest to cliffs, sea stacks and a lighthouse out in the distance. We even spotted a few whales from the observation deck, which still doesn’t feel real. Our Stay in Sekiu We made the mistake of not planning our hotel / Airbnb stays far enough in advance (whoops!). By the time we were looking to book, we either had limited places to choose from, or the prices were outside of our budget. For us, the small fishing village of Sekiu (pronounced seek-you) became our home base for the three days we spent exploring the far northwestern edge of Washington. This small town really surprised us and quickly became one of our favorite surprises from our trip. If you’re better at planning ahead than we are, you can find plenty of places to stay closer to Cape Flattery on Makah Tribal land, like Hobuck Beach Resort, Cape Resort or Inn at Neah Bay. Welcome to the peaceful fishing village of Sekiu Sekiu is best known as a summer destination perfect for fishing, kayaking, birdwatching and diving. It’s a small (only 56 residents), quiet, laid-back place to relax. Staying here was the most relaxed we’ve felt in a while (not just while traveling, but in general). Our Airbnb was just a couple feet from the bay, so every morning, we’d wake up, pull back the curtains, and watch fishermen (and women) setting out for the day. Sekiu doesn’t have a lot of food options. But it does have the By the Bay Cafe. We were never sure what their hours were because they seemed to be open whenever we needed them. On our first night in Sekiu, we pulled into town a little after 11 pm and were starving from the drive from Forks. Not only was the cafe still open, but they they offered to make us dinner. It was such a kind and thoughtful gesture. Seals sometimes gather in these quiet coves What makes By the Bay Cafe special isn’t flexible hours or the food, it’s the community they have built there. It’s basically the center of everything in Sekiu. Locals would stop by for coffee, everyone would talk about their day and the entire place always felt welcoming. I wish I could get across how slowed-down everything felt while in Sekiu. The closest I can come is sharing a story about a family we saw in the By the Bay Cafe one morning. They came in stressed and in a rush wanting to get a quick meal before heading to their next stop. The family complained to the waitress that things were taking too long and her calm response was just, “You have the rest of the day.” And she has a point. The more you rush to do things, the less you’ll enjoy doing them. Another reason we love Sekiu is because it’s close to so many incredible places like the beautiful coastline of Shi Shi Beach and the Makah Tribe museum in Neah Bay. Driving from Sekiu to Cape Flattery To visit a place like Cape Flattery, you do need a car to get there (you can check out rental prices here if you aren’t bringing your own). The drive from Sekiu to Cape Flattery takes about 45 minutes along a two-lane road (the Strait of Juan de Fuca Highway) that sits right along a cliff overlooking the Salish Sea. We could even see Canada from across the Strait. If you love winding roads as much as I do, anyone else in your car might be holding on a bit tighter as the car gets closer to the edge, though, there are railings along the cliff face. One of the many views you’re driving to see We drove the 45 minutes to Cape Flattery with the windows down so our two dogs could enjoy the views and sniff the salty Pacific Ocean air. All while while safely seat belted in the backseat. Arriving in Neah Bay We pulled into the coastal village of Neah Bay 30 minutes into the drive. Like Cape Flattery, it’s part of the Makah Reservation, and it’s a place with a long, deep history. You can feel the pride that the Makah people have placed on this land for thousands of years. From here on out, we were on tribal land. Before heading any farther, we picked up a recreation permit so we could hike. But the pass also works for exploring the beaches and camping on the reservation. Distances to attractions on the Makah Indian Reservation You can pick up a permit at a few spots around the reservation, including the Makah Marina, the Makah museum, Pat’s Place, the Makah Mini Mart, the Tribal Center, Hobuck Beach Resort, The Cape Resort and near the Cape Flattery trailhead in the summer. We picked our pass up at the Museum at the Makah Culture and Research Center. It’s $20 per vehicle and good for the entire year. We ended up spending some time in the Makah museum, too. We learned about a massive mudslide near Lake Ozette that preserved an Ozette village for over 400 years, along with the tribe’s whaling and canoeing history and how Europeans settlers impacted their way of life. We also stopped at the Washburn General Store before leaving Neah Bay. It ended up being a good last chance to grab anything we forgot. From Neah Bay, it’s about a 15-minute drive to the Cape Flattery trailhead along Cape Flattery Road. Planning more Olympic Peninsula adventures near Neah Bay? Check out our guide to Shi Shi Beach. It’s just a short drive from Cape Flattery and offers one of the most beautiful coastal hikes in the Pacific Northwest. The Cape Flattery Trailhead Parking at Cape Flattery The parking lot is a smaller lot that can fit about 20 cars. There are two pit toilets and, when we visited, a large dumpster for trash and dog waste. At the back of the lot, near an RV turnaround spot, there’s a sign pointing toward the trailhead. We mapped everything out below, including the trail, viewpoints, and parking area. Google Map needs advertisement cookies to load. These cookies cover both our site and the embedded content. Or View on Google Maps A Short Hike with Amazing Views After we parked and made a quick stop at the bathroom, we started down the trail toward the coast. Normally, we’d bring hiking poles for something like this, but we didn’t think we needed them on this easy trail. The first tenth of a mile is the steepest part of the hike (about -16% grade). When we visited in early August, it was a little muddy and slippery in places. The cape usually receives more than 100 inches of rain annually, so that’s pretty normal. Neah Bay Weather Since it’s a dog-friendly trail, we packed water, snacks, binoculars for whale watching and a couple treats for our dogs. As we made our way to the coast, the trail changed to well-maintained boardwalks for most of the way. We kept a close eye on our small dogs since there were a few gaps between the boards that little legs could slip through. As we hiked, our Verizon service would come and go, and at one point we got a “Welcome to Canada!” notification, even though we never left Washington. Boardwalks guide the way along most of the Cape Flattery trail As we got closer to the coast, the trees started to open to views of the cliffs and coastline. The entire area is so beautiful that we sat for hours at Camel’s Toe Rock, the Cape Flattery Observation Deck and Miracle Point. The observation deck is usually the buesiest, but it wasn’t crowded during our visit. From there, you can see the Cape Flattery Lighthouse on Tatoosh Island. The lighthouse was built in 1857 and still stands out against the cliffs helping guide ships safely into the Pacific. Every so often, we’d hear a faint, high-pitched sound and other hikers would point something out in the water. Baby gray whales were swimming close to the coastline! They’d surface every few minutes, send a quick spray into the air and then disappear again. Whales came so close to the coast! A Few Photos from Cape Flattery Here are a few photos we took while exploring Cape Flattery. A View Worth the Miles We stayed in Sekiu for three days using it as a base to explore the surrounding area. On our last full night, we decided to head back out to Cape Flattery for a sunset with our dogs. We were hoping for clear skies like our first visit, but clouds came in right as the sun was setting and the temperature dropped pretty quickly (good thing we packed thermal blankets!). Even though we didn’t get the sunset we were hoping for, we were able to listen to the baby gray whales again, spend some time in the woods and met up with other hikers who were waiting for the sunset, too. It felt like the perfect way to end our time in Sekiu and at the far edge of the contiguous United States. Though we missed the sunset, we experienced a completely different side of Cape Flattery’s beauty Have you been to Cape Flattery or spotted gray whales along the coast? We’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!