Visitors are drawn to this geographic anomaly by its end-of-the-Earth allure, a forested headland playing sentinel over the Pacific Ocean and forbidden Tatoosh Island, a sacred Makah spot. America's northwestern most point is accessible by a half-mile cedar-plank boardwalk constructed by Makah tribal members in 1997.
From the furthest viewing platform, you can see Tatoosh Island and its lonely lighthouse standing oblivious to the wind and surf. At two other viewpoints, watch waves explode against sea stacks and churn in and out of caves carved by the force of the incoming sea.
Savor magnificent northwest corner of U.S., home to swifts, shearwaters, puffins, loons, whales, sea lions, sea otters. Visit world-class museum on natural history, Makah Tribal culture. Audubon Important Bird Area. See Olympic Loop of the Great Washington State Birding Trail.
Area Birding
HABITAT: Pacific Ocean; Makah Tribe’s northwest corner of U.S., cliffs, caves, islands, forest.
BIRDING: Look up, down, and out! Summer headliners: soaring Black and Vaux’s Swifts, and paddling Tufted Puffins. Spring-fall, watch Leach’s Storm-Petrels, Sooty Shearwaters, Marbled Murrelets, Rhinoceros and Cassin’s Auklets, Common Murres, Pigeon Guillemots; Common, Red-throated, and Pacific Loons; Pelagic and Brandt’s Cormorants. Winter visitors include Surf and White-winged Scoters; Western, Red-necked, and Horned Grebes. Black Oystercatchers stay year-round.
VIEWING: 0.7-mile Cape Flattery Trail to platform overlooking ocean, Tatoosh Island. Bonus: Marine Mammals – Gray whales in April; sea lions, harbor seals, harbor porpoises, sea otters year-round. Makah Cultural and Research Center – World-class museum on natural history, tribal culture.
ACCESS: In town of Neah Bay, Hwy 112 becomes Bay View Dr. Obtain required tribal recreational use permit at Makah Cultural/Research Center (turn left at “Makah Museum” sign) or continue 0.3 miles to Washburn’s General Store. From museum turn-off, drive west 1.2 miles on Bay View Dr. Turn left onto Fort St. Drive 1 block. Turn right onto 3rd. Drive 1 block. Turn left onto Cape Flattery Rd. Drive 7.4 miles to trailhead parking.
