Guide to Cape Flattery Trail: The Northwesternmost Point in the Contiguous U.S.
The Cape Flattery Trail has everything you want in a travel destination. Beautiful scenery. An incredible sunset. A sense of seclusion. And a feeling of something special. What makes the Cape Flattery Trail special is that it is the northwesternmost point in the contiguous U.S. The northwesternmost point in the contiguous U.S. also just happens to be 100% gorgeous and I will waste no time in telling you that you have to come here someday.
And when you do, use this personally-made guide to the Cape Flattery Trail in Washington state as it has everything you need to know to make it the best visit.
Please Note: As of 9/23/20 the Cape Flattery Trail remains closed due to Covid-19. Please check the Makah Tribe website for updates.
So you already know that the Cape Flattery Trail is the northwesternmost point in the contiguous U.S. but what exactly does that mean? The contiguous (versus continental) U.S. refers to the 48 states (excluding Alaska and Hawaii) that are geographically connected together. Therefore, within the 48 contiguous U.S. states, Cape Flattery is the northwesternmost point.
The Cape Flattery Trail is located in the state of Washington. It sits on the tip of the Olympic Peninsula, as the strait of Juan de Fuca enters the Pacific Ocean from the north. In this area of Washington, the Strait of Juan de Fuca serves as the regional international boundary between the U.S. and Canada. Cape Flattery is located in Clallam County and is part of the northern boundary of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary.
The nearest town from Cape Flattery is Neah Bay, where you will buy the Makah recreational Pass to enjoy the activities here, but more on that later.
How Far is Cape Flattery from Seattle?
If you’re not from the Washington state, there’s a good chance you will be making a stop to Seattle during your travels here. Thus, you may be wondering how long does it take to get from Seattle, Washington to the Cape Flattery Trail?
Well, it sort of depends.
If you take the ferry from Seattle across Puget Sound (and time everything appropriately), then it should be 4 1/2 hours of straight driving time.
If you don’t take the ferry, and take the highway (hwy 5 to hwy 16) around the bay, then it should be about 5 hours of straight driving time.
The scenery here is beautiful. At one point, you get to drive lakeside with mountains filled with trees in the background.
How Much Does Cape Flattery Cost to Visit?
Cape Flattery lies on the Makah tribe land. In order to visit Cape Flattery, you must buy the Makah Reservation Pass at Neah Bay.
The $10 Makah Reservation Pass is bought when you enter the reservation at Neah Bay and can be obtained at the Makah Tribal Center, Makah Marina, The Museum at the Makah Culture and Research Center, Washburn’s General Store, or the Makah Mini Mart in the town of Neah Bay. Please check the hours of these locations as they generally close sometime in the late afternoon.
This recreation permit should be displayed on your vehicle when hiking the Cape Flattery trail and enjoying other beaches and attractions.
Cape Flattery Trail Parking
Where to park at Cape Flattery?
A simple Google Map search of “Cape Flattery Trail Parking” should pinpoint you exactly where to park. There is a parking lot right next to the Cape Flattery Trailhead.
Here is a pinned map to show where you need to park at Cape Flattery.
The History Behind Cape Flattery
Before getting into the details on how to hike the Cape Flattery Trail, I would feel incredibly remiss to not talk about the history behind this space.
The Makah tribe lived on the coastal land between the the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean for many, many generations. Living next to the sea, they caught salmon, whale, seal, and seat otter as staples for food, tools, clothing, and shelter.
Tragically, the influx of Europeans in the 18th and 19th century had a debilitating effect on the lives of the Makah. Thousands died from various epidemics: smallpox, tuberculosis, influenza, and whooping cough. With mass death, so did their culture, as it heavily relied on the passing of traditional knowledge.
In 1852, the Treaty of Neah Bay, between the Makah tribe and the U.S. was negotiated and signed in the native Chinook language. The forefathers of the Makah tribe gave up certain rights (i.e. 300,000 acres of their land) to protect other rights (i.e. whaling, fishing, and maintaining some of their village land, community and educational system).
While these rights were upheld, this did not stop the U.S. government from attempts to westernize their Native American culture. American missionaries and school teachers would be constantly sent to the Makah tribe to assimilate their culture into an American (a.k.a. white-washed) one by celebrating the English language, while dismissing and erasing the Makah language and tradition. However, the collective resistance against Western culture persists even today among the Makah.
For me it is important to recognize that Cape Flattery is indigenous land. And that means to remind myself and others of the deadly and culturally-erasing history that many indigenous people have faced throughout America, as well as celebrate and support communities like the Makah through activities and privileges like hiking the Cape Flattery Trail.
Basic Information: Cape Flattery Trail
How Long is the Cape Flattery Trail?
The Cape Flattery Trail is 1.2 miles out and back. In other words, it is 0.6 miles one way and another 0.6 miles on the way back. It has an elevation gain of 219 feet. All in all, it is categorized as an “easy” hike.
Cape Flattery Trail Map
As with all my guides on hikes, I highly recommend downloading the All Trails App on your phone, if you are able to as it includes a real-time map of the Cape Flattery Trail. Simply type in Cape Flattery on the search bar, click on the Cape Flattery Trail, click on the map, and you can see your location relative to the trail in real-time as you hike it.
Here is a screenshot of the map from the app.
Cape Flattery Trail Points of Interest
Cape Flattery Trailhead
The trailhead to Cape Flattery is on the northwest side of the parking lot. The trail leads straight into the forest heading westward on a dirt path. You will be immediately greeted among the tall trees, transporting you into what feels like a different world.
If you go to during sunset, which I highly recommend, the beginning of the trail will feel dark, as it’s shadowed by the tree cover. This gives a Twilight (the movie series) vibe. The movie after all was filmed in Washington in the town of Forks, which is just 50-ish miles away. We also drove to Forks right after this hike, so maybe I was biased into thinking I felt like I was in the background of a Twilight movie.
Cape Flattery Trail Board Walk
A little past halfway into the Cape Flattery Trail, the dirt trail turns into a boardwalk. This makes the trail very distinct from many other trails. I don’t think I ever went on a hike where nearly half of it was paved by wooden boards.
The boardwalk creates this woodsy, ethereal, peaceful vibe in the already incredibly verdant coastal forest. Let’s just say it adds a certain je nais sais quoi to the hike. Oh god, I sound pretentious.
The picture below shows where the boardwalk begins on the trail. I mean how pretty is that!
As you walk on the wooden path, every now and then the area around opens up and more light comes in. By this point you are only a few minutes from reaching the end at Cape Flattery.
Also keep in mind, there are stairs on the wooden path, so I wouldn’t necessarily say this is the most wheel-chair accessible trail, especially with the dirt path at the beginning and occasional spots of mud.
Cape Flattery Trail: South Viewpoint
So there are multiple viewpoints of the Pacific Ocean along the latter third of the hike. I am going to call this one the South viewpoint, because it’s the southernmost viewpoint on the trail. However, this is not the official name nor do I think there is an official name for it.
While walking on the boardwalk, there will be a fork in the road. Take the left path, as this will lead you to the South viewpoint. Once you are done crying over how beautiful it is there, turn around back to the fork, and take the right path to continue on to the end of the trail.
The South viewpoint is likely the most photographed spot on the Cape Flattery Trail. If you’ve ever seen pictures of Cape Flattery, it’s likely that you’ll recognize the image below.
Let me paint you a picture of my experience here. I remember already dying over how beautiful the boardwalk among the trees were. And then when we took the path toward the South Viewpoint, I could not believe what was in front of my eyes. As I walked slowly and down the steps to the viewpoint, I was greeted by an open view of a Pacific Ocean bay, with incredible rock formations sitting idly in the middle with those idiosyncratic PNW trees on it, colored by the warmth of the incoming sunset. I wanted to stay longer, but I knew the sun was setting soon and there was more trail to be hiked.
I appreciated how the view kind of came out of nowhere. It hits you all at once. I also was grateful that my boyfriend and I were the only ones there, and so we enjoyed the view all to ourselves. The secluded coastline reminded me of Russian Gulch State Park in California. We took many photos and videos at this spot. Post-card worthy!
Cape Flattery Sea Cave
Once back on the main trail, it only takes a few steps and you’re at the next point of interest.
I’ve heard there are many sea caves in this area, but there is one that is easily seen from the trail. The cave was huge! Again, I could not believe what I was looking at. I’m not sure if the picture captures how tall and wide the cave opening was.
Unfortunately, walking on the trail does not offer a great vantage point to look inside the cave. However, it is still an impressive sight and we saw many birds come in and out of the cave, as shallow waves crashed the sides of it.
Not too far from here we also caught a rainbow striking down on the strait of Juan de Fuca. I found a spot that the rainbow peaked among the tree branches.
Cape Flattery Trail: Northwest Viewpoint for Sunset
Alas, the end of the trail is here. But it’s not just the end of the trail.
You are standing on the northwesternmost point of the contiguous U.S. Cape Flattery.
It will feel surreal. It will feel special.
And if you come to see the Cape Flattery sunset, you will be one of the last to see it in all of America.
The sunset at Cape Flattery certainly rivals the sunset at Cathedral Rock. Two of my all time favorite sunsets.
The wooden path to the end of America is not far at all from the sea cave. Similar to the South viewpoint, the West Viewpoint comes out of nowhere and hits you with the views. During this golden hour, I could not resist taking plenty of photos.
There’s something about the Pacific Northwest coastline that makes me want to stare at it for days. Unlike Southern California, the coastline here is unspoiled, secluded, and teeming with trees. It’s dramatic and calming at the same time.
We stayed at the viewpoint until the Cape Flattery sunset show ended. I tried my hardest to remember the feeling. It felt romantic.
On the way back, it got significantly dark really fast. The canopy from the trees made the walk darker. Again, I felt the twilight vibes with a dash of the being-lost-in-the-forest horror film trope. In all honesty, it felt really cool, literally and figuratively.
The picture below, while edited, depicts how dark and spooky the way back to the car felt.
Final Verdict: Should You Hike the Cape Flattery Trail?
If you’ve read any of my other posts, you know my answer to the final verdict will always be a firm YES.
I mean, I only write posts about my favorite places.
You should hike the Cape Flattery Trail because it has the draw and vibe of the Pacific Northwest in Washington and Oregon and you literally cannot get any more northwest here in the contiguous U.S. You also need to hike Cape Flattery during sunset to tell Instagram everyone that you were one of the last people in America to see the sunset. I mean at least I think that’s pretty cool.
The Cape Flattery Trail gets a 10/10 from me. It was a memorable experience from my 9-day Pacific Northwest Road Trip with my boyfriend that I will never forget. To me, the Cape Flattery Trail was the quintessential PNW destination in of the entire trip.
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Til’ the next adventure…
— Keanu @9to5travelguyCap
