ADDRESS
Makah Nation
Neah Bay, WA
HOURS
Open Year Round
10:00am – 5:00pm
Harsh weather closures
CONTACT
AMENITIES
Camping, Lodging, Picnic Facilities, Restrooms, Trails
Cape Flattery is the most northwest tip of the contiguous United States. Located on the Makah Nation at Neah Bay, the Cape offers stunning views of marine mammals, birds, and dramatic marine landscapes. A 3.5 mile trail winds from a parking lot to the tip of the Cape, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the entrance of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Tatoosh Island.
The Whale Trail site is at Cape Flattery. To access the Cape Flattery Trail, follow the signs at the entrance to the Reservation. Be sure to buy a permit at the Makah Museum and Cultural Center.
WHERE THE WHALES ARE
Cape Flattery offers a spectacular vantage to see marine mammals. From the lookout platform at the end of the trail, look down in any direction – you may see gray whales swimming below, or sea otters in the kelp beds. Further out, look for orcas or other whales passing near Tatoosh Island. You can also see marine mammals Makah Marina. Sea lions are often hauled out at docks in the marina. Transient orcas have come into the marina in recent years, hunting the sea lions.
WHICH ANIMALS YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE
SEA-SOUND NODE
The Makah Tribe participates in the sea-sound network, which is a series of hyrdophones placed at strategic locations around the Sound. By listening to orca calls on the hydrophones, listeners can detect which pods are present and where they are. These acoustic data are complementing photo-ID and other studies, and are especially valuable in the winter when visibility is poor. The hydrophone at Neah Bay is located near the Makah Museum and Cultural Center.
RESEARCH AND INTERPRETATION
The Makah Tribe has a full-time marine biologist on staff, who conducts regular surveys of the marine mammals in the area. During the summer, members of the tribe serve as natural history guides on the Cape Flattery trail, educating visitors about marine mammals and Makah culture.