Cape Flattery Trail with views of Cape Flattery Lighthouse on Tatoosh Island
Located on Tatoosh Island, a seasonal village site for the Makah people since time immemorial, the Cape Flattery Lighthouse was one of the earliest lighthouses in the region. During the treaty negotiations of 1855, Makah representatives described the importance of Tatoosh Island and understood that it would be retained as a part of the Makah Indian Reservation. The Territorial Governor, however, included it as land that was to be ceded to the U.S., and a lighthouse was built on the island in 1857 to guide ships entering and leaving the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The Makah people continued to utilize the island for traditional purposes, and over a century later, in 1984, an act of Congress returned Tatoosh Island to the Makah Indian Tribe. Today, the Makah continue to use the island’s resources, host scientific investigations of the maritime environment, support the lighthouse’s operations, and tell the story of this culturally significant historic structure. While Tatoosh Island and the lighthouse are closed to the public, they can be viewed from the tip of the scenic Cape Flattery Trail—the northwesterly tip of the contiguous lower 48 states. Four observation decks on the Cape Flattery Trail also provide spectacular views of the rugged rocks, birds, and jade waters of the Pacific Ocean. Visitors can also watch for gray whales off the cape and sea lions on Snake Rock just east of Tatoosh Island.
Website: makah.com/activities/cape-flattery-trail
| Address | Cape Flattery Trail |
|---|---|
| State | WA |
| Zip code | 98357 |