Cape Flattery and Neah Bay: A Day Trip From Sekiu

The road west of Sekiu ends at Neah Bay, and past Neah Bay it ends again at a trailhead above the Pacific. That is the whole appeal. In one day you can stand at the northwesternmost point of the contiguous United States, see artifacts that came out of a village buried in a mudslide, and still be back in Sekiu in time for dinner. Curley's Resort is a natural starting point, because the distances work in your favor.

Distances from Sekiu

Curley's lists these distances from the property: Neah Bay and the Makah Museum are about 18 miles away, and Cape Flattery is about 26.5 miles. That sounds short, and it is, but the road is two lanes and winding, and you will share it with logging trucks, fishing trailers, and drivers who stop to look at the water. Give yourself more time than the map suggests. A good plan is to leave early, drive straight to the museum or the trailhead, and save the slow stops for the way back.

Get your Makah Recreation Permit first

Neah Bay is on the Makah Reservation, and visiting Cape Flattery requires a Makah Recreation Permit. Do not plan to sort this out at the trailhead. Check the Makah Tribe's official pages for the current permit rules, the price, and where permits are sold, and have it in hand before you head out to the cape. The permit supports the community that maintains the trails and the land, and it is part of being a respectful guest here.

Rules on reservation land are set by the Tribe. If a sign, a tribal officer, or a shopkeeper in town tells you something different from what you read online, follow what they say.

The Makah Museum

Curley's describes the Makah Museum as home to artifacts from the Ozette Archaeological Site, a Makah village that was partly buried by a mudslide 300 to 500 years ago and was discovered in 1970. Curley's lists the museum as open seven days, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hours can change with the season, so confirm before you drive out. Plan on at least an hour inside. Ask at the front desk about any rules on photography before you raise a camera.

If you also plan to hike near Ozette, visiting the museum first gives that day real context. You will know what once stood on that stretch of coast.

The walk to Cape Flattery

Curley's describes the hike to the viewpoint as 1.3 miles, and calls it a highly recommended visit. Expect a mix of boardwalk, steps, and uneven trail through coastal forest, and expect it to be wet underfoot after rain. Wear shoes with real traction. At the end, the land drops away to sea caves, kelp beds, and rock stacks, with the Pacific moving below you. Watch for seabirds, and on a clear day look for whales and sea otters in the water.

• Waterproof layers, even if the morning looks clear.
• Shoes with grip for wet wood and mud.
• Water and a snack for the trail.
• Binoculars, if you have them.
• Your Makah Recreation Permit, displayed as the Tribe requires.

Stay on the marked trail and behind the viewing rails. The cliffs are real, and the edges are unstable.

Planning the day

A simple rhythm works well. Leave Sekiu mid-morning with a thermos and a lunch from the shop at Curley's, which sells sack lunches during peak season. Walk to the cape while the day is still fresh, then visit the museum before it closes at 5 p.m. Have an early dinner in Neah Bay if something is open, or drive back toward Sekiu and eat at By the Bay Cafe, a couple of doors from Curley's.

In shoulder season and winter, many small businesses in Neah Bay keep shorter hours. Fill the gas tank in advance, bring food, and tell someone your plan. Cell service on this stretch is unreliable.

Make it a two-night stay

It is possible to do Cape Flattery as a single long day, but it is better with a night of rest on either side. Curley's sits in the middle of the northwest corner of the peninsula, so the same room puts you within reach of Neah Bay, Ozette, and Lake Crescent. If you want to ask about availability or the room types, call (360) 963-2281 or look at the rooms page on this site. Then plan the cape for the morning of your second day, when you are rested and the road is quiet.