Olympic Peninsula & Washington Coast - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 274

Isolated Neah Bay is a rather lackluster settlement that sits amid breathtaking coastal
scenery at the end of Hwy 112 in North America's extreme northwestern corner. Hit hard
by the decline in the salmon-fishing industry, this small town, characterized by its
weather-beaten boats and craning totem poles, is the home of the Makah Indian Reserva-
tion.
Sights & Activities
Cape Flattery VIEWPOINT
The dramatic promontory known as Cape Flattery is the most northwesterly point in the
lower 48 states. From the four observation points atop the wild, wind-buffeted cape,
cliffs fall 60ft to the raging Pacific and small forested islets jut out of the kelp-strewn
blue waters. It's spectacular.
Just offshore is Tatoosh Island, with a lighthouse and Coast Guard station. The cape is
frequented by 250 species of bird and is a good place to watch for whales during migra-
tion season. Users of the trail are required to purchase a permit ($10) issued by the
Makah Cultural Center (inside the Makah Museum) or at the marina.
From where the road turns left at the end of Neah Bay town, drive 7 miles till you
reach a parking lot. From here a 0.5-mile boardwalk leads out to the promontory.
Makah Museum MUSEUM
( www.makah.com ; 1880 Bayview Ave; admission $5; 10am-5pm) Hosted by the Makah
Reservation, this museum displays artifacts from one of North America's most signific-
ant archaeological finds and is reason enough to visit the town. Exposed by tidal erosion
in 1970, the 500-year-old Makah village of Ozette proved to be a treasure trove of Native
American history, containing whaling weapons, canoes, spears and combs. The mu-
seum's centerpiece is a mock-up of an old Ozette longhouse. Ask about the whale skelet-
on for a great story about the community.
Sleeping & Eating
Cape Motel CABIN$
( 360-645-2250; Neah Bay; r $45-75; ) Like most accommodations in Neah Bay, this
place with simple new cabins (built in 2012) doesn't aspire to much beyond the regular
fishing crowd, but having reached the end of the road in mainland America, what more