July 9, 2005 - Cape Flattery and Makah Indian Reservation

On July 9 we decided to make a long day and drive to Cape Flattery in the Makah Indian Reservation.  At the town of Clallam Bay, one of the places Bill's sister lived, we had to wait for a parade:

Once the parade was past we could take the detour through town and drove west along the Straits of Juan de Fuca, which separates Vancouver Island in British Columbia from Washington State.  Here is a picture from one stop along the way:

It was a bit wet and hard to see very far. 

We drove into the Makah Indian Reservation with our pre-purchased visitors permit and looked around.  We decided to go straight to Cape Flattery, it looked like the rain might stop for a while.  We drove the road which eventually was gravel and pulled into the parking lot for the trail.  We took the trail, which was muddy in spots and made it to the Cape just as the weather was getting better:

Blue sky!

There were many people at the platform at the end of the trail and cape.  We were now at the furthest west location in the lower 48 states:

Tatoosh Island is now a place for biology researchers:

There were many boats in the water in the area, both fishing and tourists:

There were birds on the big rocks:

A puffin and a murrelet in the water (these pictures were at full telephoto):

Sea lions way out, with a tourist boat:

There is something both fascinating and primal about this place.  The smell, the sounds, the view are all very overwhelming.  Pictures do not do it justice.

The trail back:

We stopped at the Makah Museum, which we highly recommend.  A 500 year old village was unearthed many years earlier and the artifacts were well preserved and many are on display at the museum.  We also learned how lucky many Makah feel still living in their ancestral lands, it gives them a wonderful sense of place.

On the way back we took a couple more pictures of the Straits, the view was clearer.  We also were following a Norwegian Cruise Lines cruise ship:

Here is a view of Sekiu, the town Bill's sister lived in the longest when we she lived in the area:

We were very glad to have gone out to Cape Flattery when the weather cooperated and can also recommend the Makah Museum.

Back to Forks