Hobuck Beach & Neah Bay

Hobuck Beach and Neah Bay are on the very tip of the Washington's Olympic Peninsula. There are launch points for sea kayaking along the coast, and it's a great place to practice kayak surf techniques. The beach and trail to Cape Flattery are great day hikes, especially for families with young children.The Makah Tribe has a resort and campground at the beach with over 500 camp sites.

Getting there

From US-101 ~5 miles west of Port Angeles, turn right onto SR 112, drive 38 miles and turn right to stay on SR-112, drive 22 miles and turn right to stay on SR-112, and drive 3 miles into Neah Bay. At the west end of Neah Bay and the end of SR-112, turn right onto 3rd Ave and then left onto Cape Flattery Road. Turn left on Hobuck Beach Road, take a right at the Y interaction after the bridge, and drive 0.5 mile to Hobuck Beach.

on the trail

cape flattery

1.5 miles round trip with 200 feet of elevation gain

An easy, 1.5 mile hike with 200 feet of elevation gain to the most northwestern point in the lower 48 states. The point is surrounded by boiling ocean offering views of seabirds, sea stacks and possible glimpses of marine mammals such as whales, sea lions and otters. Drive northwest 5.7 miles on Cape Loop Road from Hobuck Beach Resort  to the Cape Flattery trailhead.

sea kayaking

launch points

  • Hobuck Beach: Launch directly from the beach and paddle around the bay, head to points to the south, or north to Cape Flattery and Tatoosh Island.
  • Warmhouse/Neah Bay: Launch from the harbor jetty behind the Warmhouse Restaurant. Descend dirt path to protected beach. One must round Waddah Island. On the north side of Waadah is a reef that can cause the swell to suddenly stand up and break.
  • Boom Road:  Drive Boom Road NW from town. Where it turns onto the jetty leading to Waadah island find parking and launch from the north side. If there are incoming waves, care must be taken when paddling through the rocky near-shore. For trips going west, this launch site saves a couple miles of paddling.  

hobuck beach

  • From the campground, there is increasing surf height moving further south down the beach and decreasing surf height moving north.
  • Surf height is generally higher on incoming tides.
  • There is competition for surf with the surfers, so general surf etiquette applies.

cape flattery & tatoosh island

  • Between Hobuck Beach and Cape Flattery, there are a series of boomers with which to contend.
  • Between the overlook and the Strait of Juan de Fuca there can be current on the flood, but not on the ebb. This flood current also pervades the region two miles south of the overlook as well, but to a lesser extent.
  • There can be boomers, clipotis, and tidal rapids between the Cape and Tatoosh Island, and one mile south.
  • The northern side of Tatoosh Island hosts a territorial sea lion colony and may not be practical to circumnavigate through only the few choices of passageways.
  • Caves are difficult to enter if the swell is over 3 feet.
  • Caves face various direction so entry may also be dependent on swell direction.
  • Caves are most accessible if the tide level is over 6 feet, but some can be entered with only 4.5 feet of tide level.
  • There are only a few (and tide-dependent) landings between Hobuck Beach and Neah Bay. Landing is NOT permitted on Tatoosh Island. Just south of Fuca Pillar is a pocket cove protected from the northwest at N48° 22.23'  W124°  43.32'. Entrance is guarded by rocks at low tides but easier to access at high tide.
  • Halfway between Cape Flattery and Neah Bay the only reliable landing point is a small section of beach between sections of rocky shoreline at Warmhouse Beach. It's about one mile west of Koitlah Point, where there is a waterfall.
  • The cave under the overlook has a beach at the back where you can also land.
  • In addition to the full complement of safety equipment, a waterproof headlamp is helpful inside the caves. Some of the channels back into the rock are narrow and completely dark.
  • Neah Bay to Cape Flattery is 16 nm round trip. In the right conditions, a one-way trip to Hobuck Beach is possible.

neah bay & waadah Island

In bad weather, paddling around Neah Bay and going out to Waadah Island or east from Neah Bay to one of the beaches are good options. Explore the rocky shores of Waadah island—rock garden (better at higher tides), poke through the small islets on the sea side, or take a break on the beaches located at the end of the long inlets on the northwest end and watch for Sea Otters in the kelp.

East from Neah Bay

Paddle east from Neah Bay along the southern shore of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, exploring the off shore rocks. Much of this coast is rocky. Safe landings can be made on calm days but waves or swell in the Straight will make much of the shore difficult to access. The best landing points are where rivers flow into the Straight, forming sandy beaches. These can be scouted on the drive in. With a car shuttle, one may do a one way trip—there are several places to park cars and access the shoreline.

Shi Shi Beach & Point of the Arches

Paddle south to Shi Shi Beach and Point of the Arches and back. This 12 nm round trip paddle from Hobuck Beach can be very challenging.  There are only a couple of small locations that are safe to land on Shi Shi beach because of the rocks and even those locations can be difficult to land in big surf.  They are at the very north and south ends of Shi Shi beach—look at conditions carefully before heading there!

Notes

INFORMATION for leaders

Scheduling & Permits

  • If you are scheduling this as a non-course related activity, please limit your group size to the default party size. The maximum party size is for use by course field trips only, and includes both students and instructors. Group size maximums do not reflect how course field trips are run (in smaller groups of students and instructors), but allow for course leaders to register the course in our system.
  • This route allows multiple bookings. Please check scheduled trips listed below in the "Activities" tab to see if there is another group already booked on the same day. If so, please coordinate with them to ensure you are carpooling and conducting your activity at different areas.
  • If you are scheduling a course field trip, please contact our Member Services Team to confirm the field trip and any permitting regulations.
  • Land Manager: Makah Tribe
  • Parking Permit Required: Indian Reservation
  • Recommended Party Size: 12
  • Maximum Party Size: 80
  • Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 80
Map
  • Custom Correct North Olympic Coast
  • Green Trails Cape Flattery No. 98S
  • MapTech Cape Flattery to Whidbey Island No. 103
  • Sea Trails Strait of Juan de Fuca & Crescent Lake WA301
  • Sea Trails Roadless Coast, Neah Bay to Ruby Beach WA302
  • NOAA Cape Flattery No. 18485
  • Green Trails Olympic Coast Beaches No. 99S
Activities

Upcoming Activities

CHS - Just for Fun - Cape Flattery

Day Hiking Field trip: Conditioning Hiking Series
Just for Fun hike following Coast Cleanup led at a CHS 1 pace (1.5-2.0 mph)
Difficulty: Easy
Sun, Apr 21, 2024
No Prerequisites
6 participants 1 instructor
Registration closes Apr 19
Seattle Branch
Steven Payne

Short Boat Surfing - Hobuck Beach & Neah Bay

Sea Kayaking Clinic
Learn how to surf the waves in short boats - WW kayaks or surf specific
Difficulty: Sea Kayak IV/V
Thu, May 30, 2024
Prerequisites, Leader's Permission Required
0 participants 0 leaders
Registration closes May 28
Olympia Branch
Melinda Moree

Sea Kayak - Shi Shi Beach

Sea Kayaking Trip
This is the Intermediate paddle for the May 30 Surf Camp activity. SK V
Difficulty: Sea Kayak V
Thu, May 30, 2024
Prerequisites
8 participants 0 leaders
Registration opens Apr 1
Seattle Branch
Beth Owen

Sea Kayak Event - Neah Bay

Sea Kayaking Seminar
Guided tour of the Makah Museum! Learn about the rich heritage of the original settlers
Thu, May 30, 2024
No Prerequisites
19 participants
Registration opens Apr 1
Seattle Branch
Alan Marshall

Surf and Camping Weekend - Hobuck Beach & Neah Bay

Sea Kayaking Seminar
Join us for weekend of kayaking in the surf and coastal zone at Hobuck Beach
Difficulty: Sea Kayak III/IV
Thu, May 30, 2024 - Sun, Jun 2, 2024
Prerequisites
3 participants on waitlist 6 leaders
Registration closes May 29
Seattle Branch
Jean Nahan

Sea Kayak - Hobuck Beach & Neah Bay

Sea Kayaking Trip
Open surf play in Makah Bay for participants of the Surf and Camp Weekend who
Difficulty: Sea Kayak V
Fri, May 31, 2024
Prerequisites
14 participants 1 leader
Registration opens Apr 1
Seattle Branch
Jean Nahan

Sea Kayak - Cape Flattery & Tatoosh Island

Sea Kayaking Trip
Paddle from Hobuck Beach to Cape Flattery and Tatoosh Islands
Difficulty: Sea Kayak V
Fri, May 31, 2024
Prerequisites
8 participants 0 leaders
Registration opens Apr 1
Seattle Branch
Tom Unger

Sea Kayak - Cape Flattery

Sea Kayaking Trip
This is the Intermediate paddle for the May 31 Surf Camp activity. SK V
Difficulty: Sea Kayak V
Fri, May 31, 2024
Prerequisites
16 participants 0 leaders
Registration opens Apr 1
Seattle Branch
Beth Owen

Sea Kayak - Hobuck Beach & Neah Bay

Sea Kayaking Trip
This is the Intermediate paddle for the June 1 Surf and Camping Hobuck activity. SK
Difficulty: Sea Kayak V
Sat, Jun 1, 2024
Prerequisites, Leader's Permission Required
6 participants 0 leaders
Registration opens Apr 1
Seattle Branch
Terry Jaret

Introduction to The Surf Zone - Hobuck Beach & Neah Bay

Sea Kayaking Clinic
This clinic will introduce students to the Surf Zone and teach them how to safely
Sat, Jun 1, 2024
Prerequisites
20 participants 0 leaders
Registration opens Apr 1
Seattle Branch
Duncan Cox
Qualified Youth Leader

Sea Kayak - Hobuck Beach & Neah Bay

Sea Kayaking Trip
Open surf play in Makah Bay for participants of the Surf and Camp Weekend who
Difficulty: Sea Kayak V
Sat, Jun 1, 2024
Prerequisites
14 participants 1 leader
Registration opens Apr 1
Seattle Branch
Jean Nahan

Sea Kayak - Cape Flattery & Tatoosh Island

Sea Kayaking Trip
This is the (Saturday) Rock Gardening / Advanced paddle for the Surf Camp weekend. SK
Difficulty: Sea Kayak V
Sat, Jun 1, 2024
Prerequisites, Leader's Permission Required
6 participants 0 leaders
Registration opens Apr 1
Seattle Branch
Alan Marshall

Sea Kayak - Hobuck Beach & Neah Bay

Sea Kayaking Trip
This Beginning Intermediate paddle is for people who took the beginning level Surf Clinic at
Difficulty: Sea Kayak V
Sun, Jun 2, 2024
Prerequisites
8 participants 0 leaders
Registration opens Apr 1
Seattle Branch
Beth Owen

Sea Kayak - Shi Shi Beach & Point of the Arches

Sea Kayaking Trip
Overnight trip to Shi Shi Beach and Point of Arches. Part of the Hobuck Surf
Difficulty: Sea Kayak V
Sun, Jun 2, 2024 - Mon, Jun 3, 2024
Prerequisites, Leader's Permission Required
8 participants 1 leader
Registration opens Apr 1
Olympia Branch
Melinda Moree

Sea Kayak - Hobuck Beach & Neah Bay

Sea Kayaking Trip
Open surf play in Makah Bay for participants of the Surf and Camp Weekend who
Difficulty: Sea Kayak V
Sun, Jun 2, 2024
Prerequisites
14 participants 1 leader
Registration opens Apr 1
Seattle Branch
Jean Nahan

Sea Kayak - Hobuck Beach & Neah Bay

Sea Kayaking Trip
Intermediate level trip from Neah Bay destination depending on conditions and group. Plan is to
Difficulty: Sea Kayak III+
Sun, Jun 2, 2024
Prerequisites, Leader's Permission Required
6 participants 0 leaders
Registration opens Apr 1
Seattle Branch
Duncan Cox
Qualified Youth Leader

Sea Kayak - Shi Shi Beach & Point of the Arches

Sea Kayaking Trip
A two night trip to Shi-Shi Beach with time to explore the islands of Point
Difficulty: Sea Kayak V
Mon, Jun 3, 2024 - Wed, Jun 5, 2024
Prerequisites
7 participants on waitlist 0 leaders
Registration closes Jun 1
Seattle Branch
Tom Unger

Introduction to the Surf Zone - Makah Bay

Sea Kayaking Seminar
Day one of Tacoma's Open Coastal Weekend. Clinic that teaches how to launch, land, and
Difficulty: Sea Kayak V
Sat, Aug 3, 2024
Prerequisites, Leader's Permission Required
2 participants on waitlist 2 leaders on waitlist
Registration closes Sep 5
Tacoma Branch
Michael Everett

Sea Kayak - Cape Flattery

Sea Kayaking Trip
Day two of Tacoma's Open Coastal Weekend. This is arguably the best day paddle in
Difficulty: Sea Kayak V
Sun, Aug 4, 2024
Prerequisites, Leader's Permission Required
3 participants on waitlist 0 leaders
Registration closes Aug 2
Tacoma Branch
Michael Everett
Trip Reports
Titles

This is a list of titles that represent the variations of trips you can take at this route/place. This includes side trips, extensions and peak combinations. Not seeing a title that fits your trip? Log in and send us updates, images, or resources.

  • Hobuck Beach
  • Neah Bay
  • Makah Bay
  • Cape Flattery
  • Tatoosh Island
  • Cape Flattery & Tatoosh Island
  • Point of the Arches
  • Shi Shi Beach
  • Shi Shi Beach & Point of the Arches
  • Hobuck Beach to Point of the Arches
  • Hobuck Beach to Shi Shi Beach
  • Hobuck Beach to Shi Shi Beach & Point of the Arches
  • Neah Bay to Hobuck Beach
Resources

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