The Lower 48 has a top-left corner you can walk to, and Oregon’s westernmost point is a long coastal drive south
The contiguous United States has a top-left corner, and you can walk right up to it. Cape Flattery sits at the far northwest tip of Washington, and it is the kind of place that makes a long drive feel completely justified.
Two states south, Oregon has its own edge-of-the-map moment at Cape Blanco. Put them side by side and you get two very different ways to stand at the end of the land in November.
Psst, we made you a West Coast Adventure Map. Nearly 1,900 of our favorite spots, already pinned, ready to load into Google Maps in two clicks: grab it here.
Cape Flattery, Washington: the short walk with the big payoff
The trail to Cape Flattery is 1.5 miles round trip with about 200 feet of elevation gain, and it rates as easy. You’ll be on boardwalk and trail through coastal forest, and then the trees stop and the Pacific takes over.
📍 GET THE ULTIMATE PNW MAP 🗺️
Get our curated list of the best adventures, things to do, and places to grab a brew loaded onto your maps with just two clicks!
✅ Waterfalls ✅ Hikes ✅ Viewpoints
✅ Craft breweries ✅ National Parks ✅ 1400+ Pins
The trailhead is on Makah Nation land near Neah Bay, at the end of Highway 112 off the north side of the Olympic Peninsula. You’ll need a Makah Recreation Pass, which you can pick up in Neah Bay or online at makah.com, and it is good for the year.
Out past the viewing platforms, the lighthouse on Tatoosh Island sits just offshore, and the water below churns through the rocks. My plainly stated opinion: if you only have time for one stop on the Olympic Peninsula’s far end, this is the one.
Cape Blanco, Oregon: the long, windy wander
Cape Blanco State Park sits at Oregon’s westernmost tip, and it plays at a totally different tempo. Instead of one short out-and-back, you get more than eight miles of trails to the beach, ocean viewpoints, the Sixes River and the lighthouse.
The Cape Blanco Lighthouse dates to 1870 and is the oldest standing lighthouse on the Oregon coast. You can’t drive to it: visitors walk about a quarter mile from the gate to see the exterior and the grounds.
Timing matters this time of year. The lighthouse gift shop runs April 1 through October 31, so in winter you’re here for the wind, the views and the walk, not the souvenirs. A day-use parking permit is required and can be bought on site.
Which cape fits your trip?
If you want a quick hit of wild coastline, Cape Flattery wins: an hour or two on the ground and you’ve touched the corner of the country. If you’d rather stretch your legs and make a day of it, Cape Blanco gives you room to roam.
Whichever you pick, stay on the marked trail, keep back from the edges, and check the forecast before you head out, since November on this coast can turn quickly. Which edge of the map is going on your list first?
Trip tips: grab a rental car to get out here, lock in your hotel before the good rooms are gone, or skip both and book a camper van instead.
Rules and fees change, so always confirm current requirements before you go.
