Trailhead

Observation Deck

After donning my day pack, I walk across the parking lot to the trailhead and begin my walk to the observation deck. The trail is wide and well graded making walking quite easy, still, I walk slow and stop often.

I have found out that the entire trail is just about six tenths of a mile (.6 mile) but requires an in and out walk round trip to complete this trail making the total walking distance 1.2 miles. Too, the trail is slightly down hill from the trailhead to the observation losing about two hundred feet in elevation. Thus, this 1.2 mile trail is an easy walk for most people. However, for those of us who are not most people, the this trail has some five or six rest stops along the path.

I am not walking but a few minutes and already I need a break. How happy when right there on the path behind a large tree there appears non else but a pair of benches. I sit down, get out my water and take a swig.

After resting up for some time, I feel that I want to continue, so, I resume the slow walk along this foot path.

After another many steps, I arrive at then next bench and stop here as well for another sit down and drink of water.

This footpath continues westward on a wide level path with a very slight downhill grade for a while longer until it comes to what I suspect is about halfway. At this point, the trail narrows and has frequent board walks with occasional steps. At each place where there are steps, there are also sturdy handrails to hold on too.

This really helps when climbing these steps.

The trail changes direction from the westerly course I have been walking to a nearly northbound course. Too, I notice that the fog has become thicker, which methinks means that I am getting close to the shoreline.

After this section to boardwalks and steps, I come upon another rest stop and opt to take a much needed break. A bit later, I resume my walk to the coast, now at about a half hour long, and in a short time, come upon my first view, however all I can see is just the coastline and nothing further out to sea.

A short ways further I come onto a small peninsula with sightings of shoreline on both my left and right sides. To the right is a small deck with an over look, which methinks is only a secondary deck and choose not to go there at this time because there are several people there. Too, I am getting tired and I feel that I need to get to the main observation deck where I can take a substantial rest, have a bit to eat and some more water.

My persistence pays off and soon I arrive at the main deck, drop my pack on the bench, and sit down for the much needed long break.

Once I have rested up, I take my camera and take photos of the deck, an information sign posted here and the shoreline, not necessarily in that order.

Currently, there is no viewing of the lighthouse on Tatoosh Island as the fog is much too thick as is noted above from the shoreline view from the observation deck. I am alone here at this time, so, I sit down and wait to see if the fog will burn off.

After about fifteen minutes, several other groups of hikers begin to arrive and take their place while we all wait for the fog to lift. In a short while, someone say, I think I see the island and we all stain our eyes. Another says, Yes, the fog is lifting, I see it too.

Then slowly, the thick shroud of fog lifts and the island can easily be seen. Soon after that, the lighthouse comes into view as well.

We all continue to watch as the fog continues to burn off more and more and we all agree that today is the day for a good view of the lighthouse.

More photos of this lighthouse, can be seen at: Cape Flattery Light gallery.

After taking my fill of photos of the lighthouse from the observation deck, I pack out and begin my walk back to the parking lot and find that there is an entirely different view of the trail for photos to be taken.

The process of taking photos as I walk out on this path helps me to keep my mind off of the pain of the step. Also, during this walk out, I must needs stop at every rest stop before continuing.