Cap Gris-Nez (the Grey Nose) is a blunt headland of chalk and clay cliffs 30 kilometres north of Boulogne, marking the narrowest point of the English Channel. On clear days the white cliffs of Dover are unmistakably visible from the lighthouse at the cape's tip. The surrounding coastal path — part of the GR120 long-distance route — passes through sand dunes, gorse scrub, and open farmland with Channel views.
The cape is popular for its walking and for birdwatching: in autumn it becomes one of Europe's most productive seabird migration points, with gannets, skuas, and Arctic terns passing offshore. The beaches below the cliffs are accessible and uncrowded. The drive along the Côte d'Opale from Boulogne north to Cap Gris-Nez and beyond to Cap Blanc-Nez is one of the best coastal drives in northern France.