Quick Guide to Whale Watching at the Oregon Coast
Of all the magical things on the Oregon Coast, nothing is quite like seeing a whale. Whale watching takes patience and practice, but the payoff is huge in every sense of the word. Both familiar and unknowable, whales are a strange paradox. Their lives could not be more different from ours, yet they feel like kindred spirits. You might see a whale anytime and anywhere on the Oregon Coast. With a little planning, you can improve your chances. Here is everything you need to know about whale watching on the Oregon Coast from their biggest fan.
The Lookout at Cape Foulweather has binoculars to borrow for whale watching
Whales of the Oregon Coast
Gray whales
Most whales people see on the Oregon Coast are gray whales. They are the most common type of whale here and the most likely to come close to shore. Adult gray whales are about 45 feet long and have similar dimensions to a school bus. In whale terms, they are small to average-sized. Gray whales are solitary and don’t form pods. They may appear to be traveling together when many are present, like during migrations. Oregon has a small population of resident gray whales that stick around all year and a much larger migrating population that passes by the state twice a year.
Gray whales usually surface subtly, staying mostly underwater
Gray whales don’t often have dramatic breaches. A subtle flash of a fin, tail, or back is much more likely. Watch for mist from their blowholes, which can shoot over ten feet high. If it’s heart-shaped, it’s from a gray whale.
Gray whales often surface in a pattern, appearing every 20 seconds or so in a line of travel. If they’re feeding, they’ll stay underwater for several minutes before surfacing to take a few breaths. They can stay underwater for up to 30 minutes when frightened or traveling long distances.
Gray whales feed near kelp beds, sometimes very close to shore
Other whales
After gray whales, humpback whales are the next most common whale on the Oregon Coast. They breach more often than gray whales but tend to stay farther from shore.
Less often, it’s possible to see a few other types of whales:
Minke whales can be easy to confuse with gray whales since they are a similar size and also come close to land. They’re a little smaller, darker, and sleeker than gray whales. They don’t surface as often, and their spouts are fainter and more diffuse.
Sperm whales are seen very occasionally on the Oregon Coast, usually from boats rather than shore.
Blue whales pass by Oregon rarely as they migrate between feeding sites. They stay far from the shore, making them harder to see when they do come.
When to go whale watching
You might see whales anytime during the year on the Oregon Coast. The odds are best during the gray whale winter and spring migrations when around 20,000 whales travel past the state.
The winter gray whale migration happens from mid-December to mid-January when they pass by Oregon on their way south. Gray whales mate and give birth in the warmer waters off the coast of Mexico.
The spring migration starts in late March and lasts until about June, when the gray whales return to their feeding grounds in Alaska. Males and females without calves will begin migrating first. Mothers with calves start a little later, giving the calf time to grow. Mothers and calves are more likely to be close to shore than solitary adults.
Resident gray whales often come close to shore, as do migrating mother with calves
Oregon has about 200 resident gray whales, called the Pacific Coast Feeding Group, that stick around all year, mostly on the central coast. The best time to see them close to shore is from May through October. Sometimes, they get very close. My jaw about hit the ground when I saw one from the Newport jetty. With a running jump, I could almost have landed on it.
Here is when to look for other whales and orcas on the Oregon Coast:
Humpback whales: August and September
Minke whales: potentially all year, most likely in summer
Sperm whales (rare): March through November
Orcas: April to June, when they hunt gray whale calves. They’ve also been spotted coming to Yaquina Bay to hunt sea lions.
Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area is a great whale-watching spot
Whale Watch Weeks
Twice a year, volunteers at 15 sites between Astoria and Brookings help visitors spot whales during Whale Watch Weeks:
End of December, during the winter gray whale migration
End of March, during the spring migration
Learn more and see a map of locations here.
Where to go whale watching
You might see whales anywhere along the Oregon Coast. Here are some ways to increase your chances:
Go to the central Oregon Coast (between Lincoln City and Florence), especially during summer and fall. This rocky coastline has plentiful kelp forests that are feeding grounds for whales.
Find a place of elevation where you can see the ocean from above.
Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint is a good place to watch for whales
I’d say Depoe Bay is the best place to start your search for whales. The town has a couple of things going for it. First is the Depoe Bay Whale Watching Center, where an expert will help you spot the whales. The center has daily whale counts and powerful binoculars to borrow. Even if there aren’t whales at Depoe Bay, you might learn where to find them nearby. One of the closest whales I’ve seen was at Boiler Bay on the advice of the staff at the Whale Watching Center.
Depoe Bay sea wall and Whale Watching Center
The other advantage of whale watching at Depoe Bay is the shape of its coastline. Past the sea wall, the rock drops off abruptly, creating deep water very near the shore. This topography means that whales can come right up to the sea wall.
Depoe Bay embraces whale watching
Here are some other great whale-watching spots on the Oregon Coast:
The viewpoints between Depoe Bay and Newport, like Boiler Bay and Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoints. The Lookout at Cape Foulweather has good binoculars to borrow and staff to help you look.
Neahkahnie Mountain Overlook (next to Highway 101)
Shores Acres State Park on the Cape Arago Scenic Highway
Coquille Point and Face Rock Viewpoint in Bandon
Recognizing whales
Sea lions can look like whales when far from shore
At a distance, it can be tricky to distinguish whales from waves, rocks, and other animals like sea lions. Here is how to tell if you’re seeing a whale:
Look for spouts from the blowhole. The easiest and most reliable way to recognize a whale is when it’s spouting.
Look for fins and tails. The tail often comes above the water as the whale is diving, called fluking.
Watch for a pattern of surfacing. Whales will come up to the surface for air and then dive again. They generally move in a steady direction of travel unless they’re feeding. If something is staying above the water indefinitely, it’s not a whale.
Spouts from blowholes are the most reliable way of spotting whales, even when they stay mostly underwater
Whale watching tips
Go on a calm day. A stormy sea can make it harder to distinguish whales from waves.
Whale watching is usually better in the morning. There aren’t more whales, but it’s easier to see them without the afternoon glare on the water.
Other visitors can be a great help in spotting whales. Most people are excited and eager to point them out.
Take your time. It’s rare to see whales right away.
Find higher ground where you can look out onto the ocean from above. The more you can see, the better your odds of spotting a whale.
Bring good binoculars. You can see whales with the naked eye, but binoculars let you see them more clearly and in more detail.
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Whales are harder to see when the ocean is choppy
Whale-watching boat tours
Several companies in Depoe Bay offer whale-watching boat tours. You can generally take a tour all year, weather permitting. They last about 1-1.5 hours and cost about $45-55 per person. These are the companies:
Whale Research Eco Excursions, run by a marine biologist
Whale-watching tour boats at Boiler Bay
Enjoy the whales of the Oregon Coast!
With love,
Emma
More on the Oregon Coast
Check out my guide to wildlife on the Oregon Coast.
See wild elk in the Coast Range at Jewell Meadows Wildlife Area.
