Best whale watching depoe bay oregon tradewinds charters. Bring a pair of binoculars or a few quarters to make use of the viewing machines. Watch migrating whales at the oregon coast before the new. Park staff are ready at the whale watching center to answer your questions and help you spot gray whales. Frequently asked questions whale research ecoexcursions. We will spend time in the towns of depot bay, newport, and florence, while visiting some of the most beautiful spots and amazing attractions along the central oregon coast on this 2day1night oregon coastal tour. Oregon parks whale watching center in depoe bay will be open from 10 a. The best places to go whale watching on the oregon coast. Top spots include monterey bay, point reyes national seashore where you dont even have to leave dry land, mendocino, the tiny ca town of trinidad, and most of southern oregon. These whales are also known as the pacific coast feeding group.
Any location with an ocean view may yield whale sightings, and morning light with the sun at your back is best. Dead sperm whale washes ashore, will not be moved the 36foot whale had been dead for quite some time, according to the seaside aquarium. Gray whales migrate along the oregon coast twice a year, once in spring as they are headed north and in winter when headed south. Season ends at the north american east coast with still good chances to see humpbacks and blues. The top destination for whale watching in oregon is depoe bay, effectively oregons whale watching capital. Whale watching boats will only go out if ocean conditions are good and whales are around. Best places to go whale watching on the oregon coast for rvers. Orca whales arrive on oregon coast for yearly visit this group of orcas is a mystery to scientists.
Ocean crab, whale watch and private bay crab yaquina bay. The oregon coasts best places for whale watching oregon. Nov 25, 20 miles of kayaking trails, crashing waves, crabbing, whale watching and awardwinning brews await you at the oregon coast this winter. Join us at whales tail charters in depoe bay for an exciting and thrilling ride to see gray whales and other marine life. Changes in whale sounds studied oregoncoastdailynews. Depoe bay is the whale watching capital and dockside charters offers premier whale watching excursions. Whale watch center numbers, oct late nov, oregon coast published 12042012 not many whales were spotted in october and november by the whale watch center in depoe bay, oregon coast but things.
Whale watching is not difficult, but a few tips make it easier. Every year thousands of gray whales take the journey back and fourth between alaska and mexico and they pass by just outside the oregon coast. Is it possible to see whales in late october depoe bay forum. Migration of the gray whale begins in baja california and ends in the bering sea of alaska. Posted by outdoor project contributor vanessa ball december 1, 2017. Gray, humpback and sperm whales can be observed at any time along the south oregon and northern california coast, but the most active time is during the winter and spring migrations, from november through early april.
Find cheap deals and discount rates among them that best fit your budget. The whaleplanner november a whale watching infographic. Each winter some 20,000 great grays swim along the shore south from alaskas bering sea to the warmwater. We rented a condo on the pacific and had two days of good weather with plenty of whale sightings from the balcony. Whale watching is a yearround activity on the oregon coast with gray whales by far the most commonly seen.
They are heading to their breeding grounds in baja california, mexico, where warmwater lagoons become nurseries for expectant mothers. Both migratory and depoe bay resident whales are around this time of year. During whale watching weeks, trained volunteers are there to answer questions and provide information that can enhance your whale watching experience check out their website. Whale sightings on oregon coast at record levels this year sightings of whales have been smokin all year long, and it could mean a bonanza of whales and their tails for tourists to the oregon. The dates of whale watching week in 2020 are march 2129 and dec. Whale photo above by seaside aquarium from october 28 to november 10 there were absolutely no. On each trip, approximately 18,000 gray whales pass close to the oregon coast. Whale watching oregon depoe bay is known world wide as the whale watching capital and dockside charters offers premier whale watching excursions. These trained volunteers will help visitors spot the migrating. With a donation or an adoption of a whale you can help to make the world a place where whales and dolphins are free and safe. Oregon coast whale watching charter boats run whale. While theres another whale watch week each december, youll have a better chance of seeing whales in the spring. The locations are arranged in a north to south order. There is now better footage of that time oregon blew up a.
Winter months are also the best time of year to view sea lions. During peak winter migration, december 27 through january 1, 2019, the best whale watching locations along the coast are staffed by trained volunteers to answer questions and help you spot whales. October is the perfect time to visit south africa main season for southern right whales. Depoe bay is the selfproclaimed whale watching capital of the oregon coast. The central coast in particular is a hotspot for whales from june to midnovember. We will spend time in the towns of depot bay, newport, and florence, while visiting some of the most beautiful spots and amazing attractions along the central oregon coast on this 2day1night oregon.
Learn about the whales of the world, and the natural and local history of oregon. Oregon coast whale watching the oregon coast visitors guide. Then from late march to june the whales migrate north back to alaska. Its the perfect time to plan an outing to the coast with seaside serving as your home base. Oregon coast whale watching every year thousands of gray whales take the journey back and fourth between alaska and mexico and they pass by just outside the oregon coast. The whaleplanner october a whale watching infographic. Gray whale spotted near depoe bay, the whalewatching capital of oregon. People come from all over the world to learn about the gray whales that travel along the oregon coast each year. Also whale excrement jump starts the food chain by excreting tons of iron and nitrogen into the environment and since whales excrete at the surface, this whale pump shifts nutrients from deeper in the water column to the surface. A combination of one of the oregon coasts best hikes and whalewatching spots comes together at cape lookout state park. Numerous lookouts provide great opportunities for gray whale sighting.
Dockside charters runs whale watching excursions on a daily basis during our whale watching season. If you want to stay indoors, everything is provided, just make sure to bring some comfortable shoes if you are going. Whale watch center numbers, oct late nov, oregon coast. The whale watching center depoe bay 2020 all you need. The entire oregon coast celebrates the gray whale migration along its shores twice a year spring and winter with special whale watching weeks. Falling out of the northward spring migration and sticking along the oregon coast in summer and fall, this group of whales offers reliable, yearround whale watching in oregon.
Best oregon coast whale watching spots statesman journal. Nearly 18,000 gray whales pass by the oregon coast on their biyearly migration. Mar 31, 2016 whales you can see in the pacific northwest, and how to identify them duration. Whales, dolphins and porpoises oregon department of fish. Find hotels near whale watching center, oregon coast expedia. Browse expedia s selection of 912 hotels and places to stay closest to whale watching center. Whale watching tour combines a scenic coast tour with the excitement of seeing 40ton gray whales up close on the pacific ocean. It was originally built in october 1857, making it the oldest lighthouse on the oregon coast. They head south by early winter to breed and then back north by summer to feed. Summer and fall bring oregons resident gray whales close to shore to feed.
In what was called a controlled explosion, they used a. Join us at whale s tail charters in depoe bay for an exciting and thrilling ride to see gray whales and other marine life. This march 19 to 26 is spring whale watching week on the oregon coast, the time when migrating gray whales make their way. Each spring, 20,000 gray whales make their way north, swimming within a mile of the shore and visible from nearly every bluff along the oregon coast.
As andrew theen reports, visitors should see plenty of whales from depoe bay to yaquina head. Whales are visible from oregons shores all year long although some months are better than others. Winter migration peaks in late december while the spring migration peaks in march. Nov 21, 2017 if you had to pick a mascot for the oregon coast, you might choose the gray whale. Some of the gray whales do not migrate all the way north to alaska and spend from late june through october right here off depoe bay. The season typically goes from middecember through october. The best times to experience whale watching along the washington coast are during the months of march, april and may while the whales migrate to the warm waters of mexico. Grey whales then head north in late february to early june. Take the journey down the 363mile stretch of the peoples coast, where your wintercation can include quiet beaches, outdoor adventures and cozy retreats. Whale sightings on oregon coast at record levels this year. The dockside charters whale watching fleet features 50 foot delta charter boats that are clean and comfortable, united states coast guard inspected and certified. Traveling the oregon coast in october road trips forum.
This is a place for whale watchers to join and share sightings of whales on the oregon coast. Located along the seawall in scenic depoe bay, the center is a perfect spot for you watch whales as they blow, dive, spyhop and breach. This years spring whale watch week is scheduled march 2431, 2018, which also is spring break for many oregon students. They go south at the end of december, and north again in march. Whale watching during summer and fall off depoe bay is also spectacular. Although we have gray whales off the oregon coast 11 months out of the year, the best time is summer from juneoctober when we have our summer resident. Home to the depoe bay whale watching center and the worlds smallest navigable harbor, this coastal town is where many of the resident gray whales hang out in summer and fall, feeding on the abundance of mysid shrimp. These whales do not make the trip to alaska and make the oregon coast their feeding area. The best time of day are mornings before the wind starts to blow, during the afternoon it can get windy, which has a tendency to blow the spouts down making it hard for people to see them. A family trip to the oregon coast during whale watching week is the perfect way to spend spring break. We are driving about 16 hours extra for this stop of our road trip and want to make sure. Dec 20, 2017 watch migrating whales at the oregon coast across oregon, or between december and midjanuary, roughly 20,000 whales are expected to travel the oregon coast on their way from alaska to baja. If you had to pick a mascot for the oregon coast, you might choose the gray whale. Whale watching in northern california and oregon via.
Whale watching brookings whale watching spoken here whale watching spoken here is a volunteer gray whale watching program during peak migration times coinciding with winter and spring breaks. For best view of these 35 ton, 45 feet long whales look for calm sea weather forcast, and make sure to view. Trained volunteers stationed at thirty locations on or near the oregon coast provide information and assist spotting whales. Whale watching spoken here interpretive center in depoe bay is an enclosed building, but if you want to brave the sea wall during the winter and spring months be prepared for oregon coast weather wet and windy. Depoe bay is your destination for all gray whales on the oregon coast. We enjoy seafood, live music, seeing different sites. Best time to see oregon whales whales tail charters. Often less than onehalf mile from shore, these resident. Whale watching center oregon state parks and recreation. Most sightings happen from july to october and, as the whales tend to come very close to the coast, you can easily see them from land. You can visit the oregon parks and recreation whale watching center on depoe bay to get a great view or join one of the whalewatching tours in the area. Washington coast whale watching beachcombers nw blog.
Blue whale hatfield marine science center oregon state university osu researchers on the pacific storm, a research vessel operated by oregon state university, tagged blue whales near the channel islands of california in 2006. To take advantage of the california gray whales 12,000mile migratory route from a gold beach standpoint, southbound migrating whales move past the oregon coast dec. Most of the whale watching trips involve the california gray whales. Get the monthly weather forecast for cannon beach, or, including daily highlow, historical averages, to help you plan ahead. If you haven seen the waves crash here, then youre really. The umpqua river lighthouse is one of the prettier lighthouses on the coast with its red and white fresnel lens, and it is another spectacular spot for whale watching.
Oregon coast whale numbers for november late october and much of november did not produce a lot of whale sightings at the whale watch center. Northbound pods pass from march through may and cruise closer in, just beyond the surfline. You can spot whales nearly yearround on the oregon coast. Approximately 20,000 gray whales can be seen as they migrate south along the oregon coast each december and january and during the peak of the migration, december 2731, volunteer interpreters will staff 24 of the coasts top whale watching spots during oregon state parks whale watch week. Summer whale watching begins on central oregon coast. Hosted by marine mammal naturalist with 37 years experience. Our trips are fun, informative and interactive, our captains are devoted to making your oregon coast whale watching tour an experience of a lifetime. Whale watching along the oregon coast is broken into three viewing times, with each being unique and incredible. These gray whales move about and feed off the oregon coast during the summer and fall months. However grey whales are seen feeding off the oregon coastline every month of the year. The whale watching center has interpretive exhibits on whales, whale size windows with panoramic ocean views, and rangers on hand to answer questions. The oregon and california coasts are some of the best places in the world for whale watching. My wife are planning a road trip down the oregon coast, spending about a week.
Best places to view migrating whales on oregon coast this. Depoe bay is the whale watching capital on the oregon coast. Every year, gray whales migrate along the west coast between alaska and mexico. Plan to stop in the depoe bay area from october 21 to 28.
During the spring migration is when the whales move closer to shore and will stop to feed. As such, you can spot gray whales in oregon at any time of the year. You can see whales off the oregon coast yearround, but your best bet is to head out during whale watch week in winter dec. Oregon parks and recreation department 2017 spring whale. I am finding conflicting information online as to whether whales are in the area that time of year. Save on popular hotels near whale watching center, oregon coast. Whales, storms and brews on the peoples coast travel oregon.
Orca whales arrive on oregon coast for yearly visit. The town is home to the oregon parks and recreation whale watching center, which is on the seawall and has large. Huge grey whales pass by in spring and early winter, plus there are groups of resident whales. Take a trip with us for an exciting time while we set some pots for crab and look for whales along the oregon coast. Monday is the start of the summer whale watching week on the central oregon coast. This whale makes the longest migration of any mammal on the planet. The gray whale makes the longest journey traveling 1014 thousand miles round trip from feeding grounds to breeding lagoons.
They are transients that simply show up each april. Depoe bay, oregon late october and much of november did not produce a lot of whale sightings at the whale watch center in depoe bay, but things did start improving, according to the numbers recently released. While whales can be seen year round on the oregon coast, the winter and spring months are the best times for seeing these enormous creatures. Moreover, each year there are about 200 to 400 resident gray whales in oregon.
The gray whales leave their feeding grounds in alaska in late october passing oregon middecember through january heading for their nurseries, the warmwater lagoons of baja california, mexico. They are right next to shore feeding within 12 mile and stay off depoe bay for months at a time. Grey whales migrating south down the oregon coast december through early february timeframe. Below are some popular spots to see whales from land. Each winter some 20,000 great grays swim along the shore south from alaskas bering sea to. The oregon parks and recreation department oprd whale watching center in depoe bay will also be open 10 a. Whale watching on the oregon coast the official guide to. There is also a whale watching station by the lighthouse where you can get great views of the sea and sand dunes.