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Whale Watching
Thinking of heading to the Oregon coast for some wildlife viewing? Pack your binoculars and a sense of adventure, and go in search of migrating Gray whales.
Travel to Florence to learn about these amazing creatures from trained volunteers during the Winter and Spring Watch Weeks organized by the state Whale Watching Spoken Here program.
Winter Watch Week: December 26, 2011 - January 1, 2012
Spring Watch Week: March 24 - 31, 2012
Catch a glimpse of Gray whales blowing, breaching and fluking as they pass by on their 12,000-mile (19,300-km) annual migration from the Arctic Ocean to the warm, calm bays of Mexico in the winter to birth their young. In the spring, come again for their return journey north, where most spend the summer feeding in the Bering and Chukchi Seas. However, there are about 200 whales that enjoy Oregon's mild weather so much they stay all summer long, feeding just off shore.
Great whale watching can be had all along Oregon's 363-mile (584-km) coastline, so check out some of these great places to watch anytime of year.
Where to Go
The Oregon Whale Watching Spoken Here program puts volunteers at 26 different view pointsfrom 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily during the winter and spring watch weeks. These friendly whale-watchers will help you spot Gray whales and other wildlife while you learn a bit about them. Local watch sites include Cape Perpetua Interpretive Center, Cook's Chasm, and the Sea Lion Caves Turnout.Other great lookouts include Cape Perpetua Overlook, the Devil's Churn Viewpoint, and Heceta Head Lighthouse.
Tips from the Oregon Whale Watching Center
Morning light (with the sun at your back) is often helpful for spotting blows. Afternoon light reflects off the water and makes viewing difficult.Any spot with an ocean view may yield whale sightings, but higher locations are better than sandy beaches.
