Oregon Coast Whale Watch Week Comes as Scientists Worry About Latest Population Numbers

Published 12/16/25 at 7:35 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Depoe Bay, Oregon) – From the grand top of Shore Acres near Coos Bay to the tip of the state at the wreck of the Peter Iredale, hundreds – if not thousands – will gather at high vantage points across Oregon's coastline from Saturday, Dec. 27 through Wednesday, Dec. 31.

It's then that Oregon State Parks will host Winter Whale Watch Week along the region, as trained volunteers will be stationed at 14 sites from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day to help visitors spot gray whales as they migrate south toward the calving lagoons in Mexico.

“This is a great time to see one of the world’s longest migrations, as the gray whales are traveling by our coastline,” said Park Ranger Peter McBride.

Winter Whale Watch Week offers a chance to view not only gray whales but also coastal birds and other marine mammals, with guidance from volunteers and park rangers. These sites are among the best vantage points for whale watching on the Oregon Coast. A map of volunteer-staffed locations is available at the official event webpage: https://oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do= thingstodo.dsp_whaleWatching.

So where to go?

On the north coast, volunteers will be at Fort Stevens State Park near the Peter Iredale Shipwreck, the Neahkahnie Mountain Overlook at Manzanita, and Cape Meares Lighthouse near Oceanside.

Currently, Ecola State Park is closed because of a broken road. N. Oregon Coast's Ecola State Park Closed Due to Landslides That Cracked Road

Central coast sites include Boiler Bay State Scenic Viewpoint, the Whale Watching Center, Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint, Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area in Newport, Yachats State Recreation Area, the Cape Perpetua Turnout, and Heceta Head Lighthouse near Florence.

On the south coast, visitors can watch from Umpqua Lighthouse at Reedsport, Shore Acres State Park near Coos Bay, Face Rock Scenic Viewpoint in Bandon, and Harris Beach State Park at Brookings.

All About Oregon Coast Whales, Whale Watching

Newport's Leigh Torres, associate professor from the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife and Oregon Sea Grant Extension, said the entire population of gray whales along the western continental shelf is more like around 15,000. Most of them will be on the move during this season, which means not quite that number will be roving past the Oregon and Washington coastline in that time.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ended an Unusual Mortality Event for gray whales in 2023 when the population appeared to be recovering. Since then, however, numbers have dropped to their lowest level since the 1970s, with NOAA now estimating about 13,000 gray whales along the West Coast.

That was something Torres told Oregon Coast Beach Connection about last year: that the population is not bouncing back in spite of that declaration at the time.

“Not much evidence of that,” she said in early 2025. “In fact the latest news from the Baja wintering lagoons is observations of many dead whales, and very few calves.”

The Whale Watching Center in Depoe Bay will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the event, featuring interactive exhibits, panoramic ocean views, and binoculars for visitors. Park rangers will also be available to answer questions.

Attendees are encouraged to dress for winter conditions, bring binoculars, and follow beach safety guidelines such as staying out of fenced areas, checking tide schedules, and keeping watch on the surf. Safety tips can be found at https://visittheoregoncoast.com/beach-safety/. For more information about coastal parks and campgrounds, visit https://stateparks.oregon.gov/.

Visitors are invited to share photos and videos from Winter Whale Watch Week on social media using #ORWhaleWatch.

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