Whale Watch Week is About to Spring on the Oregon Coast, March 21 - 29

Published 03/13/26 at 8:55 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Depoe Bay, Oregon) - Oregon State Parks will host Spring Whale Watch Week along the Oregon coast from Saturday, March 21, through Sunday, March 29. Photo of a whale diving courtesy Seaside Aquarium.

Trained volunteers and park rangers will staff 15 designated viewpoints from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day, helping visitors spot migrating gray whales and their calves as well as answering questions. The sites are among the most reliable places on the coast for whale watching during the spring migration.

In recent years, several of the usual watch spots were taken off the map, including Ecola State Park and some vantage points around Lincoln City, Depoe Bay and Newport. This time around, Otter Crest and the Devils Punchbowl viewpoint are back in the game.

The full list:

Fort Stevens State Park - -Peter Iredale Shipwreck (near Astoria)
Neahkahnie Mountain Overlook (Manzanita)
Cape Meares Lighthouse (Oceanside)
Boiler Bay State Scenic Viewpoint (Depoe Bay)
The Whale Watching Center (Depoe Bay)
Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint (Depoe Bay)
Otter Crest State Scenic Viewpoint (Depoe Bay)
Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area (Newport)
Yachats State Recreation Area (Yachats)
Cape Perpetua Turnout (Yachats)
Heceta Head Lightouse (Yachats / Florence)
Umpqua Lighthouse (Reedsport)
Shore Acres State Park (Coos Bay)
Face Rock Scenic Viewpoint (Bandon)
Harris Beach State Park (Brookings)

Park Ranger Peter McBride said spring offers some of the best viewing opportunities because northbound gray whales often travel closer to shore on their return to Alaska. As the season goes on, mothers with calves can sometimes be seen following the same route.

This, in turn, can bring orcas. While largely they show up this time of year to hunt baby seals being born, they have been known to attack young whales. Just such an incident was deeply detailed a few years ago. Dozens Watch and Document Orcas Attack, Kill Baby Whale on Oregon Coast: More Videos

NOAA estimates that about 13,000 gray whales are expected to pass Oregon this season, far fewer than earlier projections. Their numbers have dissipated, partially through threats from regional fishing industries. However, the bulk of the issue is environmental.

While NOAA said the Unusual Mortality Events had run their course back in 2023 – and they initially believed the population might be recovering – new data suggests otherwise. Winter 2025 estimates indicate the lowest numbers since the 1970s. NOAA’s current models, which combine visual surveys with migration-pattern data, place the 2025 population between 11,700 and 14,500 whales.

A map of all volunteer-staffed viewing sites is available on the official event webpage at oregonstateparks.org. Also see Oregon Coast Whales for constant updates on whale news and whale watching in the area.

The Whale Watching Center in Depoe Bay will also be open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the event. Visitors can explore interactive exhibits, use provided binoculars, and talk with park rangers and volunteers while watching for whales from the center’s panoramic ocean overlook.

State Parks encourages visitors to dress for changing coastal weather, bring binoculars, and follow beach-safety guidelines, including staying out of fenced areas, checking tide schedules, and keeping a constant eye on surf conditions. Safety tips are available at visittheoregoncoast.com/beach-safety.

More information about coastal parks and campgrounds can be found at stateparks.oregon.gov.

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