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8 Best Whale Watching Spots on Oregon’s Pacific Coast


Looking to spot some of nature’s most magnificent creatures?

Oregon’s 363-mile coastline offers prime whale-watching opportunities, especially during peak migration seasons.

Gray whales, humpbacks, and even occasional orcas cruise these waters. Oregon’s coast is your go-to for catching these marine giants in their natural habitat.

Depoe Bay

Known as the “Whale Watching Capital of the Oregon Coast,” Depoe Bay logs thousands of whale sightings annually. The town’s Whale Watching Center, aka Depoe Bay Ocean Wayside, gets you a really close view of the whale migration.

Professional whale-watching boats leave from the world’s smallest navigable harbor, and the resident pod of gray whales means you’ve got great chances of spotting these giants even outside peak migration seasons.

Ecola State Park

Ecola’s observation points sit around 300 feet with views up to 10 miles out to sea.

Indian Beach and Ecola Point offer excellent whale-watching spots, where you can often see whales spouting and breaching against the backdrop of iconic Haystack Rock.

The park’s elevation gives whale watchers a bird ‘ s-eye view of migrating pods, while hiking trails let you move between different observation points for the best angles.

Cape Arago State Park

The Simpson Reef area hosts one of Oregon’s largest seal and sea lion populations which attracts transient orcas hunting for prey.

The Simpson Reef overlook offers views of not just whales, but also seals and sea lions lounging on Shell Island.

The park’s three segmented coves funnel whales close to shore, especially during spring migration when mothers and calves travel north together seeking calmer waters.

Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area

This historic lighthouse area near Newport boasts an interpretive center and wraparound observation deck. The headland extends nearly a mile into the Pacific, putting you right above the whales’ migration path.

During the summer months, you might catch gray whales feeding on mysid shrimp in the kelp beds below, while the winter season brings pods of southbound grays heading to their breeding grounds.

Cape Lookout State Park

The 2.5-mile hike to Cape Lookout’s tip rewards whale watchers with a fantastic 39-degree angle to the coastline.

This narrow headland extends two miles into the ocean, placing you right in the middle of the whales’ migration route.

Pack your binoculars and a picnic, because the bench at the trail’s end provides the perfect spot to settle in for a day of whale watching, especially during the March-April peak season.

Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint

Bandon’s Face Rock has a series of offshore rocks and islands that contribute to its top whale-watching status. They create a complex underwater topography that attracts feeding whales close to shore.

The viewpoint’s high perch combined with western exposure makes it perfect for spotting whale spouts during sunset hours when the backlit spray creates magical photo opportunities.

Cape Blanco State Park

Standing over 200 feet above the Pacific, Cape Blanco lighthouse offers the highest coastal vantage point in Oregon.

The historic lighthouse grounds offer multiple whale-watching platforms, and the cape’s position means whales often pass by on both sides.

Winter storms can create dramatic wave displays, but the summer months bring calm seas and clear visibility perfect for spotting mother whales teaching calves essential life skills in the protected waters.

Boiler Bay State Scenic Viewpoint

Small but mighty, the viewpoint near Depoe Bay is apt for whale watching.

Its bowl-shaped cliff formation creates a natural amphitheater over the ocean, while submerged rocks and upwelling currents attract feeding whales year-round.

The site gets its name from a visible shipwreck at low tide, but the real stars are the resident gray whales that often feed within 200 yards of shore.

The post 8 Best Whale Watching Spots on Oregon’s Pacific Coast appeared first on When In Your State.



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