Whales can be seen year-round in the waters along the Oregon Coast. Gray whales pass through the region in their migration south from Alaska to Baja California between mid-December and January.

Then, from late March to June, the whales migrate north back to Alaska. On each trip, approximately 18,000 gray whales pass close to Oregon’s coastal beaches. About 200 resident gray whales remain off the coast between June and November.

Many of these hang out between Lincoln City and Newport. You can spot whales from land (look for “Whale Watching Spoken Here” sites) or on boat and airplane charter trips. When looking for whales, it’s best to look on calm days in the morning with the sun at your back. Look for whale spouts, then focus in more closely with a pair of binoculars.