Emma Mannheimer

Emma Mannheimer is a Seattle-born, Portland-based writer and editor. Read More

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Watch for whales from Neahkahnie Mountain on the Oregon Coast.

Credit: Thomas Shahan via Flickr

Whale Watching on the Oregon Coast

Meet the region’s largest inhabitants during their winter and spring migrations.

Editor's Pick

Updated Nov. 19, 2019 3 min read

Emma Mannheimer

Emma Mannheimer is a Seattle-born, Portland-based writer and editor. Read More

Editor's Pick

When

Dec. 27, 2019–Mar. 29, 2020

Days vary

Where

Sites Along the Oregon Coast

Oregon’s whale watching season peaks twice a year: during winter (mid-December–mid-January) and spring (late February–May), when as many as 20,000 gray whales migrate between the icy seas of Alaska and their breeding lagoons in Baja California, Mexico. (A couple hundred of these mammoth swimmers also stick around the Oregon Coast all year-round.)

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department’s Whale Watching Spoken Here program stations volunteers at 24 sites during peak migration times. The two annual Whale Watching Weeks are held the week after Christmas and the last week of March.

Gray whales grow to 40–50 feet (12–15 m) long and weigh around 30 tons (27 metric tons). The best way to spot a whale is to scan the horizon with the naked eye for spouts, which can reach up to 12 feet (3.7 m). Once you’ve spied one, zero in on an active area with binoculars.

Whether you visit during those weeks or any time in winter or spring, grab some binoculars and head to one of these spectacular viewpoints.

Ecola State Park

Oregon’s top whale-watching territory begins just north of Cannon Beach at jaw-dropping Ecola State Park. Spanning 9 miles (14.5 km) of prime coastal territory, this park offers unparalleled views of the Pacific’s cobalt blue gradient. Spotting whales is easiest in the morning light with the sun at your back, so get an early start. (From Portland, it’s a 90-minute drive on Highway 26 West.) Don’t forget your wallet: The park charges a year-round $5 day-use fee. Built up an appetite staring out at the sea all day? Swing by Tom’s Fish & Chips in Cannon Beach for a hot seafood snack to complete the adventure.

Neahkahnie Mountain Viewpoint

Thirteen miles (20.9 km) south of Cannon Beach on Highway 101 you’ll reach the turnoff for this coastal peak. (It’s between mile markers 41 and 42, just north of Manzanita.) Neahkahnie Mountain is renowned for its remarkable views, legends of long-buried Spanish treasure and numerous whale sightings. If you’re hungry, fuel up with a couple of sandwiches from Manzanita’s Bread and Ocean Bakery.

Cape Meares Lighthouse

Pinpoint those blowholes from 200 feet (61 m) above the ocean at Cape Meares Lighthouse, erected in 1889. Admire Oregon’s largest Sitka spruce at the entrance to the park before enjoying a brisk walk to the lighthouse. If the whales don’t appear, the area offers conciliatory wildlife spotting. Check out the largest colony of nesting common murres (a penguin-like bird), as well as sea lions and seals. Since you’re in Tillamook, hit the famous Tillamook Cheese Factory and embark on a self-guided tour, complete with tasty samples.

Depoe Bay Whale Watching Center

If you’re up for a slightly longer trip, consider the 100-mile (160 km) drive to the Depoe Bay Whale Watching Center. Whale watching newbies will feel right at home as dedicated staff provides a wealth of tips and knowledge (along with plenty of binoculars). There’s even a heated indoor viewing area along the seawall to keep cold and stormy weather at bay. Bone up on your whale vocabulary as you observe these majestic beings blow, dive, spy hop and breach. Humpback, orca and blue whales have also been observed here, so arrive ready to nerd out on all things whale. Stave off a chill at Gracie’s Sea Hag with a hot buttered rum alongside a bowl of velvety clam chowder.