Oregon Whale Watching Week Is Coming: Get Ready To Greet Them

PORTLAND, OR – If you love whales, it's clear why this is the most wonderful time of the year. Whale watching week off of the Oregon Coast is almost here.

Every year, around 20,000 Gray whales travel from Alaska to the warmer waters off of Baja, Mexico. It's there that female whales will give birth and begin raising their calves.

From Dec. 27 through Dec. 31, the whales will be making their trek by the Oregon coast.

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That week is when the most whales will likely be visible – usually about 30 whales per hour.

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department will have volunteers from the Whale Watching Spoken Here program at 24 locations along the coast. You can find a map of the sites on this website.

They will be at the sites from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. each day.

"Whales are a special part of the Oregon coast," a Parks and Recreation Department Ranger assigned to the Whale Watching Center in Depoe Bay, Luke Parsons, says.

"We're very proud to work with our volunteers to help visitors connect with the whales and our oceans."

Photo via Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.