March 16, 2023 3:20 a.m.

Oregon State Parks will host Spring Whale Watch Week in person along the Oregon Coast Tuesday March 28th through Sunday April 2nd.

A release said every year thousands of gray whales pass through Oregon’s waters in the spring on their journey home from the calving lagoons in Mexico and OPRD invites visitors to the coast to visit them. Trained volunteers will be stationed at 17 sites to help visitors spot whales, share information and answer questions each day from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The sites are some of the best places to watch for whales on the Oregon Coast.

A map of volunteer-staffed sites is available online on the official event webpage: https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=things-to-do.whale-watching

An estimated 18,000 gray whales are expected to swim past Oregon’s shores from late March through June as part of their annual migration back toward Alaska.

The Whale Watching Center in Depoe Bay will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Visitors can enjoy interactive whale exhibits and take in the panoramic ocean views. Binoculars are provided. Rangers will be on hand to answer questions about the whales.

For more information about coast parks and campgrounds, go to: https://stateparks.oregon.gov/