December 12, 2025 6:30 a.m. 

Oregon State Parks will host Winter Whale Watch Week along the Oregon coast from Saturday, December 27th through Wednesday December 31st.

An OPRD release said trained volunteers will be stationed at 14 sites along the coast from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. each day to help visitors spot gray whales on their southward migration to the calving lagoons in Mexico.

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://oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=thingstodo.dsp_whaleWatching

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced an end to an Unusual Mortality Event impacting gray whales in 2023 when it looked like the population was rebounding. But since then, the population has declined to its lowest level since the 1970s. NOAA now estimates about 13,000 gray whales along the West Coast.

Winter Whale Watch Week provides an opportunity to see not only the gray whales but other coastal wildlife including birds and other marine mammals with help from trained volunteers and park rangers.

The Whale Watching Center in Depoe Bay will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. December 27th through 31st. Visitors to the center can enjoy interactive whale exhibits and take in the panoramic ocean views. Binoculars are provided. Park rangers from Oregon State Parks will also be on hand to answer questions about whales.

All Whale Watch Week visitors are encouraged to dress for the weather, to bring binoculars and to follow beach safety guidelines such as remaining out of the fenced areas, knowing the tide schedule and always keeping an eye on the surf.

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