March 19, 2026 6:10 a.m. 

Oregon State Parks will host Spring Whale Watch Week along the Oregon Coast from Saturday, March 21st to Sunday, March 29th.

An Oregon Parks and Recreation Department release said trained volunteers and park rangers will be stationed at 15 sites along the coast to help visitors spot whales and their calves and answer questions daily from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The sites are among the best places to watch whales along the Oregon Coast.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimates 13,000 gray whales are expected to migrate past Oregon’s shores from late winter through June as they travel back toward Alaska. That is far fewer than earlier projections suggested. Although NOAA declared the Unusual Mortality Event over in 2023 and initially believed the population may be rebounding, new winter 2025 estimates instead show the lowest numbers since the 1970s.

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

For more information about coastal parks and campgrounds, go to: www.stateparks.oregon.gov.