Whale Watch Week is ex-sighting stuff

Nearly 20,000 gray whales pass by the Oregon Coast each spring, traveling from the warm birthing lagoons of Baja, Mexico, to their favorite feeding grounds in Alaska, calves in tow.

Though the whales themselves aren’t perfectly predictable, you can set your watch by the official whale watching weeks run by Oregon State Parks.

This year, Spring Whale Watch Week begins on Saturday, March 23, and runs through the end of the month. Between 10 am and 1 pm, volunteers will staff many prime whale viewing sites along the Oregon Coast, including several along the Central Oregon Coast.

The volunteers will answer questions and help visitors spot whales.

Though unstaffed by volunteers, the Fathoms Restaurant inside Lincoln City’s Inn at Spanish Head is also a great spot if you are in the mood for a meal or a cocktail with a fantastic ocean view.

For information on specific observation sites near you, go to stateparks.oregon.gov.

Staffed spotting spots include:

Cape Meares Lighthouse

Boiler Bay State Scenic Viewpoint

The Whale Watching Center in Depoe Bay

Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint

Cape Foulweather

Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area

Yachats State Recreation Area

Cape Perpetua Turnout

Heceta Head Lighthouse