Gray Whale Migration

Before I moved to Washington state, my first trip to the Puget Sound was a birthday present to myself, to catch the spring Gray whale migration. Some friends and I drove out to the Olympic Peninsula, rented a cabin at LaPush, and waited in the rain with our binoculars for most of the week. We didn't see any whales, but I caught a bad cold.

Gray whales make a round trip every year that's roughly ten thousand miles, from the Bering Sea to Baja California where they feed over the winter, then back again. They'll be migrating past Washington and Oregon, starting about mid-March.

Whale-watching charters are available from most of the seaside towns up and down the Washington and Oregon coasts. That's terrific, if you've got the extra cash to spend, and you don't mind boats. But you absolutely don't have to take a boat out into deep water to observe the migration. A vantage point like promontory home to the North Head Lighthouse makes a terrific day trip, even if you don't get to see any whales.

You'll want to watch the weather report, and plan your trip for a calm day. Fairly early in the morning the water is generally smoother. Calm seas with fewer whitecaps make for better viewing, especially from the shore. If you own or can borrow a good set of binoculars or a spotting scope (like bird-watchers use) all the better. Dress for changeable seacoast weather, with layers and rain gear. If you bring a thermos of coffee and cocoa, and a cooler of snacks, you'll find it easier to watch patiently.