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When can you see whales in Washington?

3 min read

Asked by: Jackie Parker

Whales are a migratory species that follow the pacific coast during the spring and fall. While sightings have occurred anywhere from October through July, your best bet is to plan a trip in spring, specifically the month May.

What is the best time of year to whale watch in Seattle?

The best time for whale watching in Seattle is in the Summer between May and October. Q: Is Seattle good for whale watching? Yes. Every year whale watching is one of the most popular things to do for both locals and tourists.

When can you see whales in the Pacific Northwest?

Types of whales in the Puget Sound
Minke, humpback, and orcas are commonly seen between May and October, while gray whales are common in March and April as they head north for the summer.

What time of year can you see orcas in Seattle?

summer

You can see orcas in Seattle, Washington and the surrounding areas year round. But summer between May and September are the best times to kayak with orcas. That’s because their food source, salmon, is most active around this time.

Where can I see whales in Washington?

Just remember to bring a pair of binoculars!

  1. Best spots on coast:
  2. Pacific Beach State Park: With the northern migration of gray whales beginning mid-March, this coastal park, which features a lookout tower, is a great place to view them as they hug the coast.

What is the best month to go whale watching?

When is the best time to view the whales? The best time of year to view Orca whales is in May through September. If you’re looking for humpback whales then we suggest September through January.

What is the best time of year to see orcas in San Juan Islands?

San Juan Island (90 miles north of Seattle) is the best place for orca whale watching as we are located in the heart of Salish Sea. Orca whales range through the San Juan Islands the most between May and October when the Salmon runs are strongest, although we do have sightings throughout the year.

Can you see orca whales in Washington?

While we’re lucky enough to spot Orcas, gray, and humpback whales year round in the Pacific Northwest, southern resident Orcas typically travel through the San Juan Islands May through October.

Where is the best place to see whales WA?

10 best whale-watching spots in WA

  1. Ningaloo Reef in Exmouth. The Ningaloo Coast, and in particular the Exmouth Gulf, hosts the highest density of humpback whales in the Southern Hemisphere during their annual 11,000km migration from Antarctica. …
  2. Kimberley Coast. …
  3. Broome. …
  4. Hillarys. …
  5. Rottnest. …
  6. Dunsborough. …
  7. Margaret River. …
  8. Augusta.

Are there orcas in Washington?

Killer whales are distributed nearly worldwide. In Washington, they occur in most of the state’s marine waters. Only small portions of both transient and offshore populations normally occur in Washington at any one time.

Can you see orcas in Bellingham Washington?

BIGG’S (TRANSIENT) KILLER WHALES
In recent years we have seen these whales more often than Southern Resident Orcas, usually in the San Juan Islands or Haro Strait, but occasionally in waters close to Bellingham, including Bellingham Bay and Rosario Strait.

How many whales are in Washington?

The blue whales that occur along the U.S. west coast (Washington, Oregon, and California) belong to the Eastern North Pacific stock. The stock is estimated at about 1,900 whales, and stock trend is possibly stable. Blue whales are now regularly present off the outer Washington coast.