Oregon Whale Watch Week has begun as thousands of gray whales make their way down past the West Coast toward the warmer waters of Baja, Mexico.
Over the next few weeks, about 25,000 whales will swim along the Oregon coast. That migration peaks between Christmas and the new year when up to 30 whales can pass each hour.
A gray whale breaching in the Pacific Ocean.
Courtesey of NOAA
Grab a pair of binoculars and you could whale watch anywhere along the coast.
Or you can head to one of Oregon State Parks' 24 whale-spotting sites, which are staffed by volunteers throughout the week.
The Depoe Bay Whale Watching Center is one of the state’s most popular whale watching locations along the seabank on Highway 101.
Volunteers there say fog and massive waves have made it a slow start for spectators. But there will be plenty more chances; whales usually continue to move through the area until mid-January.
Can't make it out there? Oregon State Parks will keep a livestream through the week.
