The grey whale migration is from Alaska to their breeding lagoons in Baja Mexico every winter. They then journey dwelling alongside the Pacific Coast each spring.
On their return dwelling to Alaska, whale moms journey nearer to shore with their infants. These infants are about 15 toes lengthy at start, and weigh about 2,000 kilos. They’re referred to as being pleasant and inquisitive about boats and people, though these mothers are continuously looking out for predators.
Plenty of individuals start to scan the Pacific Ocean within the winter and early spring months for the grey whale migration. We’ll check out among the greatest locations to see them, plus different suggestions for recognizing grey whales.
The Finest Time to See the Pacific Grey Whale Migration
The Pacific grey whale migration occurs every December by way of April, with sure intervals throughout these months whenever you’re almost definitely to identify them.
Southward Migration
In December and January, you might even see grey whales as they shut out their journey from Alaska to Baja California. 1000’s of those whales undertake the longest migration of any mammal, swimming about 5,000 miles every manner – typically farther – at a tempo of about 75 miles a day. They’re headed to the nice and cozy lagoons of Baja so pregnant females can calve and different whales can mate.
Northward Migration
From the start of February by way of April, whales will head again north to Alaska. Chances are you’ll get some overlap in January and early February, with some whales nonetheless heading south whereas the early starters have begun swimming north once more.
Moms with new calves will go away the most recent to provide their infants probably the most time to develop earlier than they start their journey. Many whale watchers advise that March and April are one of the best instances to view the migration as a result of moms and infants journey nearer to shore to guard the younger from predators like nice white sharks. These pairs additionally transfer slower due to the youthful whales, giving viewers a greater probability at a look.
Finest Viewing Occasions
The very best time of day to see the migration is within the morning when the ocean is normally calmer. If you happen to’re dealing with west looking over the ocean, the solar can be behind you at that time and you may see extra clearly.
Locations to Go to in California to See the Grey Whale Migration
There are locations alongside the complete California coast the place you may camp and attempt to catch the grey whale migration. From Northern California to Southern, listed below are among the greatest locations to arrange camp.
Laguna Level
Laguna Level (to not be confused with Laguna Seaside) is in northern California, close to Fort Bragg. It’s in MacKerricher State Park. A boardwalk subsequent to the car parking zone takes you over the wetlands to a lookout spot that’s excellent for taking photos. It’s also possible to stroll alongside the seashore on the level.
Together with whale watching, you may search for harbor seals, discover tide swimming pools, and look ahead to birds among the many wetlands.
RVing Close by
There’s RV tenting at MacKerricher State Park. The West Pinewood and Surfwood Campgrounds should not have hookups, and permits rigs as much as 35 toes lengthy.
There are additionally campgrounds in Fort Bragg, three miles away. Woodside RV Park and Campground has full hookups, showers, and strolling and bike paths to the seashore. Pomo RV Park and Campground has full hookups, showers, and is pet-friendly.
Tenting Close by
Caspar Seaside RV Park & Campground has each RV and tent websites for campers. It’s ten miles from MacKerricher State Park, and has its personal lovely seashore with nice browsing. Jug Deal with Creek Farm and Nature Heart is close to Jug Deal with State Protect and has tent tenting, together with one RV website that has electrical hookups.
Level Reyes
Level Reyes Nationwide Seashore, in Marin County, is about three hours south of Fort Bragg, simply north of the Bay Space. Together with whale watching alongside the coast, you may discover the seashore and swim. Level Reyes additionally has a lighthouse with a customer middle the place you may study extra.
RVing Close by
Campgrounds at Level Reyes Nationwide Seashore are all hike-in or boat-in, so there isn’t any RV tenting accessible. You could find loads of choices in Petaluma, about 40 minutes away. The San Francisco North/Petaluma KOA Resort has the facilities you’d anticipate in a KOA. You’ll discover full hookups, patios, a pool and sizzling tub, a playground, and deliberate actions. Doran Regional Park in Bodega Bay has RV websites with no hookups, however there may be potable water accessible. Restrooms have flush bathrooms, and there are coin-operated showers. There’s additionally a dump station accessible.
Tenting Close by
There are backcountry hike-in and boat-in websites accessible at Level Reyes Nationwide Seashore. It’s also possible to discover close by tenting at Samuel P. Taylor State Park. The principle campground permits tents and small trailers or RVs. There are restrooms, sizzling showers, and potable water.
Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz is a enjoyable metropolis to go to at any time of yr, not simply throughout whale watching season. You possibly can benefit from the rides on the Santa Cruz Seaside Boardwalk, examine the Thriller Spot, or look ahead to monarch butterflies at Pure Bridges State Park.
While you go to search for grey whales, head to West Cliff Drive, Wilder Ranch State Park, or Año Nuevo State Park. Año Nuevo is a enjoyable vacation spot, as a result of even when you don’t see whales, you may watch the Northern elephant seals that collect year-round within the ocean and alongside the shore on the park.
RVing Close by
You possibly can resolve to RV camp within the redwoods close to Santa Cruz, or nearer to the harbor and seashore. Whichever you resolve, you’ll be rewarded with the gorgeous, distinctive views of the Central Coast area. The Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort has full hookups, showers, a clubhouse with pool and foosball tables, and a playground. The Santa Cruz Harbor RV Park is close to the boardwalk, plus seashores, eating places, and downtown Santa Cruz. The park has full hookups, and also you’ll get lovely views of the harbor. The Santa Cruz Ranch RV Resort is within the midst of the bushes, close to Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley. The resort has electrical and water hookups, cable, a pool, showers, and laundry services.
Tenting Close by
There are a number of nice spots for tent tenting in addition to RV tenting. New Brighton State Seaside is a stupendous spot close to Capitola and Santa Cruz. You possibly can go swimming on the seashore, plus there may be fishing and climbing. Manresa Uplands State Seaside has tent tenting from mid-Might by way of October. You possibly can go fishing or get pleasure from seashore actions together with whale watching.
Monterey Bay
The areas of Monterey and Carmel are additionally lovely whale watching spots. Level Lobos State Pure Reserve is a stupendous, distinctive spot to spend a day. It’s a preferred place for photographers, painters, SCUBA divers, and sighteers eager to see some of the superb spots alongside the California coast.
You possibly can look ahead to whales from the bluffs, and there are pathways to a number of outlooks. It’s also possible to hike within the park, or take a guided stroll with a docent who can share information concerning the space. It’s also possible to discover tide swimming pools and see the superb sea life within the space.
Moss Touchdown is one other great spot to look at for whales, and a number of other excursions function out of this space.
Carmel is a stupendous seaside city simply south of Monterey that’s one other excellent place to search for whales off the coast. Whale watchers will arrange at Carmel River State Seaside within the hopes of catching a glimpse of those superb mammals. If you happen to’re headed right here, you’ll need to carry binoculars that will help you spot them higher.
RVing Close by
There are many nice campgrounds within the Monterey Bay space – it’s a stupendous place to camp! The Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA Vacation in Watsonville has all of the facilities you’d anticipate from a KOA. There are full hookups, a pool and sizzling tub, a pet washing station, a playground, and far more. Marina Dunes RV Park is true on the sandy dunes subsequent to the bay. You’re close to Fort Ord Dunes State Park and Marina State Seaside, and only a brief distance from downtown Monterey with its famend aquarium and the well-known Cannery Row. The RV park has full hookups, a camp retailer, showers, laundry services, a playground, and is pet-friendly. Carmel By The River RV Resort is simply south of Monterey in Carmel-By-The-Sea. The close by river is ideal for fishing or swimming in the course of the summer season months. The campground has full hookups, showers, a rec room, and a small common retailer.
Tenting Close by
There’s loads of tenting close to Monterey when you’re bringing alongside a tent and different tenting gear. Sundown State Seaside has a wide ranging campground surrounded by pines, with sweeping views of the Monterey Bay. There are not any hookups, however the campground does have flush bathrooms, coin-operated showers, and a dump station that can be utilized for a $10 payment.
If you would like extra upscale tenting, Saddle Mountain Ranch in Carmel has luxurious tents with beds, out of doors seating, a firepit, and a grill. There are loos and sizzling showers only a brief stroll away. There are climbing trails round Saddle Mountain, and it’s a brief drive to Carmel and Monterey.
Massive Sur
Massive Sur is lower than an hour from Monterey, and you could possibly actually arrange camp in a single location or the opposite and make a day journey. However if you wish to spend extra time exploring California’s superb coast, Massive Sur is a good place to remain for a number of days. When driving across the Massive Sur space, you’ll need to test the most recent visitors maps and stories. Freeway 1 can get washed out by mudslides, and there are sometimes detours you’ll need to concentrate on.
The path to McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is a well-liked spot for whale watching. Massive Sur State Park employees even have whale watching gatherings from 10 am to 12 pm on weekends in January and February. You’ll meet on the Vista Level on Freeway 1, one mile north of Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park to get some employees assist attempting to identify the whales.
It’s also possible to take any of the Freeway 1 turnouts and attempt to see whales from these vantage factors. For the reason that mothers and infants swim near shore, you would possibly get fortunate and spot some!
Lastly, the aptly named Soberanes Canyon and Whale Peak Loop is a pleasant hike, and you might even see whales as you get ocean views alongside the way in which. The 4.1 mile loop supplies nice views of the ocean and shoreline with remark decks alongside the way in which. There are additionally clear views of the kelp beds the place the whales prefer to graze.
RVing Close by
There are many campgrounds alongside Freeway 1 within the Massive Sur space that reap the benefits of the ocean and mountain views.
The Fernwood Resort in Massive Sur is tucked among the many redwoods alongside the Massive Sur River. There are water and electrical hookups, showers, and laundry services. There’s a tavern with a bar and grill and a common retailer on-site. You’ll even be near numerous climbing, a number of California state parks, and the Level Sur lighthouse.
Dana Level
Dana Level is named the Dolphin & Whale Watching Capital of the World. There are many locations to whale watch on this space south of Los Angeles. The Dana Level Headlands is a pleasant spot to try to glimpse some whales – you may typically see them proper from the patio on the Nature Heart. There are additionally different elevated vantage factors the place you could have panoramic views of the ocean. The Nature Heart has free binoculars for company to make use of as properly.
The Dana Level Harbor Jetty is one other good place to whale watch, and you might even see whales go near the doorway to the harbor. Grey whales are believed to make use of the headlands as a navigation information throughout their lengthy migration.
You possibly can see every kind of marine life in Dana Level. Together with grey whales, search for humpback whales, dolphins, sea lions, elephant seals, and tide pool creatures like hermit crabs and sea stars.
RVing Close by
There are many RV campgrounds in Orange County and close to Dana Level. The Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina has full hookups, beachfront websites, showers, laundry services, and a pool and spa. There’s additionally a water park within the little bay that’s surrounded by the resort. Paradise by the Sea RV Resort has full hookups, back-in and pull-thru websites, a heated pool and sizzling tub, a clubhouse with a rec room, and a camp retailer.
Tenting Close by
Doheny State Seaside is true in Dana Level, and has a campground simply steps from the seashore. Every campground has a fireplace ring and picnic desk. The seashore is a well-liked browsing spot, and you may stroll alongside the shore in search of tide swimming pools. Mission San Juan Capistrano is only a brief drive away, and yow will discover retailers and eating places in downtown Dana Level.
Crystal Cove State Park is on the finish of Newport Seaside, close to Dana Level. You possibly can camp overlooking the ocean, surrounded by low scrub bushes and sand. In the course of the day, discover tide swimming pools, calm down on the seashore, and look ahead to whales off the coast. There are campsites each with and with out hookups, and there are coin-operated showers.
There’s additionally tenting at San Mateo State Park, the place you’ll have views of the bluffs above the ocean. There are miles of climbing trails all through the park, and you may search for native crops and wildlife within the park.
San Diego
Chances are you’ll spot the grey whale migration in San Diego at any level from December by way of April. You’ll see whales on the finish of their journey south, and at the start of their journey again north once more within the spring. The very best time to view the whale migration is in mid-January.
The Cabrillo Nationwide Monument is a chief viewing spot on the southern fringe of the Level Loma Peninsula. Look ahead to whales swimming between the kelp beds and the horizon the place the ocean meets the sky. The Kelp Forest Overlook and the Previous Level Loma Lighthouse have overlooks for whale watching and the customer middle has free binoculars guests can borrow.
It’s also possible to go to Ellen Browning Scripps Park to look at for whales, hike the seashore path at Torrey Pines State Reserve, or try the Tide Pool Plaza at Birch Aquarium.
San Diego additionally has numerous different issues to do. If you happen to’re on the town to go whale watching, you may as well go to the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld San Diego, or the Gaslamp Quarter for nice eating places and buying.
RVing Close by
There are many campgrounds in San Diego the place you may keep in an RV when you discover. The San Diego RV Resort has full hookups, and out of doors pool and sizzling tub, a billiards and recreation room, and extra. You even have easy accessibility to the San Diego Trolley, which stops at quite a lot of common San Diego spots. The Santa Fe Park RV Resort has full hookups, picnic tables, barbecues, a pool, and a lounge room. There are showers and laundry services, and the campground is pet pleasant. Mission Bay RV Resort has full hookups, WiFi, and cable TV and might accommodate RVs as much as 45 toes lengthy. There’s a pool and sizzling tub, a clubhouse, and it’s near a public seashore.
Tenting Close by
You possibly can tent and automotive camp in numerous San Diego places as properly. Campland on the Bay has each RV and tent tenting on the shores of Mission Bay. San Elijo State Seaside has tenting on the bluffs overlooking the seashore. You possibly can tent camp, or some websites have RV hookups as properly. Sweetwater Summit Regional Park has a campground with water and electrical hookups. There are coin-operated showers for company as properly. The park has a splash pad, play areas, and fishing at Sweetwater Reservoir.
How you can Determine a Grey Whale
While you’re watching the grey whale migration, it’s thrilling to see any marine mammals out at sea. However how are you aware if the creature you see swimming out there may be really a grey whale, one other kind of whale, or a dolphin or different aquatic animal? Right here are some things to look at for:
- Grey whales are medium-sized (for a whale!) and are about 35-45 toes lengthy. They weigh about 30-40 tons. Females are bigger than males.
- Grey whales are a mottled grey shade, though they will vary from virtually black to virtually white. They’ve white spots that may range from the dimensions of a marble to the dimensions of a basketball. They typically have barnacles, barnacle scars, and whale lice that can provide them a bumpy look. That mottled coloring is without doubt one of the greatest methods to tell apart a grey whale from different, extra solid-colored whales and dolphins.
- Grey whales should not have a dorsal fin. As a substitute, they’ve a dorsal hump, with between 6-12 bumps alongside their again behind the hump.
- You’ll doubtless see their spout first as they exhale. That spout can shoot from 6-10 toes within the air and is heart-shaped. Whales expel virtually 100 gallons of air once they exhale.
Ideas for Viewing Grey Whales
Whereas we are able to’t assure that you just’ll see a whale in the course of the grey whale migration, there are some things you are able to do to extend your probabilities. Listed here are some suggestions for viewing grey whales.
Go within the morning
The whales migrate constantly, in any respect hours of the day and night time. However your greatest possibilities of viewing them are going to be within the morning, when the solar is at your again as you gaze west.
Search for flukes and spouts
Scan the horizon to the west, from left to proper and again. Search for flukes (the whale tail), whale backs, and spouts which seem like little puffs of smoke. Grey whales typically elevate their tails as they dive, and it’ll in all probability be a couple of minutes earlier than it surfaces once more. If you happen to see puffs, hold watching to see if the whale surfaces once more.
Search for boats
Generally the easiest way to identify a wild animal is to look at for different individuals watching the wild animals. If you happen to see a ship, particularly a stopped one, it’s potential the individuals on board have noticed a whale.
Don’t be fooled
Plenty of individuals can mistake driftwood for whales floating within the ocean. Watch to ensure your “whale” is transferring, going above and under the floor and persevering with in a single course. If it appears to remain in a single place, it’s doubtless a log.
Carry binoculars and a telephoto lens
To your greatest probability of seeing whales, carry alongside a pair of binoculars. A few of the viewing places listed above have binoculars accessible at customer facilities. Nevertheless, these are first-come, first-served and in the course of the peak of whale watching season it’s greatest to have your individual.
If you wish to try to {photograph} the whales, you’ll want a telephoto lens. Set your digital camera to steady taking pictures mode so you may seize all of the motion because the whales seem.
Maintain your binoculars and digital camera able to go rapidly, since whale appearances could be sudden and fast.
Get on a ship
You might have extra luck taking a whale watching tour on a ship than attempting to see grey whales from shore. Just about each location listed above has distributors that function boat excursions. They’ll know one of the best locations to look at for whales of their space. Learn evaluations from earlier prospects so you may select a tour that fits you and your group.
Anticipating grey whales on their spectacular, perilous journey could go away you in awe of those majestic creatures. On high of that, one of the best place to view these whales – the California coast – has among the most superb surroundings in the USA. If you would like much more concepts to your coastal journey, try our itinerary from San Francisco to Los Angeles.