I highly doubt you will see any orcas in october in this area of the pnw if you go out one day on a boat in that month. Commercial whale watching in the san juan islands is roughly 25 years old. Next saturday, april 4 th, san juan safaris begins taking groups of 40 or fewer people on guided orca watching tours in the waters around san juan island. Stop fishing, where possible, within 1,000 metres of killer whales. Coast guard approved whale watching vessels from san juan island near seattle, wa with 3 vessel sizes and 2 departure locations, there is sure to be a vessel that suites your needs. Anyone can do that by downloading the whale report app on a smart phone. More commonly known as whale bell park, this parks main feature is a brass bell donated to the city of langley by orca network that visitors ring when they see a whale passing through the saratoga passage. San juan island is considered the best place to view orca whales because of the large salmon population, which is their primary food source. Going whalewatching in september the seattle times.
There are a large number of tour operators ready to take you out by boat to see them. All boaters must stay 400 yards away when in front of or behind orcas, and 300 yards away at all other times. See orcas, humpback whales, minke whales, gray whales and all the majestic wildlife in the salish sea on our tour departing from edmonds just minutes north of downtown seattle. Anglers can also stay up to date with regulations by downloading the fish washington mobile app on their smartphone. Each spring, majestic gray whales migrate from the southern waters north to alaska. Whale watching in washington state experience one of the oceans most formidable species from luxury, bigvessel cruises, to exciting kayak adventures, the pristine waters of washingtons puget sound and san juan islands are amongst of the best places on earth to witness the raw power and majesty of orcas. Whale watching season is from may to september, but the 30foot mammals can be spotted yearround.
We are endangered due to over fishing, diversion and over use of water resources, dams which alter the speed of water flows and block access to natal streams. Also whale behavior does not change based on the time of day. Additionally, the legislature this year approved new boating regulations meant to protect endangered southern resident killer whales. Enjoy the experience of a lifetime with seattles only halfday, guaranteed whale watching tour. Other captive orcas historical chronology a whale of a. Whale watching in washington state orca whale watching. Whale strikes in puget sound could get more common as. These killer whales are the most researched marine mammals in the world, and whale watch naturalists know the whales individual nicknames and. We always like to say that no two whale watching tours are the same. Join us on the new and fast, 55ft vessel sea lion for a naturalist guided tour. The pacific whale watch association is one of the most progressive ecotourism business associations in the world. But for those who prefer a closer look, friday harbor offers a total of 15 tours, including.
Members of the public are encouraged to download the whalereport app and. Best time to whale watch in seattle seattle message. Port townsend seattleedmonds whidbey island tour details. Brooks recommends the east side of whidbey island for viewing gray whales that usually hang out around camano island. Fishing and hunting season closures extended across wa. San juan excursions whale watching washington whale.
Another washington state ferry is believed to have hit a humpback whale. Mar 10, 20 whale watching season in washington state its on the list to do while living at jblm stay safe and healthy. In the 1990s whale watch vessels would leave the docks with little more than a. Get up close with the orca whales off the san juan islands near seattle on this 4hour whalewatching cruise. And its probably new this year since more whales have decided to spend their winters in puget sound. All state mammals this symbol is intended to promote orca awareness and to encourage protection of the natural marine habitat. Youll also find sea lions, harbor seals, sea otters, and even might orcas at several vantage points in olympic national park. It is hard to say whether the morning is better or the afternoon is better, because usually if we have whales in the area we will see them on both trips. The san juan islands is the best spot to observe orca whales in the american northwest. Our 34 hour adventure whale watching tours depart from friday harbor, just steps from the ferry landing. Washington state waters are closed to killer whale captures, in the aftermath of the.
Learn more about the killer whale and its habitat on our killer whale web page. Vacation whale watching activities in washington state. Humpback whale watching in washington state island. Memorial day through late august we offer whale watching at sunset. Washingtons 20192020 fishing regulations now available wdfw.
Killer orca whale watching seattle to san juan islands. In the mid1990s, long before federal mandates, we developed a dynamic set of local whale and wildlife viewing guidelines. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. During peak season orcas are encountered on 90% or more of tours. Washington designated the orca whale orcinus orca as the official state marine mammal in 2005 due to the research and persuasion of secondgraders from crescent harbor elementary school in oak harbor, washington. Seaspan, the shipping federation of canada, washington state ferries, zim. Whale watching season in washington state its on the list. The season they are usually seen is late may to early september. We talked with multiple county health officials throughout. Washington state parks rangers will be leaving a dead gray whale to decay on the beach near twin harbors state park after it washed ashore tuesday. Wildlife recommends that the killer whale be listed as an endangered species in the state of washington. Over the last decade the boats have become larger and faster, and the captains have become better at prediction the location of the whales on any given day.
Humpback whales are one of the most beloved and recognized whales in the world. This deal cannot be combined with promotion codes or other discounts and is valid on whale watching tours only. This blue whale was spotted by a cascadia research team about 17 nautical miles northwest of. The shores and waterways of washington state is filled with aquatic life like the minke, humpback and the california gray whales. Whale watching in washington is one of the top things to do on a visit to the main city of seattle or the popular san juan islands.
The most common whale species in the area is the orca, but youre likely to see other species as well. Washingtons makah indian tribe could soon hunt gray whales the marine mammal protection act protects whales from human predation, but in some instances indigenous groups are offered exemptions. These killer whales are the most researched marine mammals in the world, and whale watch naturalists know the whales individual nicknames and family histories back to the early 1970s. While all of those animals are a sight to behold, few are more amazing than whale watching off the washington state coast. Situated in the rain shadow of the olympic mountains, the san juan and canadian gulf islands provide calm waters seasickness is very rare. A few of these whales wash ashore and cause public outcry against whale captures in washingtons waters. When i get a little older ill be able to wander out into the beautiful open ocean. If you wish to see the pnw, id suggest playing on either sj or orcas islands, with my personal preference, sj. Washington state to let whale rot on beach no dynamite. San juan safaris is pleased to offer military personnel, active or retired, and.
Whale watching in washington state washingtoncoast. The reality of land based whale watching is that there are some places to see whales from the shore. The behavior of killer whales orcinus orca during bottom longline fishing operations has been. Ideal for couples and families or small private groups of up to 6 people. Southern resident killer whales in washington face four main potential threats. Found in all the worlds oceans, few whales can boast as successful a comeback story as the humpback whale, whose signature songs and images have become a symbol of marine conservation. I spend most of my time in the freshwater streams and estuaries along the coast of washington. Washington state ferries accelerated spring sailing schedule begins march 29 th, and in this part of the world thats pretty much the official starting gun for the tourist season. Considered the premier location to view wild orca killer whales, the waters around san juan island are ideal for whale watching. I know a friend of mine who used to be a whale watch guide on boats here tells me that august is even a iffy month for spotings as they are already starting to move out of the area often even in late august. As far as marine wildlife is concerned, gray whales are just the tip of the iceberg.
Guaranteed whale watching tours puget sound express. San juan island is where the southern resident killer whales live about six months out of the year, from midapril to october. In fact, the first whale trail sign on washingtons outer coast was dedicated at kalaloch. The san juan islands, located 140 km north of seattle in the heart of salish sea, is the most famous place for orca whale watching. Dec 12, 2012 whale watching from the jetty at ocean shores, washington stay safe and healthy. Whale watcher on san juan island washington state travel. Whale watching tours depart daily from orcas and san juan island allowing an opportunity for viewing the whales in the wild.
On may 8, 2019 washington state governor jay inslee signed the orca recovery bills that were produced. The graywhale season will have ended, but there should be opportunities to see orcas, minkes and perhaps humpbacks. Whale watching kalaloch lodge at olympic national park. On san juan island there are 17 whalewatching and kayaktouring businesses.
Another program that promotes whale watching is the whale watching spoken here program which places volunteers at 26 locations in washington, oregon, and california during specific weeks of the year to help others spot whales. Whale hunting could be resumed by washington state indians. A whale expert is reporting a rare sighting of blue whales off the washington state coast. This week, washington state ferries will be the first to use the. Whale watching in washington washington whale watching tours. At this time of year in the pacific northwest the sun does not set until approximately 9. In 2019, washingtons governor jay inslee signed into law new regulations governing whale watching in the state of washington. For the best whalewatching in seattle, enjoy the beauty of san juan island on a whalewatching cruise from friday harbor, a quaint town on the island. Killer whales have been listed as a state endangered species in washington since 2004. San juan island whale watching day trip from seattle, wa. Any boat within a halfmile of the whales must also reduce speed to 7 knots or less. Whale watching seattle and whale watching washington are commonly associated with whale watching in the san juan islands. Center for whale research, photos taken under federal permits nmfs 15569 dfo sara 388 i live in oregon, not far from the banks of the columbia river and just across the river from washington state.
San juan island is the center of whale watching in the pacific northwest and therefore friday harbor on san juan island is the best location for departing on a whale watch tour in washington state. You can also charter any of the vessels for a private whale watch and wildlife tour or schedule a water taxi to one of the surrounding islands. I love the outdoor, and being constantly surrounded by snowcapped mountains, rain forests, and a plethora of wildlife that i had never. Killer whale orca conservation and management washington. Tall dorsal fin, black and white coloring orcas, also known as killer whales, are a common sight in northern washington and british. I can honestly say that moving to washington state has been one of the greatest decisions that i have ever made. You might want to schedule two, because they are that exciting. Whale watching from the jetty at ocean shores, washington. Whale watching adventures in anacortes, washiington.
There is one nowi cant remember if its island adventures or puget sound express or someone elsebut its new this year. Washingtons 20192020 fishing regulations now available. Whale watching reproduced under a creative commons license with the kind permission of dashhouse on flickr. The state of washington has extended its closure of fishing and hunting seasons through may 4, after reconsidering seasons on monday. Because of its prime location on the puget sound, whale watchers dont need to rely solely on boat tours for sightings. Where is the best place to go whale watching in washington. Whale watch tour companies have knocked a proposed orca. Washington park in anacortes or lime kiln state park on san juan island, for example, could be described as two of the best places in the world to view orca whales from shore. In the high season for whale watching, they usually do well. Orca whales usually pass through the islands in greatest numbers between midmay and midoctober when the salmon runs are. New state law protects orca whales olympia with summer approaching, the washington department of fish and wildlife wdfw is reminding recreational boaters and paddlers that a new state law to protect orca whales goes into effect today june 12. The best whale watching sites in puget sound you dont. Wish that we could have spent way more time in washington, i guess well just have to plan another trip.