Calendar

Past Activity

Whale Watching Overnight

  • Start date: 12/27/2023

  • Start time: 12:00 AM

  • End date: 12/28/2023

  • End time: 11:59 PM

Description:

This is an overnight trip to the Newport/Agate Beach area with an excursion to Depoe Bay. Participants will need to A) arrange their own transportation to/from Newport, and B) arrange their own accommodation in Newport/Agate Beach area for 1 night (December 27th). The trip leader suggests staying at a place with a generous cancellation policy in the off chance the trip needs to be cancelled. Dress for rain and cold. Bring needed snacks. Plan on eating together as a group for 1 dinner, and 1 lunch. The trip leader will be staying at the Best Western Agate Beach Inn.

Day 1: Dec. 27th
Arrive at the Yaquina Head Interpretive Center by 11:30am and meet inside the center. We will plan our afternoon from there depending on the weather and wind. The headland is a good location for whale watching so bring binoculars! There we will also be looking for winter birds in the area. Plan on walking up to 3 miles today. At 3:30-4pm we will wrap-up the afternoon as it will be getting dark and we it will be good to warm up inside.

In the evening, join others in the group at 6:15pm to have dinner at Local Ocean Seafood along Newport's waterfront. We have a table reservation for 6, everyone pays for their own meal.

Day 2: Dec 28th
In the morning at 9am, we will meet up in Agate Beach (location provided during the trip). If need be, we can carpool the 12 miles to Depoe Bay. Depoe Bay is a perfect spot to see Gray Whales during their annual migration! Weather will determine our schedule, but we will be visiting the Whale Watching Center (the center opens at 10am, so there will be time to get some coffee in town), then viewing from along the seawall, and also walking north to NW Sunset Street where we will be viewing from along the peninsula that stretches from Pirate Cove to Depot Bay. We will eat lunch in town at one of the restaurants. Afterward, we can look for more whales or head back home. The plan is for everyone to be home by dark. Plan on walking up to 7 miles today.

  • Event Leader: Hougardy Mark

  • Assistant Leader:

  • Event category: Trips

  • Area Type: Coastal

  • Departure Location: See Trip Description

  • Rating: Moderate

  • Roundtrip total drive miles:

  • Season: 2024

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Passed

  • Supplies and Equipment Required:

  • participant prerequisites:

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance: 7

  • Member Fees: —

  • Elevation Gain: 300

  • Non-Member Fees: 10

  • Committee: Trips

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

The end of the year is a great time for whale watching on the Oregon coast as migrating Gray whales pass just offshore. This year, the wave heights easily exceeded 18 feet, which made whale watching difficult. The trip focused more on looking for wildlife and watching gargantuan waves strike the coastline. We arrived at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area Interpretive Center as heavy rain arrived. We explored the picturesque Quarry Cove Trail and Quarry Cove, then hiked to the beautiful Cobble Beach where the incoming waves created impressive acoustics among the thousands of fist-sized cobbles. We continued to the lighthouse and kept watch for whales in the distance, but they remained elusive. A Peregrine Falcon kept watch on the adjacent Colony Rock. We continued to Salal Hill and saw a deep blue wall of water and wind approaching from the south. As we made our way off the hill, the wall of water hit - we were thoroughly soaked! Returning to the interpretive center, we explored the exhibits then retreated to our hotel to warm up. That evening, we enjoyed a superb dinner at Local Ocean Seafood! Later, we observed several police cars parked near the beach and several officers searching for someone. The following morning, we met at the Oregon State Parks Whale Watching Center in Depoe Bay. After viewing the exhibits, we walked past the impressive blow hole on the coast and up the Sunset Street Access Area, where we watched waves pounded the rocky cliff-lined peninsula. Even crashing against a cliff, the wave splashes exceeded the rooflines of nearby 2-story houses. Just after noon, we walked back to town and ended the trip.

Members & Guests signed-up & waitlisted

  • Number of spots on trip: 6
  • Number of spots available: 0
No. Status Full name Phone Transportation Needed? Trip Fee # Can Take?
1 Signed-Up Hougardy, Mark 541-206-9532 N —
2 Signed-Up Hougardy, Christiane 541-914-4556 N —
3 Signed-Up Gould, Whitney 510-368-8941 N —
4 Signed-Up Stewart Smith, Meg 541-913-5464 N —
5 Signed-Up Hoecker, Nancy 541-217-8453 N —
6 Signed-Up Clinger, David 541-206-9533 N —
7 Signed-Up Bauer, Therese 541-513-7473 N —