Winchester Bay

While whales can be seen year round on the Oregon coast, the winter and spring months are the best times for seeing these enormous creatures. Migration in December and again in late March means higher numbers and a higher viewing success rate. For some of the best sites to spot spouts, we've gathered together adventures that will give you the perfect viewing opportunity, as well as some handy tips. 

This article is provided courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service.

The coastal population of the western snowy plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus) was listed as a threatened species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1993. In 2007, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service completed a cooperative plan for recovery of the Pacific Coast population of the western snowy plover. The western snowy plover spends its entire life on the beaches of Washington, Oregon, California, and the Baja peninsula.  The population in Oregon has ranged from 72 to 208 adults since 1993.

The pursuit of Dungeness crabs along the Oregon coast is popular with locals and visitors alike. Practically every river that empties into the Pacific Ocean in Oregon has a town nestled at its mouth, and that town likely has a public fishing dock and a marina or bait shop that will provide everything needed for crabbing. The tiny village of Winchester Bay at the mouth of the Umpqua River is a fine example and a great place to try crabbing.