Whales in California in May
Yes, May is one of the best months to see whales in California. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 10,724 of the 114,247 sightings logged across the year (9.4%), based on verified iNaturalist records.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 2, 2026.
Peak month for whales in California
9.4%
of yearly sightings
10,724
records in May
#3
busiest month of 12
114,247
verified records a year
April 8.9%, May 9.4%, June 9.7%. Busiest month is September at 9.9%.
114,247 verified observations of whales in California, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When whales are recorded in California
Peak month
September
11,303 records (9.9% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 8,132 | 7.1% |
| February | 6,947 | 6.1% |
| March | 8,559 | 7.5% |
| April | 10,112 | 8.9% |
| Maypeak | 10,724 | 9.4% |
| Junepeak | 11,129 | 9.7% |
| July | 10,257 | 9% |
| August | 10,094 | 8.8% |
| Septemberpeak | 11,303 | 9.9% |
| October | 10,122 | 8.9% |
| November | 9,251 | 8.1% |
| December | 7,617 | 6.7% |
Whales you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 76,680 |
| Elk | 8,703 |
| Humpback Whale | 5,484 |
| Bighorn Sheep | 5,421 |
| Common Bottlenose Dolphin | 3,708 |
| Wild Boar | 2,305 |
| Grey Whale | 1,941 |
| Common Dolphin | 1,812 |
In California, May carries 9.4% of the year's whales sightings, about 1.1 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 3rd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity holds steady between April and May, and it heads toward June (9.7%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so May is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
The whales most often recorded in California are Mule Deer, Elk and Humpback Whale. Those counts are annual totals rather than a May split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in May itself.
Which whales you are most likely to see
- Mule Deer76,680 records
- Elk8,703 records
- Humpback Whale5,484 records
- Bighorn Sheep5,421 records
- Common Bottlenose Dolphin3,708 records
- Wild Boar2,305 records
Plan your whale trip in California
Start with live tours near Alcatraz Island, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near Alcatraz Island
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main whale viewing area.
Booking.com
Stay nearbyStay near Alcatraz Island
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best whale viewing area in California.
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Broader backupBook a whale tour in California
Compare guided wildlife tours, boat trips and nature experiences if you want a second travel network beyond the live widget.
Frequently asked questions
Can you see whales in California in May?+
Yes. May accounts for 10,724 of the 114,247 verified whales sightings logged in California across the year, which is 9.4% of the annual total.
Is May a good time to see whales in California?+
May is one of the best months. It ranks 3rd of the year and sits inside the peak window of September, June and May.
What month is best for whales in California?+
September is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through September, June and May, based on 114,247 verified observations.
Which whales are you most likely to see in California?+
The most-recorded species in California are Mule Deer, Elk and Humpback Whale, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See whales in California in other months
More wildlife in California