Whales in Oregon in September
Yes, September is one of the best months to see whales in Oregon. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 95 of the 777 sightings logged across the year (12.2%), 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 June 28, 2026.
Peak month for whales in Oregon
12.2%
of yearly sightings
95
records in September
#3
busiest month of 12
777
verified records a year
August 17.4%, September 12.2%, October 6%. Busiest month is July at 20.2%.
777 verified observations of whales in Oregon, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When whales are recorded in Oregon
Peak month
July
157 records (20.2% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 4% |
| February | 38 | 4.9% |
| March | 34 | 4.4% |
| April | 45 | 5.8% |
| May | 61 | 7.9% |
| June | 86 | 11.1% |
| Julypeak | 157 | 20.2% |
| Augustpeak | 135 | 17.4% |
| Septemberpeak | 95 | 12.2% |
| October | 47 | 6% |
| November | 28 | 3.6% |
| December | 20 | 2.6% |
Whales you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Grey Whale | 473 |
| Humpback Whale | 62 |
| Harbour Porpoise | 60 |
| Orca | 43 |
| Sperm Whale | 27 |
| Fin Whale | 25 |
| Pacific White-sided Dolphin | 8 |
| Striped Dolphin | 6 |
In Oregon, September carries 12.2% of the year's whales sightings, about 3.9 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 is easing off from August (17.4%) into September, and it heads toward October (6%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so September is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
The whales most often recorded in Oregon are Grey Whale, Humpback Whale and Harbour Porpoise. Those counts are annual totals rather than a September split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in September itself.
Which whales you are most likely to see
- Grey Whale473 records
- Humpback Whale62 records
- Harbour Porpoise60 records
- Orca43 records
- Sperm Whale27 records
- Fin Whale25 records
Go see them · Oregon
Whale Watching Depoe Bay Cannon Beach And Tillamook
Discover the Oregon Coast at its very best. This is the only day tour from Portland that goes all the way to the Whale Watching Capital of Oregon...
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Frequently asked questions
Can you see whales in Oregon in September?+
Yes. September accounts for 95 of the 777 verified whales sightings logged in Oregon across the year, which is 12.2% of the annual total.
Is September a good time to see whales in Oregon?+
September is one of the best months. It ranks 3rd of the year and sits inside the peak window of July, August and September.
What month is best for whales in Oregon?+
July is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through July, August and September, based on 777 verified observations.
Which whales are you most likely to see in Oregon?+
The most-recorded species in Oregon are Grey Whale, Humpback Whale and Harbour Porpoise, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See whales in Oregon in other months
More wildlife in Oregon