Whales in Washington in June

Yes, June is one of the best months to see whales in Washington. It is the 2nd busiest month of the year, with 3,845 of the 26,406 sightings logged across the year (14.6%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Orca photographed in WashingtonResident Killer Whale photographed in WashingtonMountain Goat photographed in Washington
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for whales in Washington

14.6%

of yearly sightings

3,845

records in June

#2

busiest month of 12

26,406

verified records a year

May 11.2%, June 14.6%, July 14.6%. Busiest month is July at 14.6%.

Best months: July, June, AugustPeak season right now

26,406 verified observations of whales in Washington, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When whales are recorded in Washington

Peak month

July

3,865 records (14.6% of the year)

Quietest month

December

826 records

MonthObservationsShare
January9893.7%
February1,1114.2%
March1,6046.1%
April2,3628.9%
May2,96611.2%
Junepeak3,84514.6%
Julypeak3,86514.6%
Augustpeak3,27212.4%
September2,2968.7%
October1,9667.4%
November1,3044.9%
December8263.1%

Whales you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Mule Deer15,151
Elk2,994
Orca1,698
Mountain Goat1,413
White-tailed Deer1,223
Moose795
Bighorn Sheep525
Humpback Whale519

In Washington, June carries 14.6% of the year's whales sightings, about 6.3 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 2nd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is rising from May (11.2%) into June, and it heads toward July (14.6%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so June is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The whales most often recorded in Washington are Mule Deer, Elk and Orca. Those counts are annual totals rather than a June split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in June itself.

Which whales you are most likely to see

  • Mule Deer15,151 records
  • Elk2,994 records
  • Orca1,698 records
  • Mountain Goat1,413 records
  • White-tailed Deer1,223 records
  • Moose795 records
Plan your tripEbey's Landing National Historical Reserve

Plan your whale trip in Washington

Start with live tours near Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Frequently asked questions

Can you see whales in Washington in June?+

Yes. June accounts for 3,845 of the 26,406 verified whales sightings logged in Washington across the year, which is 14.6% of the annual total.

Is June a good time to see whales in Washington?+

June is one of the best months. It ranks 2nd of the year and sits inside the peak window of July, June and August.

What month is best for whales in Washington?+

July is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through July, June and August, based on 26,406 verified observations.

Which whales are you most likely to see in Washington?+

The most-recorded species in Washington are Mule Deer, Elk and Orca, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.