DISCOVER THE ADVENTURE
WHALE WATCHING TRIPS ASHORE

When you think about going whale watching in Northern California, you probably figure there are two, maybe three ways to go about it. And basically, you'd be right: you're going to do whale watching trips ashore (on land), asea (on the ocean), or possibly aloft (in the air).

But you might be surprised to see how many variations you can find within those three choices!

If you need to spend the night or a weekend to get in some whale watching, you'll find the best prices on Northern California hotels at HotelsCombined.

Mendocino Cliffs

And you may find your own whale watching possibilities all up and down the Northern California coast if you keep these few hints in mind:

• Look for a cliff, a headland, or a promentory - the closer to the ocean, the farther it juts out into the ocean, the better!

• Try to find a place that's higher than the ocean - you'll have a better view and you'll be able to see farther out.

• If there are other people around, watch what they're doing - you may get your first sighting via someone else's eagle eye!

For more tips on successful whale watching in California: Whale Watching Tips.

Compare prices on Northern California hotels before you book at HotelsCombined.

Humpbacks Close Up;
(CC) Adam & Tess

Crescent City, CA: Del Norte Coast Redwood State Park offers the Redwood Information Center and Gold Bluffs Beach as excellent sites for your whale watching. There are also hiking trails at Point St. George that offer great views of migrating and resident whales. Crescent City Hotels

Klamath, CA: Redwood National Park, Klamath River Overlook and High Bluff Overlook will give you a good perspective.

Patrick's Point State Park: Located 25 miles north of Eureka, the park has several trails and overlooks that offer great whale watching opportunities. Give the Rim Trail and Wedding Rock a try for spectacular views! Patrick's Point State Park

Trinidad State Beach: A pretty little stretch of beach near the town of Trinidad, there are bluffs and cliffs above the beach that allow a good view of the ocean for "blow" spotting. Trinidad State Beach

Table Bluff in the Eureka/Loleta Area: Table Bluff is a plateau that stands 165 feet above the Pacific Ocean, offering spectacular views out to sea (for whale watching), and also of the Eel River delta and the south portion of Humboldt Bay.

Shelter Cove on the Lost Coast: A small fishing community known for its isolation and incredible beauty, Shelter Cove offers the perfect situation for whale watching as it sits on a promontory that reaches out into the ocean, bringing you closer to where the whales pass!

Sinkyone Wilderness State Park: Another piece of the Lost Coast that offers bluffs and headlands from which to view the Gray whale migration as well as the occasional Blue whale or Humped Back whale. Sinkyone Wilderness State Park

MacKerricher State Park: Located just a couple of miles north of Fort Bragg, there's a headland here that makes this a good Whale Watching Trips Ashore spot - especially during the March MacKerricher Whale Festival. MacKerricher State Park

Fort Bragg: Pick a spot along the coastal cliffs of Fort Bragg, or head out onto the bluffs of the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. During the Fort Bragg Whale Festival in March, there are guided whale walks at the Gardens. Fort Bragg Hotels

Point Cabrillo Light Station: Between Fort Bragg and Mendocino Village, this promontory offers excellent whale viewing along with a little history. Point Cabrillo Light Station

Russian Gulch State Park: The headlands and the blowhole would be worthy of a visit even without the whales! Russian Gulch State Park

Mendocino Headlands State Park: Surrounding Mendocino Village on three sides, whale watching spots don't get much better than this one! Mendocino Headlands State Park; Mendocino Hotels

Humpback's Tail;
(CC) Glenn G

Little River Inn: I know there are many other inns along the Northern California coast where this is possible, but since the Little River Inn in Little River is the first place I ever woke up in the morning, looked out to sea, and spotted a pod of California Gray whale in migration - it will always be My Personal Favorite! Little River Inn

Point Arena Lighthouse: Because it's on a point of land that juts out into the ocean for about 2 miles, this is a great viewing site! Point Arena Lighthouse

Sonoma Coast State Beach: Located near Bodega Bay, this beach area contains the site known as Bodega Head - one of the finest whale watching spots on the northern coast, and the beach is home to a seal rookery. Sonoma Coast State Beach; Bodega Bay Hotels

Point Reyes National Seashore: South of Bodega Bay, Point Reyes (with its lighthouse at its tip) protrudes 10 miles into the Pacific Ocean, making it, probably THE BEST site ashore for getting close to the whales. And there are numerous ranger-led programs offered during the whale migration season. Point Reyes National Seashore

Playful Orcas;
(CC) Erik Ogan

Muir Beach Overlook: Located south of Stinson Beach in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the overlook offers stunning views in all directions. Muir Beach Overlook

Point Bonita Lighthouse: This is an active lighthouse, and it's located on the Marin Headlands, in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area near Sausalito! A really good place for Whale Watching Trips Ashore! Point Bonita Lighthouse

Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park: You'll find this - one of the tallest lighthouses in the United States - between San Francisco and Santa Cruz. And, although the lighthouse is currently closed to visitors, the grounds are open for your enjoyment. Pigeon Point Light Station SHP

Santa Cruz: Various locales around the Santa Cruz area offer opportunities for whale watching from ashore, like Wilder Ranch State Park, West Cliff Drive, and the Opal Cliffs. Santa Cruz Hotels

Point Lobos State Reserve: This is another of My Personal Favorites! Just south of Carmel By the Sea, Point Lobos juts out into the Pacific with hiking trails along the bluffs that offer wonderful views of the Pacific Ocean and the following whales, often just offshore - Gray whales, killer whales (Orcas), humpbacks, and blue whales. Carmel Hotels

Orca Launching;
(CC) Ed Schipul

Big Sur: And last, but certainly not least for Northern California whale watching is the Big Sur area - almost any turnout along the Big Sur coastline will give you the opportunity for excellent Whale Watching Trips Ashore! A really great time to seek out whales along this stretch is during the Gray whales' northern migration (say February or March through April or May) - because they have their babies with them, they swim closer to shore and they swim more slowly! Big Sur Hotels

The bench at the end of Overlook trail at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park offers spectacular views, often very close up, of the Gray Whales.

But Whale Watching Trips Ashore are not the only way to go!

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