A Guide to Seattle Whale Watching Season
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The Pacific Northwest is home to several whales, making whale watching one of the best things to do in Seattle during whale watching season. While the orcas are most often seen in Puget Sound, you can also spot other species such as humpback whales, gray whales, and minke whales throughout Seattle’s waterways almost year-round!
Since moving to Seattle, I’ve gone on a few whale watching tours, and I have a blast every time! My first whale watching tour departed from Edmonds, which is just north of Seattle, and I recently went on one while visiting Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. I highly recommend them to anyone planning to visit during Seattle whale watching season!
Two Orca Whales coming up for air
When is Whale Watching Season in Seattle?
Whale watching season in Washington is from April to October, with peak viewing times being between May and July. As mentioned before, you can spot whales off the coast of Washington and in the Puget Sound throughout the year, but your chances of seeing one of these magnificent creatures are much higher during whale watching season.
During whale watching season, you can find many different types of tours that allow you to get up close and personal with these animals, or you can even try your luck at spotting whales from land! On a tour I took in April, we saw Gray Whales and Minke Whales, and we saw a pod of Orca Whales on another tour out of Friday Harbor in early June. One thing to note is that although October is the end of whale watching season in Washington, the weather can play a big factor in your experience. Offshore storms are common in October, and there’s a chance that your tour could be canceled due to bad weather.
My Favorite Whale Watching Tours Near Seattle
There are tons of whale watching companies throughout the Puget Sound area, and while you’ll most likely have a great experience on any tour, below are some of my favorites.
Departing from Seattle:
Surprisingly, there’s only one tour company that offers whale watching tours that depart from Seattle. Clipper Vacations is part of the FRS Clipper, which is how you can get from Seattle to Victoria, BC. This 3-5 hour tour departs from downtown Seattle’s Pier 69 and is super convenient if you’re visiting Seattle for a short period and want to get out on the water. These tours run from May through October, and they offer a separate Gray whale tour in March & April on the weekends.
If you’re looking for an all-day adventure, I highly recommend considering book the Whale & Wildlife Watching Tour from Evergreen Escapes. This small, local business offers amazing bespoke tours! I’ve been on their Mount Rainier Day Trip from Seattle tour and it was absolutely amazing. Evergreen Escapes offers a variety of tour options departing from Seattle, and they will pick you up right from your hotel - it can’t get any easier when you’re on vacation! Their Whale & Wildlife Tour runs from the end of May through October and will consist of only 4-10 guests. This tour is much more than a classic whale watching tour; you begin your adventure by heading to Deception Pass (one of my favorite places in Washington). Here, you’ll explore the land on foot, have lunch, and then depart for a 3-hour whale watching tour. Your group will head back to Seattle around 6:30pm and you’ll have had possibly one of the best days of your trip!
Departing from Edmonds and the Olympic Peninsula:
Puget Sound Express offers guided tours that leave from Edmonds, Port Townsend, and Port Angeles. Their fleet includes two catamarans that seat 120-150 passengers, and they also have two smaller boats that hold about 40 passengers. In April, you can book their Gray Whale Tour, which is the one I experienced and loved! This tour only lasts 2.5 hours, so it’s great if the idea of being on a boat all day doesn’t sound so pleasant, or if you have smaller children who may need to be entertained more. Puget Sound Express also has half-day tours that last about 4 hours and full-day tours that last about 8 hours. Their boats have an indoor area where you can sit, have lunch or a beverage, and relax in a warmer environment.
Puget Sound Express also offers tours that depart from Port Townsend and Port Angeles. What’s unique about the tour offering out of Port Townsend is that they offer a multi-day tour that only runs in September and October! This 3-day tour consists of spending your days searching for whales and other wildlife in the picturesque San Juan Islands.
Departing from Anacortes and San Juan Island:
Anacortes is about an hour and a half north of Seattle, and is a great departure location since it doesn’t require you to take a ferry over to the San Juan Islands. A great small-boat whale watching tour that departs from Anacortes is a full-day tour with Blue Kingdom Whale and Wildlife Tours. Only a total of 6 passengers can be on this tour, making it the perfect, small, intimate option. You’ll step aboard the semi-covered boat and set out to sea, searching for whales all day long. During this 6.5-hour tour, you’ll make a 2-hour stop at Friday Harbor, where you can grab lunch and walk around the town. I’ve been to Friday Harbor twice, and it’s such a cute little town on San Juan Island - it’s definitely worth visiting! Ferries to the San Juan Islands book up well in advance during the summer months, making it close to impossible to bring your car, so this is a really great option to see whales and get a taste of the island life.
If visiting the San Juan Islands is on your list (and it should be!), the following options are fantastic tours that depart from either San Juan Island or Orcas Island. Keep in mind that ferries book up in the summer months, so be sure to reserve your spot beforehand so that you don’t get stuck waiting at the ferry terminal all day. An easy way to get around this and skip the stress is to not bring a car on the ferry. You can pay for parking at the ferry terminal parking lot and purchase a foot passenger ticket inside the Anacortes ferry terminal at the kiosk. It’s a fraction of the price, and you won’t have to worry about whether you’ll make it on the ferry or not.
Departing from right next to the Friday Harbor ferry terminal is Western Prince Whale Watching & Wildlife Tours. I went on a tour with them in early June and had so much fun! Their tours are run on red Zodiac-style boats, making it feel a little more adventurous. You’ll meet at their office 30 minutes prior to your tour time to suit up, and then you’re off! The team at Western Prince is truly amazing, and they will go out of their way to make sure you see some great wildlife! We ended up going a little further than usual and saw a pod of sleeping Orca Whales just off the coast of Vancouver, BC. It was such a magical experience!
Another unique option on San Juan Island is going on a wildlife kayak tour! I also did this on a recent trip to San Juan Island, and although it was a little strenuous, it was a blast! You can choose from a half-day or full-day kayaking tour, and these tours are limited to only 9 guests. The meeting point is near the ferry terminal in Friday Harbor, and your guide will drive you to the launch site. We experienced the full-day tour, which is complete with lunch, and I would only recommend the full-day tour to those who are more experienced kayakers. Beginner kayakers should opt for the half-day tour. It’s just as enjoyable, but much easier on the arms!
What Types of Whales Can You See Near Seattle?
Gray Whales (spring and fall)
Gray Whales weigh about 40 tons and measure on average 45 feet long, which is about half the size of a football field! Their migration route takes them from Alaska down through Washington State into Baja California where they give birth each year between December and February before returning northward again in late March or April depending on how far south they go during calving season. Gray Whales can be spotted near Seattle at the beginning of whale watching season in April.
Transient Orca Whales (year-round)
Killer whales are some of the most sought out whales to see in the wild and they usually travel in small groups or pods consisting of two to six whales. Transient Orcas can be seen in the Puget Sound year-round and can also be seen from the Southern tip of California all the way to the Arctic Circle. Transient Orcas are apex predators and love hunting for seals and sea lions in the coastal waterways.
Humpback Whales (spring and fall)
Humpback whales are similar in size to the Gray whale & can grow up to 55 feet long and weigh as much as 40 tons. They're known for their acrobatic behavior during mating season and you may even see them breaching or lobtailing (slapping their tails on top of the water). These gentle giants migrate up from California every spring before stopping off at our shores to feed for krill and small fish alongside their young calves.
Minke Whales (spring and fall)
Minke whales are smaller than the above whales, but are another species of baleen whale like the Humpback & Gray whale. These whales can get up to 35 feet long with some weighing over 10 tons, and they also migrate from the Arctic to warmer waters to breed.
Tips for Whale Watching in Seattle
Many tours will take you out to see whales in the Puget Sound. You can find tours that depart from Seattle, Port Townsend, Port Angeles, Edmonds, or the San Juan Islands, and almost all tours guarantee whale sightings during your trip.
Dress in layers! No matter which month your whale watching tour is in, the Pacific Northwest is known for its milder temperatures in the Summer, and the boat ride can get windy. You’ll be inside on most tours as you make your way through the Puget Sound, but you will spend some time outside on the deck when the crew spots a whale.
It is illegal for boaters to approach within 100 yards of a whale (or any other marine mammal) under U.S. law and regulations. Even with this law in place, don’t fret - you will still be able to see the whales and have an incredible experience.
If you’re visiting from out of town, try to book your whale watching tour towards the beginning of your trip so that if you happen not to see any whales on your excursion, you can try again another day. Most tour companies know the best areas in the region to see whales, and that’s why they guarantee that you’ll see a whale on your tour. If you end up not seeing any whales on your tour, they’ll let you join a tour on another day.
Keep your eyes peeled! The crew will constantly be on the lookout for whales, and when they see one, they’ll announce it, and that’s when you can step outside onto the deck to watch the show. Typically, the boat will stay in that area for about 10 minutes so that everyone has a chance to see the whales come up for air and hopefully see the sought-after tail flick!
Whale watching is a popular activity for people of all ages and is truly an experience that you won’t forget. A whale watching tour, whether it be via boat or kayak, is one of the best ways to see these majestic creatures up close. There are many different options available in and around Seattle during whale watching season, and I’m confident you’ll now be able to find the right option for you!
Happy travels!
- Tess
Tess Arnold
Hi! I’m Tess, founder of TravelingTessie.com, and not only do I love to travel, but I love immersing myself in new places and finding off the beaten path experiences wherever I go! I’ve lived in 4 different states & traveled to 13 countries and counting. I believe that tourism is meant to benefit both visitors and locals alike—and I want to bring that idea back into the travel industry by highlighting companies run by locals such as tours, hotels, restaurants, and more. On Traveling Tessie you can find hidden gems in top destinations around the world, travel tips, detailed city guides, and tons of inspiration for your next trip! If you love travel as much as I do, then please join me on this journey! I hope you enjoy my content as much as I enjoy providing it for you!
