The Orca Man's Land-Based Whale Watching Guide

2. Limekiln State Park, SJI

 Address : 1567 West Side Rd, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, United States

This is my happy place. Along the West side of San Juan Island, this lookout is famous amongst whale enthusiasts as it is by an Orca highway where whales have been known to swim less than 10 feet from shore.

Be sure to follow the  Be Whale Wise Guidelines 

Go here when:

• You hear Orcas on the  Limekiln Hydrophone 
• Orcas are going South on the West side from Roche Harbor
• Orcas are going North up the West side from Landbank

3. San Juan County Park, SJI

 Address : 15 San Juan Park Rd, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, United States

This park is an excellent spot to hang out and watch for whales. Great for a picnic, but not to stay much longer.

Be sure to follow the  Be Whale Wise Guidelines 

Go here when:

• You hear Orcas on the  Limekiln Hydrophone 
• Orcas are going South from Roche Harbor
• Orcas are going North up the West side from Landbank or Limekiln

4. Westside Preserve (Land Bank), SJI

 Address : 782 West Side Rd, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, USA

This spot is GORGEOUS when it is nice out and gives a great berth of land to see whales going by.

Travel Tip: When arriving at this location - there will be a car pull-out spot on the side of the ocean. Park there and walk down the trails to get closer to the water.

Be sure to follow the  Be Whale Wise Guidelines 

Go here when:

• You hear Orcas on the  Limekiln Hydrophone 
• Orcas are going South from Limekiln or San Juan County Park
• Orcas are going North up the West side from Cattle Point

5. Cattle Point, SJI

 Address : Cattle Point Light, 5468-6432 Cattle Point Rd, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, United States

This point is a delightful spot on the southernmost tip of the Island. The drive out here is particularly beautiful, with opportunities for sightings. From here, you also have a good shot at seeing some other sea life, like seals.

Be sure to follow the  Be Whale Wise Guidelines 

Go here when:

• Orcas are going South from Friday Harbor
• Orcas are going South East from Landbank

6. Reuben Tarte Park, SJI

 Address : Ruben, Rueben Tarte Rd, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, United States

Great for a picnic, this spot is a little trickier to spot than most. Keep an eye out for a road that veers down, and when you arrive, you are okay to go down the road to the park itself; there is minimal parking, though.

Be sure to follow the  Be Whale Wise Guidelines 

Go here when:

• Orcas are going North from Friday Harbor
• Orcas are going East from Roche Harbor

7. Howe Sound (HS), near Vancouver, Canada

If you're on the mainland in British Columbia near Vancouver, this sound is, by and large, your best bet to see whales. So much so that whale watches out of Nanaimo sometimes travel across the Strait of Georgia to Howe Sound, 60km/37mi, to see whales.

Tools to find whales

 Be Whale Wise Guidelines : This website contains all the information on the regulations for watching whales in BC and Washington State. Ensure you abide by these as you journey to see these magnificent animals.

 Howe Sound/Átl'ka7tsem Cetacean Sightings Facebook Group : Once you join this group, keep a close eye when you are around the area for any new sightings or updates on where the whales might be heading.

 Sunshine Coast Whale and Dolphin Sightings Facebook Group : It is worth keeping up with this Facebook group to get updates on any whales entering the sound or moving around the islands. This group is also particularly useful if you are on the Sunshine Coast... obviously.

 Whale Report App : This link will bring you to an app run by OceanWise where you can report your sightings of whales in BC that can be used to alert ships to their presence!

8. Lighthouse Park, Mainland, HS

 Address : 4902 Beacon Ln, West Vancouver, BC V7W 1K5

If you're close to Vancouver, this is absolutely your best bet to find some whales. Because it is on the mainland, this park is great for a small picnic, enjoying Howe Sound's beauty and looking out over the Strait of Georgia.

Be sure to follow the  Be Whale Wise Guidelines 

Go here when:

• Orcas are going South East from Whitecliff Park
• Orcas are going East from Seymour Landing

Report your sightings on the  Whale Report App 

9. Lions Bay Beach, Mainland, HS

 Address : 60 Lions Bay Avenue, Centre Rd BOX 141, Lions Bay, BC V0N 2E0

This beach is delightful and great for families. There is a playground, a significant grassy area and some picnic tables. It's also just a delightful stop up the sea-to-sky highway.

Travel Tip

Parking: The parking for this spot will be on your left just before you cross the train tracks. And it's FREE! Score.

Be sure to follow the  Be Whale Wise Guidelines 

Go here when:

• Orcas are going North from Eagle Cliff Beach
• Orcas are going South from Porteau Cove

Report your sightings on the  Whale Report App 

10. Porteau Cove Provincial Park, Mainland, HS

 Address : Porteau Cove Provincial Park, off Highway 99, Porteau Cove (British Columbia), BC V7G 1L3

This park is delightful and not a bad place to swim on a hot day. It's also a campground you can reserve, but you'll want to do that a good deal in advance.

Be sure to follow the  Be Whale Wise Guidelines 

Go here when:

• Orcas are going North from Lions Bay

Report your sightings on the  Whale Report App 

11. Cape Roger Curtis, Bowen Island, HS

 Address : 1652 Whitesails Dr, Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G2

Bowen Island is a small island in Howe Sound, not far from Vancouver, where one MAY be able to spot some whales. Bowen is beloved for its idyllic island-village feel, and it's a great place to spend a day or a while if you get the time. It is, however, only accessible by ferry.

Travel Tips

 Ferry : To get to Bowen Island by Ferry, you will depart from  Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal  near Vancouver and arrive in  Snug Cove . You are okay to arrive at this ferry and drive on; they don't have an extensive reservation system, and the boat leaves once an hour.

Be sure to follow the  Be Whale Wise Guidelines 

Go here when:

• Orcas are going West from Alder Cove or Seymour Landing

Report your sightings on the  Whale Report App 

12. Konichi Bay, Bowen Island, HS

 Address : 931 Ocean Park Ln, Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G2

This bay is potentially the most secluded location yet. That said, I wouldn't go here unless you hear of Orcas heading this way, the directions of which you'll find below.

Getting excited to see whales yet?!?

Be sure to follow the  Be Whale Wise Guidelines 

Go here when:

• Orcas are going South from Snug Cove
• Orcas are going East from Cape Roger Curtis

Report your sightings on the  Whale Report App 

13. Eagle Cliff Beach, Bowen Island, HS

 Address : 1441 Eagle Cliff Rd Bowen Island, British Columbia

This beach is also incredibly small; from what I can find, it only has two public parking spots. That said, Orcas were seen off here not long before I'm writing this, so for me, this spot makes the list.

Travel Tips

Parking: When driving down Eagle Cliff road, look for a pull-out on the waterside with two parking spots. If the road has no signs saying otherwise, you can park along it and walk to the entrance point.

Be sure to follow the  Be Whale Wise Guidelines 

Go here when:

• Orcas are going North from Snug Cove
• Orcas are going East from Smugglers Cove

Report your sightings on the  Whale Report App 

14. Gospel Rock, Sunshine Coast, HS

 Address : 819 Gower Point Rd, Gibsons, BC V0N 1V3

This spot is excellent as a pull-off viewpoint where you will get excellent views of Howe Sound, the Georgia Strait and Burrard Inlet.

Travel Tips

 Ferry : To get to the Sunshine Coast by Ferry, you will depart from  Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal  near Vancouver and arrive in Langdale  Snug Cove . You are okay to show up to this ferry and drive on, they don't have an extensive reservation system.

Parking: As you drive down the road, look for small pull-out spots on the waterside. They should have trails to walk down.

Be sure to follow the  Be Whale Wise Guidelines 

Go here when:

• Orcas are going West from Cape Roget Curtis
• Orcas are going East from Bonniebrook Beach

Report your sightings on the  Whale Report App 

15. Bonniebrook Beach, Sunshine Coast, HS

 Address : 1610 Ocean Beach Esplanade, Gibsons, BC V0N 1V5

This beach has a lot more parking than Gospel Rock and looks like a great place to hang out. Orcas tend to hug the coast on their way by here, so you have a solid chance of seeing them close if they're around!

Travel Tips

Parking: Roadside, next to the logs.

Be sure to follow the  Be Whale Wise Guidelines 

Go here when:

• Orcas are going West from Gospel Rock
• Orcas are going East from Davis Bay

Report your sightings on the  Whale Report App 

16. Davis Bay, Sunshine Coast, HS-ish

 Address : 4632 Sunshine Coast Hwy, Sechelt, BC V0N 3A2

This has been a HOTSPOT on the Sunshine Coast Facebook page, and as such, as far as I'm concerned, you've got good chances to see some Orcas here. It also looks like a lovely town.

Be sure to follow the  Be Whale Wise Guidelines 

Go here when:

• Orcas are going West from Robert's Creek Pier
• Orcas are going South from Selma Park

Report your sightings on the  Whale Report App 

17. Puget Sound (PS), inlet by Seattle, USA

If Seattle is your starting point, these locations will be an excellent start to your journey to see Orcas! These locations include spots on Whidbey Island, coastal Seattle, and Port Townsend.

While this list is not comprehensive, you can use Orca Network's sightings map below to better orient yourself with further spots to see whales. This is a preliminary guiding document, after all.

Tools to find whales

 Be Whale Wise Guidelines : This website contains all the information on the regulations for watching whales in BC and Washington State. Ensure you abide by these as you journey to see these magnificent animals.

 Orca Network's Sighting Location Map : This map is a comprehensive list of locations around Puget Sound where you can see whales that may be referenced on the Facebook page.

 Whidbey Island Whale Sightings Facebook Group : Once you join this group, keep a close eye when you are around the area for any new sightings or updates on where the whales might be heading. Join this as an extra tool to Orca Network's page, which is the primary one.

 Port Townsend Hydrophone : There is an underwater microphone at this site operated by Orcasound, which, if you listen closely, may allow you to hear the whales before you see them.

18. Fort Casey, Whidbey Island, PS

 Address : 1276 Engle Rd, Coupeville, WA 98239, United States

This is a bigger park, where you can find views to the Northwest and Southeast. The Fort itself also looks pretty neat to walk around. This is also the closest location to the  Langley Whale Center  if you want to check it out!

Attractions

 Deception Pass Bridge : This island is accessible by land via the Deception Pass Bridge, a whale hotspot in its own right. It also holds a lot of history, as the first Orca ever purchased was transported beneath it on his way to Seattle from Namu, BC.

 Langley Whale Center : Orca Network’s Langley Whale Center celebrates and shares the lives of orcas, gray whales, humpbacks, and other marine mammals of the Salish Sea.

Be sure to follow the  Be Whale Wise Guidelines 

Go here when:

• You hear them on the  Port Townsend Hydrophone 
• Orcas are going South/East from Fort Worden Park
• Orcas are going North from Bush Point

19. Bush Point, Whidbey Island, PS

 Address : 231 E Spyglass Dr, Freeland, WA 98249, USA

This is a smaller point, but highly frequented by the whales. If the Orcas are coming through to or from Puget Sound, this passage is one of the few they would take.

Be sure to follow the  Be Whale Wise Guidelines 

Go here when:

• Orcas are going South/East from Fort Worden Park & Fort Casey

20. Mukilteo Lighthouse Park, PS

 Address : 609 Front St, Mukilteo, WA 98275, United States

A delightful spot, this park has playgrounds, tables, and even restrooms. With a relatively narrow channel, if the Orcas go past this park, you can spot them.

Be sure to follow the  Be Whale Wise Guidelines 

Go here when:

• Orcas are going North from Richmond Beach

21. Richmond Beach Park, PS

 Address : 2021 NW 190th St, Shoreline, WA 98177, United States

Another spot with a playground, tables, and restroom! Closer to Seattle, this park is a solid place to spend some time near the city and a decent chance of seeing Orcas while they're in the sound.

Be sure to follow the  Be Whale Wise Guidelines 

Go here when:

• Orcas are going South from Mukilteo Lighthouse Park
• Orcas are going North from Discovery Park

22. Discovery Park, PS

 Address : 3801 Discovery Park Blvd, Seattle, WA 98199, United States

At the top of Elliot Bay, this park provides a multitude of lookouts on its North and South sides. It's pretty big but does provide ample opportunity to see Orcas as they pass by.

Be sure to follow the  Be Whale Wise Guidelines 

Go here when:

• Orcas are going South from Richmond Beach
• Orcas are going North from Alki Beach
• There is mention of Orcas on the North of Elliott Bay

23. Alki Beach, PS

 Address : Alki Ave SW &, 57th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116, United States

At the bottom of Elliot Bay, this beach is a thin stretch of land with vantage points conducive to seeing whales when they're there, and you are, naturally.

Be sure to follow the  Be Whale Wise Guidelines 

Go here when:

• Orcas are going South from Discovery Park
• There is mention of Orcas on the South of Elliott Bay

24. Fort Worden Historical State Park, PS

 Address : 200 Battery Way E, Port Townsend, WA 98368, United States

This is a large park in Port Townsend, where you have a significant breadth of views facing Whidbey Island and North. With so much space and the Port Townsend hydrophone, this is a great spot to start if you're arriving from the Olympic Peninsula.

Be sure to follow the  Be Whale Wise Guidelines 

Go here when:

• You hear them on the  Port Townsend Hydrophone 
• Orcas are going North/West from Fort Casey
• Orcas are going North from Bush Point

25. Vancouver Island (VI), Canada

This island is the largest in North America, and there are many areas along it where you can see Orcas. For locality, I've highlighted spots around Victoria, Nanaimo, and Campbell River.

At the first spot for each location, you will find all the tools for that locality.

Tools:

 Be Whale Wise Guidelines : This website contains all the information on the regulations for watching whales in BC and Washington State. Ensure you abide by these as you journey to see these magnificent animals.

 Whale Report App : This link will bring you to an app run by OceanWise where you can report your sightings of whales in BC that can be used to alert ships to their presence!

26. Cattle Point, Victoria, VI

 Address : 2895 Beach Dr, Victoria, BC V8R 6K7

My first recommendation on Vancouver Island begins about as South as you can go. For any whale that enters the Strait of Juan de Fuca headed North or any whale making the opposite journey, one can have great hope they'll pass by Cattle Point in Victoria.

Tools to find whales

 Comox Valley Wildlife Sightings messenger group s: This link will bring you to a post by the CVWS Facebook page with direct links to group chats for various areas across the Valley - you'll want to join any of these depending on where you are: Ladysmith to Victoria, Victoria, Salt Spring Island, SGI (Southern Gulf Islands), Sooke.

 Whale Sightings in the San Juan Islands Facebook Group : While this group is for the San Juan Islands, it will provide good insight if the whales are approaching Victoria.

Travel Tips

 Ferry : To get to Victoria by Ferry, you will depart from  Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal  (pronounced tah-WASS-en) near Vancouver and arrive in  Swartz Bay , North of Victoria. Be sure to  RESERVE  your tickets before you go and make sure to be on time or else they will give someone your spot.

 Flying : You can fly into Victoria through the Victoria International Airport,  YYJ , or by Float Plane from Vancouver or Seattle with  Harbor Air  or  Kenmore Air.  If you choose to fly and are trying to see wildlife from land, renting a car in Victoria to follow them is beneficial.

Be sure to follow the  Be Whale Wise Guidelines 

Go here when:

• Orcas are going West from Limekiln
• Orcas are going North from Clover Point Park

Report your sightings on the  Whale Report App 

27. Clover Point Park, Victoria, VI

 Address : 1303 Clover Point, Victoria, BC V8S 1A1

This park has a fantastic view of the Juan de Fuca Strait, where you have the potential to see Orcas from your car! The parking lot wraps around the peninsula, so be prepared to hang out, pick up some binoculars, and keep your eyes peeled!

Be sure to follow the  Be Whale Wise Guidelines 

Go here when:

• Orcas are going West from Limekiln
• Orcas are going South from Cattle Point, Victoria
• Orcas are going East from Race Rocks

Report your sightings on the  Whale Report App 

28. Neck Point Park, Nanaimo, VI

 Address : 1055 Morningside Dr, Nanaimo, BC V9T 1N5

When Orcas are travelling up and down the Strait of Georgia, there's always a good chance they'll make their way by Nanaimo. Neck Point Park provides a great avenue to see them on their journey.

Tools to find whales

 Comox Valley Wildlife Sightings messenger group s: This link will bring you to a post by the CVWS Facebook page with direct links to group chats for various areas across the Valley - you'll want to join the Qualicum to Nanaimo chat for this particular area.

 Nanoose Whale Watch Facebook Group : Once you join this group, keep a close eye on where the whales might be heading when you are around the area for any new sightings or updates.

Travel Tips

 Ferry : To get to Nanaimo by Ferry, you will depart from  Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal  near Vancouver and arrive in  Departure Bay , slightly North of Nanaimo. Be sure to  RESERVE  your tickets before you go and make sure to be on time or else they will give someone your spot.

Be sure to follow the  Be Whale Wise Guidelines 

Go here when:

• Orcas are going South from Fillinger Park and Nanoose Harbor
• Orcas are going North from Piper's Laboon and Gabriola Island

Report your sightings on the  Whale Report App 

29. Piper's Lagoon, Nanaimo, VI

 Address : 3600 Place Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9T 5T7

With its own pull-out parking spaces, this area is just above Departure Bay, where you'll get great views of the Ferries coming in and out of Nanaimo and maybe some whales.

Be sure to follow the  Be Whale Wise Guidelines 

Go here when:

• Orcas are going South from Fillinger Park, Neck Point Park or Nanoose Harbor
• Orcas are going North from Gabriola Island

Report your sightings on the  Whale Report App 

30. Fillinger Waterfront Park, Nanaimo, VI

 Address : 5100 Fillinger Crescent, Nanaimo, BC V9V 1H8

There are a few parks around this area where you can see Orcas, including the  Wellington Pump Station Park  (Entwhistle),  Fillinger Waterfront Park 2  (just East), and  Rocky Point One Park .

Be sure to follow the  Be Whale Wise Guidelines 

Go here when:

• Orcas are going South from Nanoose Harbor
• Orcas are going North from Gabriola Island, Piper's Lagoon, or Neck Point Park

Report your sightings on the  Whale Report App 

31. Campbell River Pier, Campbell River, VI

 Address : 621B Island Hwy, Campbell River, BC V9W 2B9

Further up the coast of Vancouver Island, you'll find Campbell River, where you should be able to spot Orcas fairly close to the city's center. They've been known to be around fairly consistently, so keep your eyes peeled and binos ready!

Tools to find whales

 Comox Valley Wildlife Sightings messenger group s: This link will bring you to a post by the CVWS Facebook page with direct links to group chats for various areas across the Valley - you'll want to join the Discovery Islands, Comox to Campbell River, and Comox chats for a full range of updates about this area.

 Livestream : Keep an eye on this camera while walking around town and checking the Facebook Group. You just want to ensure you move quickly when you see a blow!

Travel Tips

 Ferry : To get to Campbell River, the closest ferry, you will depart from  Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal  near Vancouver and arrive in  Departure Bay , slightly North of Nanaimo. Be sure to  RESERVE  your tickets before you go and make sure to be on time or else they will give someone your spot. Once in Nanaimo, you'll drive North to Campbell River.

Be sure to follow the  Be Whale Wise Guidelines 

Go here when:

• Orcas are going South from Duncan Bay
• Orcas are going North from Ken Forde Park

Report your sightings on the  Whale Report App 

32. Ken Forde Park, Campbell River, VI

 Address : 2603-2625 S Island Hwy, Campbell River, BC V9W 6N6

This spot can be particularly useful, both with its obvious parking and fantastic views, for seeing our favorite species. On the right day, you may even be able to see them long before they're in front of you and far after they've crossed.

Be sure to follow the  Be Whale Wise Guidelines 

Go here when:

• Orcas are going South from Duncan Bay or Campbell River Pier
• Orcas are going North from Oyster River

Report your sightings on the  Whale Report App