The Whale Trail

Our Mission

The Whale Trail's mission is to inspire appreciation and stewardship of orcas, other marine mammals, and the marine environment by identifying a network of viewing sites along the whales' trails through the Salish Sea and along the Pacific Coast. Our goals are to increase awareness, build community, and promote land-based whale watching. Our overarching goal is to recover the endangered southern resident orcas (J, K and L pods) from the threat of extinction.

About The Whale Trail

Founded in 2008, The Whale Trail is a series of sites where people can watch whales from shore. From 16 inaugural locations in Washington state, The Whale Trail has grown to a network of over 150 sites, spanning the west coast from British Columbia to California. Whale Trail sites are in city, county, state, and national parks,  Tribal lands and First Nations. Many of the sites feature interpretive panels so you can learn more about the marine mammals you can see at that location. Watching whales from shore is fun, free, and accessible to all. The Whale Trail is a simple, powerful way to connect people to marine mammals and their environment, without disturbing the animals that are being watched.

Benefits

     The Whale Trail pioneered the concept of shore-based whale-watching as an organized platform for encountering and learning about marine mammals. We spearheaded a cultural shift towards land-based whale-watching, that is now widely practiced.

We reach a broad and diverse group of people through our sites, signs and programs. Our signs help people identify the animals they might be seeing. As important, they tell the story when the animals aren't near. Our signs connect people more deeply to the marine landscape, and spark new curiosities about its inhabitants.

Community Engagement

The  Whale Trail produces innovative programs and tools that bring people together to learn about whales.  We've  hosted a long-running lecture series called Orca Talks, produced transboundary Orca Tours, and played Orca Bingo with hundreds of schoolchildren aboard Washington State Ferries. When whales are near, our volunteers hand out binoculars so people can see the whales, and learn about the wildlife they are watching. We have helped thousands of people watch whales from shore since our founding in 2008, and galvanized participation in their conservation and recovery.

SRKW Recovery 

The Whale Trail has played a leadership role in quieting the seas around the southern resident orcas. Director Donna Sandstrom served as a member of Governor Inslee's Task Force on Orca Recovery, where she championed a licensing program for commercial whale-watching. The recommendation became law in 2019, and was implemented 2021. In 2023 the law was updated based on science showing the harmful impact of noise on foraging. Beginning January 1, 2025 all boaters are required to stay 1000 yards away from the southern residents year-round. Together we have made a tangible difference in the lives of these vulnerable pods. A sea change is underway, against great odds. When the southern resident orcas return to the Salish Sea it is quieter, and they have more acoustic space to forage and rest and tend their young. There are eleven calves under six years old in the population and seven of those are female. The future of the population is here. Whether they survive and thrive into adulthood is up to us.

Your Support Matters

The Whale Trail turned 17 in 2025! We are a small organization with a mighty reach, and proven impact. Here's what we'll do with your support:

• We'll add new viewing sites and signs, and tools that make it easy for people to know where and when to watch whales from shore
• We'll continue to produce programs that bring communities together to learn about whales and how to protect them 
• And we'll continue speaking up for the southern resident orcas and other whales when it matters.

Support The Whale Trail with confidence, knowing that your donation will make a difference.