Seeing a whale while kayaking is an extra special treat. But unless you are very knowledgeable, you are likely to be disappointed if your only purpose for heading out in your kayak for the day is to see whales. While whale watching tours almost always find whales, they also have much faster boats and communicate with other (also much faster) boats that can tip them off with updated information on where whales can be found.

Orca in Monterey Bay

That said, of course it’s possible to find whales in a kayak. Here are a few spots on the West coast you can try out if you’re feeling lucky:

San Juan Islands, WA
The San Juan Islands are known for having orcas, a.k.a. killer whales. You can sometimes spot whales from parks (such as Lime Kiln Point), particularly from higher elevations. If you spend enough time in a kayak in the San Juans, you will definitely probably run into some whales, not to mention tons of other marine mammals and wildlife.

Anacortes to Saddlebag Island, WA
This is only a short crossing of about 2 miles, but it is not impossible to spot pods of harbor porpoises in this area. They are much smaller than other types of whales, and travel in pods. Watch for their dorsal fins arcing out of the water as they swim by.

Tomales Bay, CA
Tomales Bay is a mostly closed off inlet at Point Reyes (north of San Francisco). Sometimes, grey whales enter Tomales Bay to feed. Blue Waters Kayaking is located in Inverness, on the shores of Tomales Bay, and are likely to be the first to know when the grey whales show up.

Moss Landing, CA
Elkhorn Slough, at Moss Landing, is a very popular place for kayakers to see otters, seals, sea lions, and a bazillion species of birds. But outside Elkhorn Slough, in view of the twin smokestacks, is another area where you can potentially spot some whale activity. Do note that the two kayak rental shops here don’t allow you to take their boats outside of Elkhorn Slough. While the slough is typically calm and safe, the open ocean can be much more treacherous in comparison. So don’t take it on unless you are sure of your skills.

Santa Cruz, CA
If you go far enough from shore, you might see some grey whales as they pass by Santa Cruz during their annual migration. The weather here can get pretty dicey too, so if you are unsure, check with the harbormaster at the marina.

Good luck finding those whales! And when your butt is sore from sitting in your kayak all day looking for those elusive cephalopods, just remember that there are always reasonably priced whale watching tours wherever there are whales…

Technorati Tags: kayak, kayaking, whales, whale watching, monterey, san juan islands, lime kiln, washington, california, moss landing, elkhorn slough, saddlebag island, anacortes, harbor porpoises, orcas, grey whales, gray whales, killer whales, santa cruz, whale watching tours, tomales bay, inverness, blue waters kayaking