Oregon’s King Tides

Each winter, more than 20,000 gray whales pass by the Oregon Coast on their annual migration south from Alaska to Baja Mexico. You can see them while standing on Pacific City Beach or atop Cape Kiwanda Dune. Oregon State Parks hosts whale watching week during prime winter migration, December 27-31, 2025.

Each winter, more than 20,000 gray whales pass by the Oregon Coast on their annual migration south from Alaska to Baja Mexico. You can see them while standing on Pacific City Beach or atop Cape Kiwanda Dune. Oregon State Parks hosts whale watching week during prime winter migration, December 27-31, 2025.

Plan your trip to Pacific City to coincide with the magnificent King Tides — the highest tides of the year, occurring when the sun and moon align to create stronger gravitational pulls on the Earth’s oceans. Along the Oregon Coast, these dramatic tides typically occur in winter and offer a striking view of the ocean’s power.