Whale Watching on the Lost Coast and at Shelter Cove,California is a big activity. The locals and tourist alike go to the headlands, the bluffs and beaches to see the great mammoth beasts that cruise the waters along this California Coast. There are no organized Whale watching services such as guided tours, or charter boats. We have a real vantage point, however, since the land body at Shelter cove protrudes into the ocean and is like standing on a giant peer. In the early summer the California Gray whale moves along the coast close in and can be seen clearly with there young calves by their sides. My first encounter with a whale was from my campsite near the beach. I was having my morning coffee and discussing the up coming day with a friend when I saw, what appeared to be an up turned boat in the surf. When my friend and I stood to get a better look it was a cow whale and her calf. The ocean was calm and the scene was very impressive. On another occasion I was sitting on the beach in a state of meditation viewing the sea, experiencing the foggy morning and gentle breeze, when a huge whale surfaced just beyond the surf line. It surprised me and sent my emotions rushing though me, to the point of bringing tears to my eyes. I could never guarantee that you or your family would see whales as I have. But to see the animal in it's natural state, and witnessing it from this most natural environment is a very spiritual experience.

There are several species of whales that frequent this area. Of course there is the: Whale Watching on the Lost Coast and at Shelter Cove,California is a big activity. The locals and tourist alike go to the headlands, the bluffs and beaches to see the great mammoth beasts that cruise the waters along this California Coast. There are no organized Whale watching services such as guided tours, or charter boats. We have a real vantage point, however, since the land body at Shelter cove protrudes into the ocean and is like standing on a giant peer. In the early summer the California Gray whale moves along the coast close in and can be seen clearly with there young calves by their sides. My first encounter with a whale was from my campsite near the beach. I was having my morning coffee and discussing the up coming day with a friend when I saw, what appeared to be an up turned boat in the surf. When my friend and I stood to get a better look it was a cow whale and her calf. The ocean was calm and the scene was very impressive. On another occasion I was sitting on the beach in a state of meditation viewing the sea, experiencing the foggy morning and gentle breeze, when a huge whale surfaced just beyond the surf line. It surprised me and sent my emotions rushing though me, to the point of bringing tears to my eyes. I could never guarantee that you or your family would see whales as I have. But to see the animal in it's natural state, and witnessing it from this most natural environment is a very spiritual experience. There are several species of whales that frequent this area. Of course there is the:

California Grey Whale

The California Grey whale migrates from as far south as the tip of Baja California Sur in Mexico and points along the Mexican coast including, Bahia de Ballenas, Bahia Magdalena, and the Lagoons near Guerrero Negro to the Bering Straits and points on north to Barrow Alaska. This migration starts in the luxuriantly rich food supplies available in the cold plankton filled waters in the northern reaches of North America and the Upper Asia continents. During the summer months the pods fill on the krill replenish the fat and build the energy levels of the pods for the migration south starting from the north in the late fall. The impregnated females start the migration by leading the organized pods south. Leaving the immature, unattached or rouge males to linger along behind. This helps to account for the long parade of whales that pass along the coast. After their arrival in southern latitudes they bear there new born. Some of the cows may actually give birth as far north as Oregon on the trip south. During the mild Mexican winter they suckle there young and build up their strength for the journey north. Some whales probably never make it all the way south before they are met with the first of the returning whales headed north again this is the main body of the northern migration that is more direct then the southern. The first big group is followed by females and their young calves heading back north along the surf line at times to provide food and protection from predators.

We see this spectacular event at Shelter Cove when in the early spring April thru June the whales arrive right off the rocks with there young. Raising and diving in the surf slowly moving north. Sometimes, as in the case of the mother and calf that I had seen on my first siting, they will stay in the area feeding for a week or two since the food supply is especially good here on the Lost Coast. The migrations as I have mentioned are not neatly defined as all inclusive. Larger and larger numbers of the Grey Whales prefer not to make the entire migration an hang around areas along the way with the body of the estimated 25000 (1996) whales scattered along the route. Some in California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska waters.