The Simpson Reef Interpretive Stop:
Located on Charleston's Cape Arago Highway Loop, you'll find plenty of parking and excellent views of Oregon's largest haul-out of seals and sea lions.

Shell Island:
Part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge, Shell Island hosts Northern Elephant Seals on the rocks in front, Harbor Seals on the island and behind it, and Steller Sea Lions on the pointed rock to its north. The Stellar Sea Lions can also be seen on the rocks north of Simpson Reef and California Sea Lions take over Cape Arago in the fall.

Simpson Beach:
Directly below Shore Acres State Park, a path leads to a secluded cove that provides great whale watching and a different view of Shell Island.

Oregon State Park designated Whale Watching Spoken Here sites dot the Oregon Coast. Thousands of visitors flock to these sites to spot migrating gray whales each winter and spring. We have some of the best sites along the coast, at both Shore Acres State Park and Face Rock Wayside State Scenic Viewpoint. See Gray Whales traveling between Mexico and The Bering Sea. They travel to the warm waters to birth their calves. Although most continue north, around 200 stay along the Oregon Coast to feed.