Oregon North CoastSeals & Other Flippered Friends

Read on for three great locations to spot some of the most popular sea creatures on Oregon’s North Coast.

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SEASONAL VISITORS

California sea lions migrate to Oregon in late summer and stay through fall, winter and early spring. Harbor seals are year-round residents.

Seaside Aquarium

Come feed the Harbor seals at the Aquarium! Stand in the splash zone as the seals perform tricks in exchange for snacks.

Seal Shenanigans
Pier 39

Along the popular waterfront in Astoria, Pier 39 is a good vantage point to spot wild sea lions sunning themselves. They hang out on the jetty rocks and docks around the East End Mooring Basin. Note: do not attempt to climb onto the rocks or access the docks to get nearer to the sea lions.

Visit Them
Bowline Hotel

Bowline Hotel is set alongside the Columbia River, from its outdoor patio and riverfront rooms you’ll find sea lions congregating on the piers and pilings.

Visit Them
Flippers + Feathers

A bonus for our flippered friends category! Tufted puffins nest on Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach, and these sea birds use their wings as flippers to dive underwater.

Wing Watching

Tips: Baby Seals

Harbor Seals can be found year-round on the Oregon Coast. They have their adorable pups in the spring, with births peaking in mid-May.
It’s common for baby seals to wait on the beach while their mom feeds. If you spot a solitary baby seal on the beach, it’s patiently waiting for its mother to return.
Remember to stay at least 100 yards away, roughly the distance of a city block, from seals and other marine mammals as you explore the Oregon Coast. Disturbing or harassing marine mammals is not only harmful for the animals, it’s also illegal.