Mendocino Coast State Parks Hosting Free Whale Festival Events Throughout March
Each March, the Mendocino Coast becomes one of the best places in Northern California to watch gray whales migrate north—and local state parks are hosting a series of free events to celebrate the spectacle.
MendoParks and California State Parks have announced a lineup of family-friendly activities tied to the Mendocino Coast Whale Festival, with programs scheduled throughout the month at several coastal parks. The events will take place at Mendocino Headlands State Park (March 7), Van Damme State Park (March 14), MacKerricher State Park (March 20–21), and Greenwood State Beach (March 28).
Visitors can join guided whale walks along scenic bluffs, attend an evening campfire presentation, and take part in hands-on activities designed to help people better understand the annual gray whale migration. One of the most popular traditions will also return this year—“Painting the Whale Skeleton” at MacKerricher State Park, a favorite activity for kids and families.
Each spring, gray whales travel roughly 12,000 miles from the lagoons of Baja California to feeding grounds in the Bering and Chukchi Seas, passing directly along the Mendocino Coast. The region’s dramatic cliffs and coastal viewpoints make it one of the best places in the state to watch the journey unfold.
Organizers say visitors can also stop by coastal state park visitor centers to pick up a newly redesigned “Whale Watching on the Mendocino Coast” guide.
Many of the events have limited space, so organizers recommend reserving a spot in advance. For schedules and RSVP information, visit mendoparks.org/whale-festival.
