The Whale Trail

Mission

The Whale Trail is a series of places to watch whales, dolphins and other marine mammals from shore. Our mission is to inspire appreciation and stewardship for marine mammals and their habitat. Our goals are to increase awareness, build community, and promote land-based whale watching. Our overarching goal is to recover the endangered southern resident orcas (J, K and L pods) from the threat of extinction.

Description

The Whale Trail is a series of sites to watch orcas or other marine mammals from shore. From 16 inaugural locations in Washington state, there are now more than 150 spanning the west coast from California to British Columbia. Each site has a page on our website, and many feature interpretive panels. Whale Trail sites are in city, county, state and national parks and Tribal lands. The Whale Trail is headquartered in West Seattle.

Benefits. Watching whales from shore is fun, free, and accessible to all. The Whale Trail is a simple, powerful way to connect people to marine mammals and their habitat without disturbing the animals that are being watched. 

• We reach a broad and diverse general public through our sites, signs and programs. Our signs help people identify the animals they might be seeing. As important, they tell the story when the animals aren't near. Our signs connect people more deeply to the marine landscape, and spark new curiosities about its inhabitants.
• The Whale Trail pioneered the concept of shore-based whale-watching as an organized platform for encountering and learning about marine mammals. We spearheaded a cultural shift towards land-based whale-watching, that is now widely practiced.

Global Model. As the harmful impacts of noise on marine animals and ecosystems has become more clear, communities around the world are looking for new ways to encounter marine wildlife. The Whale Trail serves as a model and consultant for similar efforts around the world.

Community Engagement. The  Whale Trail produces innovative programs and tools that bring people together to learn about whales.  We've  hosted a long-running lecture series called Orca Talks, produced transboundary Orca Tours,  and played Orca Bingo with hundreds of schoolchildren aboard Washington State Ferries.

• When whales are near our volunteers pass out binoculars so people can see them, and learn about the whales they are watching. We have helped thousands of people watch whales from shore since our founding in 2008, and galvanized participation in their conservation and recovery.

Leadership in SRKW Recovery. The Whale Trail has played a leadership role in quieting the seas around the southern resident orcas. Director Donna  served as a member of Governor Inslee's Task Force on Orca Recovery, where she championed a licensing program for commercial whale-watching. The recommendation became law in 2019, and was implemented 2021. In 2023 the law was updated based on science showing the harmful impact of noise on foraging. Beginning January 1 2025 all boaters are required to stay 1000 yards away from the southern residents year-round.

• Together we have made a tangible difference in the lives of these vulnerable pods.  A sea change is underway, against great odds. 
• When the southern residents return to the Salish Sea it is quieter, and they have more acoustic space to forage and rest and tend their young
• Reasons for Hope. There are eleven calves under six years old in the population and seven of those are female. The future of the population is here. Whether they survive and thrive into adulthood is up to us.
• Support The Whale Trail and be part of an organization this is
  

Organization and Leadership. The Whale Trail was founded in 2008 by a core team of partners including NOAA Fisheries, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, WDFW, Seattle Aquarium, and the Whale Museum. Our lead partner in Canada is Ocean Wise. The Whale Trail was founded and is led by Donna Sandstrom, whose background includes 14 years as a team and project manager at Adobe Systems. 

History of Success. The Whale Trail has its roots in a rare conservation success—the rescue and return of the orphaned orca Springer. To get Springer home, we had to learn how to work together. Above all, we put the whale's best interest first. The Whale Trail was founded in that same collaborative spirit.

Your Support Matters. The Whale Trail turned 17 in 2025! We need your help to build resilience and capacity for the years ahead.

• With your support we'll add new sites and signs, and tools that make it easy for people to know where and when to watch whales from shore.
• We'll continue to produce programs that bring communities together to learn about whales and how to protect them.  
• And we'll continue speaking up for the southern residents and other whales when it matters. 

Support The Whale Trail on Giving Tuesday with confidence that your donation will make a  difference. 

• We are a small organization with a mighty reach, and proven impact.