As Oregon students go on spring break this month, the gray whales of the Pacific Ocean will also be out and about, swimming up the coastline toward their summer feeding grounds off the coast of Alaska.

The migration event, dubbed Spring Whale Watch Week by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, will take place between March 23 and 31 this year, coinciding with Oregon schools’ spring break from March 25 to 29.

As thousands of gray whales swim north from their winter breeding grounds near Baja, Mexico – some now with young calves in tow – they’ll pass the Oregon coast, coming close enough to be seen from shore. The first surge of whales comes at the end of March, with others tailing behind as late as June.

The parks department will once again staff trained volunteers at 24 designated whale watching locations all along the coast, there to educate visitors and help spot the migrating whales. Volunteers will be on hand from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on each day of the event.

For those who want a closer look, whale watching tours will operate out of Newport and Garibaldi, as well as Depoe Bay, home of the coast’s official Whale Watching Center, and where outfitters offer tours year-round to see gray whales that have made that area their home.

Spotting gray whales takes patience, and not every trip to the coast will guarantee a sighting, but the experience of seeing the huge, graceful animals in the open ocean is unforgettable. If you’re looking for a good place to see the migrating whales, or need some tips on how to spot them, check out our previous coverage:

How to see whales on the Oregon coast

6 spectacular whale watching spots in Oregon

Whales you can see in the Pacific Northwest, and how to identify them

30 reasons to love the Oregon coast in the winter

--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB