太平洋沿岸国家公园保护区，温哥华岛，加拿大 Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Vancouver Island, Canada (© EmilyNorton/Getty Images)

太平洋沿岸国家公园保护区，温哥华岛，加拿大 Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Vancouver Island, Canada (© EmilyNorton/Getty Images)

掠海而过 Passing through, making waves

掀起浪花

在加拿大，“太平洋沿岸鲸鱼节”庆祝成千上万头灰鲸每年春季的迁徙盛况——它们沿着岛屿西海岸近岸而行，场面壮观。这项节日由当地社区于20世纪80年代发起，旨在纪念灰鲸从墨西哥下加利福尼亚的繁殖潟湖启程，踏上北返旅程的重要时刻。

随着时间推移，这一节庆已发展为为期数天的系列活动，聚焦海洋教育与负责任的野生动物观赏。每年3月及4月初是观鲸高峰期，灰鲸在北迁途中会沿海岸停歇、觅食。想知道它们要游多远吗？一次完整的往返迁徙通常长达约1万至1.4万英里。

太平洋沿岸国家公园保护区在这段故事中扮演着重要角色。它受海浪冲刷的海岸线和近海水域，正好位于灰鲸迁徙路线之上。灰鲸是这个季节的主角，而随着座头鲸数量恢复，它们的身影也越来越常见。从长滩的观鲸点到宁静的海角，只要耐心——再加上一点运气——游客就有机会收获难忘的观鲸瞬间。

Pacific Rim Whale Festival

Spring break on Vancouver Island looks a little different. In Canada, the Pacific Rim Whale Festival celebrates the annual spring migration of thousands of gray whales as they pass close to the island's west coast. Created by local communities in the 1980s, the festival marks the whales' return north from breeding lagoons in Baja California, Mexico.

Over time, the festival has grown into a multi-day event centered on ocean education and respectful wildlife viewing. March and early April are peak months, as gray whales move north and pause to rest and feed along the coast. Curious how far they go? A full round-trip migration typically spans about 10,000 to 14,000 miles.

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve plays a key role in this story. Its wave-battered shoreline and nearshore waters sit directly along the migration route. Gray whales dominate the season, while humpback whales are increasingly spotted as their populations recover. From Long Beach lookouts to quiet headlands, patience—and a little luck—can reward visitors with unforgettable moments.