Are there Whales in Sitka in August?
Yes! August is an excellent month for whale watching in Sitka, Alaska. Humpback whales are abundant in the waters around Sitka during the summer, and August offers some of the best opportunities to see humpback whales along with a variety of other Southeast Alaska marine wildlife.
August travel has lots of other travel bonuses as well including: some of the warmest temperatures and often calm sea conditions, commercial fisheries are in action making for a glimpse of local life in Sitka, the salmon have begun their annual spawn and the bears are coming to show up consistently along the coastline to feed on the salmon. Overall Sitka in August is a 10/10!
Humpback Whale Fluke on a dive in Sitka, Alaska
What Whales Can You See in Sitka in August?
The humpback whale is the whale you're most likely to see on a Sitka whale watching tour in August. Humpback whales migrate in the spring to the nutrient-rich waters of Southeast Alaska each summer to feed, and many remain in the area throughout August.
You may see humpbacks:
Breaching and surfacing
Feeding at the surface
Traveling in groups
Lunge feeding on schools of fish
Bubble-net feeding, when conditions are right (this behavior is more commonly seen during the spring)
Diving and showing their distinctive tail flukes (did you know tail fluke patterns is how we can identify a Humpback whale?!)
Orcas, or killer whales, can also be seen around Sitka in August. However, they are less predictable than humpback whales. Sightings depend on where pods are traveling and what prey is available. We see both Northern and Southern Resident pods as well as transient Killer whales.
Gray whales are primarily associated with their spring migration through Southeast Alaska, so August is generally not the time to visit Sitka specifically to look for gray whales.
What Other Wildlife Can You See in Sitka in August?
Whales are only part of the experience. Sitka's surrounding waters are home to an incredible variety of marine wildlife.
On a whale watching tour in August, you may also encounter:
Sea otters floating in kelp beds
Steller sea lions
Harbor seals
Dall's porpoises
Bald eagles (this is a great time to see Bald eagles up close as they feed on the spawning salmon as the river’s edge)
Coastal birds
Large schools of fish and spawning salmon jumping
Of course, the exact wildlife you encounter varies from day to day because these are wild animals living in their natural environment.
Is August a Good Time for Whale Watching in Sitka?
Absolutely. August is one of the most popular times to go whale watching in Sitka because humpback whales are actively feeding in Southeast Alaska and the days are long, making it a great time to explore the water.
If you're visiting Sitka on a cruise ship in August, a whale watching tour is one of the best ways to experience the surrounding waters and see Southeast Alaska beyond downtown.
Can You Guarantee Whales in Sitka in August?
No whale watching company can guarantee a whale sighting. Whales are wild animals, and their location and behavior change constantly.
That said, humpback whales are regularly seen around Sitka during Augustand we have seen whales on 100% of our August tours to date. An experienced local captain can use current wildlife activity, weather, tides, and knowledge of the surrounding waters to give you the best possible opportunity for sightings.
Humpback Whale Feeding in Sitka, Alaska
What Makes Sitka Whale Watching Different?
What makes Sitka so extraordinary is the landscape itself—where rugged mountains rise directly from the Pacific Ocean, hundreds of forested islands stretch toward the horizon, and the ancient Tongass National Forest blankets the land in every direction. Sitka is the only community in Southeast Alaska that faces the open Pacific Ocean, while most other communities lie along the sheltered waters of the Inside Passage.
That unique location also makes Sitka one of the best places in Alaska for whale watching. The nutrient-rich waters surrounding our islands attract an incredible abundance of marine life, including humpback whales, orcas, sea otters, Steller sea lions, and more. Here, whale watching isn't just about seeing a whale—it’s about being surrounded by a wild landscape where mountains meet ocean, rainforest meets shoreline, and wildlife is part of the scenery.
It’s a wild, spectacular, and truly magical place we’re lucky to call home—and even luckier to share with you.
If you're visiting Sitka in August and wondering whether you'll see whales, the short answer is yes: August is a great time to get on the water and look for humpback whales and other marine wildlife.