Newport Sea Lions
The Sea Lions of Newport: Nature’s Noisiest Neighbors
Love them or hear them—either way, you’ll never forget them.
If you spend any time near Newport’s Historic Bayfront, chances are you’ll hear the sea lions before you see them. Their distinctive barks echo between the seafood shacks and souvenir shops, leading curious visitors to the docks just below Port Dock One. There, dozens—sometimes hundreds—of California sea lions haul out onto floating pontoons, soaking up the sun and jostling for space.
They’re loud. They’re playful. They’re completely unbothered by human attention.
Sea lions first began gathering in Newport in the early 1980s, and they’ve been a fixture ever since. While some have taken up year-round residence, most head south to California in late spring for their annual breeding season. During the summer months, the docks are often empty—only to fill again in early fall as the colony returns.
Local Tip: Visit in fall, winter, or early spring for the best chance to catch the sea lions in action.
Want to see them from a new perspective? Check out our aerial view below. It’s one of the few chances you’ll get to see the full scope of the colony, all without disturbing their nap time.
Video Credit: Oregon Live
Love them or hear them—either way, you’ll never forget them.
If you spend any time near Newport’s Historic Bayfront, chances are you’ll hear the sea lions before you see them. Their distinctive barks echo between the seafood shacks and souvenir shops, leading curious visitors to the docks just below Port Dock One. There, dozens—sometimes hundreds—of California sea lions haul out onto floating pontoons, soaking up the sun and jostling for space.
They’re loud. They’re playful. They’re completely unbothered by human attention.
Sea lions first began gathering in Newport in the early 1980s, and they’ve been a fixture ever since. While some have taken up year-round residence, most head south to California in late spring for their annual breeding season. During the summer months, the docks are often empty—only to fill again in early fall as the colony returns.
Local Tip: Visit in fall, winter, or early spring for the best chance to catch the sea lions in action.
Want to see them from a new perspective? Check out our aerial view below. It’s one of the few chances you’ll get to see the full scope of the colony, all without disturbing their nap time.
Video Credit: Oregon Live