Channel Islands National Park consists of five of the eight Channel Islands off the coast of Southern California. This includes Santa Cruz, Anacapa, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara. Catalina and the naval training islands (San Clemente and San Nicolas) are not part of the park. The islands are the volcanic remains from an ancient mountain range. Over 500,000 years ago, earthquakes tore these islands from the Santa Monica Mountains. Now this pristine ecosystem remains above and below the sea, with its eroded peaks rising from the ocean. This is one of the closest national parks to southern California. It’s a 1 to 1.5-hour ferry ride to the islands – escorted by dolphins. Once you arrive, you can explore this rugged wilderness under your own power by hiking, kayaking, or diving.
MUST SEES
Santa Cruz Island
It is the largest of the archipelago and 1.5 hours to the mainland. With beaches, mountains, and canyons, this wilderness is what So-Cal once looked like. It’s home to the island fox, island scrub jay, and one of the world’s largest sea caves.
Potato Harbor
Hike along the bluffs high above Santa Cruz Island. From the viewpoint above Potato Harbor, you’ll have spectacular coastal views of points below. The easy route is 4.5 miles with 522 feet of elevation gain.
Scorpion Anchorage
From a bay in Santa Cruz, you can explore the coast on a kayak. Paddle past sea caves, kelp forests, and cliffs. An experienced guide will help you navigate the coast and provides the kayaking gear.
Anacapa Island
Anacapa is actually a narrow spine of three separate islets with steep high cliffs. This rocky land has 69 species of birds and 265 species of plants. It’s also the closest island, just one hour away from Ventura.
Santa Rosa Island
The second largest island has gentle hills, deep canyons, and a lagoon. While the pygmy mammoth is now extinct, this arrowhead-shaped island is home to the Torrey pine. Torrey pines only live here and on the San Diego coast north of La Jolla.
San Miguel Island
The Chumash once lived 12,000 years on San Miguel. Cabrillo died on this island. The Navy used the island as a bombing target. Over 100,000 seals and sea lions breed on its beaches.
Santa Barbara Island
At one square mile, Santa Barbara is the smallest of the Channel Islands. It is composed of volcanic basalt rock, but it isn’t a volcano.
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