![]() Humpback whales are just one of many cetacean visitors to Channel Islands National Park © Vikki Hunt / Shutterstock San Miguel Their eggs and chicks are safe because Anacapa is naturally predator-free. Wildflowers abound and ground-nesting western gulls greet spring and summer visitors. Anacapaīest for easy day trips with stunning viewsįittingly named Anayapax, meaning 'illusion' or 'mirage' in the language of the Chumash, the island's original inhabitants, Anacapa is actually a three-islet sliver of land lying 11 miles from the mainland. There are normally several boats daily.Ĭamping: Reserve the camping site at Scorpion Canyon well in advance via the NPS this is a popular island and spaces fill up quickly in season. Scorpion is the main landing site and it takes a little over an hour to get here from Ventura. Getting there: There are two landing spots on Santa Cruz: Scorpion and Prisoners Harbor. ![]() Top Tip: Take a water-based excursion to view the painted cave, a sea cave with striking colors created by algae, lichen and different rock types. Look for collections of broken shells lying on the ground away from the ocean for evidence of ancient human activity. The NPS website details the island’s 10,000-year history of human settlement, and there are upwards of 3000 archaeological sites. While distinct subspecies of this charmingly fearless diminutive fox species are found on six of the Channel Islands, the monogamous scrub jay lives only on Santa Cruz. Wildlife spotters may encounter its two best-known inhabitants, the scrub jay and the island fox. With two rugged mountain ranges – including 2450ft Mt Diablo, the park's tallest peak – and a picturesque central valley, plus 77 miles of coastal cliffs and abundant native plant and animal life, it's a beacon for hikers and campers. Santa Cruzīest for active day trips for hiking and kayakingĪt 96 sq miles, Santa Cruz is the largest and most varied of the Channel Islands. Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter. Other ways to reach the islands include private boat charters and multi-day cruises, some focusing on diving in the rich and pristine waters of the national park. Boats run less often to Santa Rosa and San Miguel and there are currently no boats to Santa Barbara (though services may resume once the jetty is repaired). Island Packers runs boat services to the park from Ventura Harbor and nearby Oxnard, and you can take day trips most days to Anacapa and Santa Cruz islands. Make camping reservations with the NPS in advance to secure a spot. Everything has to be packed in and out, including water (unless you are staying at the sites on Santa Cruz or Santa Rosa). Rangers and volunteers run guided hikes timed to meet some, but not all, boat trips – the NPS operates visitor centers in Santa Barbara and Ventura where you can make inquiries.Įach of the islands has a small, primitive campground with pit toilets and not much else. The islands are mostly treeless with little cover from the near-constant winds, but the wildflowers in spring are superb, as is the hiking year-round. The National Park Service (NPS) keeps the human impact on these hilly islands to a bare minimum to preserve their raw and natural character. While the Channel Islands archipelago stretches from Santa Barbara County all the way south to the fringes of San Diego, the five national park islands are more tightly grouped off the shore near Ventura. Here's how to experience each of the eight islands, starting with the five islands protected as the Channel Islands National Park. And while a visit is not as easy as say, a trip to Disneyland, you can have a meaningful experience even on a short day trip from a Southern California harbor. While the island of Santa Catalina is fairly well-known and developed, the other Channel Islands are still wonderfully unspoiled. This is all rather surprising given that the isles lie within sight of one of the most densely populated parts of the US. The eight Channel Islands earn every bit of their 'North America’s Galapagos' nickname – more than 150 endemic species of plants and animals are tucked onto these specks of land scattered across the bay between Santa Barbara and San Diego.įor nearly 13,000 years, these islands have stayed largely aloof from domestication, and even from tourism, with one notable exception. If you fancy camping in serene scenery in front of epic sunsets, look no further than California's Channel Islands. Hovering just off the coast of Southern California are a string of under-explored islands that offer a peaceful escape from the noise and hubbub of the mainland.
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