Channel Islands National Park Guide: Islands, Hikes, and More

Channel Islands National Park Guide: What to Do & See

Channel Islands National Park consists of a 5-island chain off the Southern California Coastline. The national park, which is one of the least visited of all the U.S. national parks and the least-visited in California, spreads across 160 miles of ocean—and these islands are only reachable by boat or seaplane. This adds to their rugged mystique, making them a special badge of honor to visit.

The isolation of Channel Islands National Park has left it almost totally undeveloped. The park offers beautiful landscapes, unspoiled nature, and complete tranquility. Come to explore sea caves, glimpse at jutting rock cliffs, and see nature you can’t anywhere else. If you enjoy outdoor recreation and want a quiet place to escape, plan a visit here! But you’ll need to consult a Channel Islands National Park guide like this one before you go to learn the ropes and discover what’s most worth seeing.

I’ll show you things to do, what to see, and where to go to make the most of your visit to Channel Islands National Park below! You can even check out a video from my most recent visit to learn more about planning a trip to the islands. 

I’m sharing everything I know about Channel Islands National Park and what you can do while you’re visiting. I may include affiliate links in this post, so if you click one to make a purchase, you’ll help me earn a small commission at no cost to you. Your support helps me keep this blog running! 

Channel Island National Park Guide: The 5 Islands

Take a closer look at each of the 5 Channel Islands in the national park below. You might find that some of the islands are a better fit for your trip than others, or if you have plenty of time, you may want to see them all! 

1. Santa Cruz Island

• Getting there: Island Packers offers daily ferries year-round
• What to do: Snorkel, scuba, hike, camp, and kayak
• Tip: Keep your eyes peeled for the island foxes

Santa Cruz is the largest of the 5 Channel Islands at over 22 miles in length. Partially owned by the Nature Conservancy, about a third of Santa Cruz is open for the general public to explore. Score!

Located about 2 hours from Ventura, it has a plethora of activities and is open year round. Start your adventure at Scorpion Beach, which offers kayak and snorkeling rentals in the summer. East Santa Cruz Island is also often frequented by dive companies for crystal clear exploration of kelp forests that are rich in anemones, garibaldi, sea hares, urchins, and much more.

Santa Cruz Island also has the longest sea cave in the world. Sign up in advance with one of the outdoor companies, like Santa Barbara Adventure Company, for a great kayak tour of many sea caves around the island.

Hiking is also great on Santa Cruz with many trails to wander. Camping is allowed on the island. Just make sure you pack out what you pack in and leave no trace.

2. Anacapa Island

• Getting there: Reachable by ferry year-round on Island Packers; check schedule for days/times
• What to do: Climb, hike, picnic, snorkeling, swimming, historic sites
• Tip: This is the most-visited and closest island, so “crowds” may be slightly bigger

Anacapa Island offers wild rock cliffs and great ocean views. It sits just 11 miles off the coast of Oxnard, making it the most-visited and closest of the Channel Islands. The ferry ride to get here is a little shorter, making it ideal for a quick day trip!

Anacapa Island has a small Visitors Center inside the old Coast Guard building where you can stop in to learn about the island, get trail maps, and more. There’s a relatively flat 2-mile hiking trail nearby that offers incredible views. You can also visit an old historic lighthouse, have a picnic by the shore, and participate in snorkeling or other water sports while you’re on Anacapa Island. 

3. Santa Rosa Island

• Getting there: Via Island Packers Ferry from Oxnard or Ventura, April-November, 2-4 days/week
• What to do: Explore rugged canyons and hills, see historic homes, hike, and try water sports
• Tip: The journey takes about 3 hours by ferry, so prepare for more time on the water

Santa Rosa Island is rugged and features some really beautiful, diverse terrain. This island has deep canyons and rolling hills, making its topography a bit more interesting. Check out the historic ranch house while you’re on the island, which was once was home to a herd of cattle.

You can walk along Bechers Bay or take a hike along the rugged path to Black Mountain if you’re looking for a fun day hike. The journey to Santa Rosa takes about 3 hours by boat, but you won’t be disappointed after the longer travel time. 

4. Santa Barbara Island

• Getting there: Via Island Packers ferry from spring-fall, 2-4 days/month
• What to do: Encounter marine life by swimming, diving, or snorkeling; hike and climb
• Tip: See the sea lion rookery during Dec-Mar (breeding season)

Santa Barbara Island is one of the greatest islands in Channel Islands National Park for viewing marine life. It’s home to a sea lion rookery! If you can time the visit right, you will see hundreds of sea lions swimming and frolicking in and around the island. December through March is the best time to visit Santa Barbara Island because it’s sea lion breeding season, when lots of pups are playing.

Santa Barbara is also the smallest island in the park, making it easy to explore on foot with hiking. The rocky cliffs make for great photos and you’ll enjoy snorkeling and diving around the island to get up-close to marine life just offshore. 

5. San Miguel Island

• Getting there: Island Packers ferry service from Apr-Nov, 4-8 days/month
• What to do: Wildlife viewing, long hikes, scuba, and snorkeling
• Tip: Long 3-hour ferry ride to reach the island calls for a multi-day trip

Reachable by ferry, San Miguel Island is the final island in our Channel Islands National Park guide. It’s also on the smaller side, but has one of the largest concentrations of wildlife of the entire park with more than 30,000 animals on the island. Be sure to bring your hiking boots and take a 16-mile guided hike around the island to see some of the unique creatures that call the island home!

It does take about 3 hours to reach the island via the Island Packers ferry, but it is an unbeatable experience. I really recommend San Miguel for photographers and anyone interested in longer hikes and wildlife. 

Channel Islands National Park Guide: What Will You Discover?

You can’t go wrong with a trip to any of the Channel Islands—it’s one of the least-visited places in California, and I think you’ll love the wild and totally unspoiled landscapes of this island chain. Whether you decide to sail, cruise, snorkel, scuba dive, or hike, the Channel Islands are a beautiful and remote place to visit when you truly want to get away from it all.

Make sure you time your visit correctly to ensure good ferry access to the islands of your choice. Imagine a day trip or weekend spent nestled among the rugged cliffs, sea lions, and coastal views of Channel Islands National Park! Which Island would you choose on a visit to the Channel Islands National Park? 

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