Channel Islands
Five wild, boat-access-only islands off the Southern California coast with sea caves and island foxes
- Hours
- Open all year; boat-access only
- Entry
- Free entry
- Reservations
- Required in season
- Size
- About 249,600 acres, roughly half of it ocean
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Channel Islands National Park protects five of the eight California Channel Islands, Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel and Santa Barbara, along with the ocean a nautical mile around each one. Isolation has produced about 150 plants and animals found nowhere else, including the island fox and the island scrub-jay, which earned the islands the nickname the Galapagos of North America. People have lived on the islands for at least 13,000 years, and the Chumash had villages here long before ranchers arrived. The area became a national monument in 1938 and a national park in 1980.
Even though it sits within sight of Ventura and Santa Barbara, Channel Islands is one of the least visited national parks because the only way in is by boat. Most visitors take a day trip to Santa Cruz Island or Anacapa, often spotting dolphins and whales on the crossing. The waters hold kelp forests, sea caves and huge seabird colonies, including the largest breeding colony of California brown pelicans on the West Coast on West Anacapa. There are no stores, hotels or cars on the islands, only trails, primitive campgrounds and wind.
The park and surrounding area
- Park boundary
- Other parks
- Major highway
- Road
- Rivers and lakes
- Town
Plan your trip
- Best time to go
- Spring brings wildflowers and green hills, while late summer and fall offer the calmest seas, the warmest water for snorkeling and kayaking, and good whale watching.
- How long to stay
- A day trip to Santa Cruz or Anacapa shows you the park; camp one or two nights to hike farther and kayak.
- Getting there
- Island Packers boats leave from Ventura Harbor and Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard; Los Angeles (LAX) is about 1 hour 15 minutes from Ventura without traffic, and Santa Barbara (SBA) is about 40 minutes away.
- Wildlife
- Look for island foxes, island scrub-jays, sea lions, harbor seals, dolphins, gray and humpback whales, brown pelicans and western gulls.
Plan and book
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Where to stay
- Hotels in Ventura (opens in a new tab)California
- Hotels in Oxnard (opens in a new tab)California
- Hotels in Santa Barbara (opens in a new tab)California
- No lodging inside the park. The towns above are the closest bases.
Tours and activities
- Guided tours on Viator (opens in a new tab)Day trips, wildlife, photography
- Tours on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)Compare options and reviews
- Campsites on Recreation.gov (opens in a new tab)Official federal booking site
What to pack for Channel Islands
- Windproof jacketThe boat crossing and exposed island bluffs are often cold and windy, even in summer.
- Seasickness remedyThe channel can be rough, especially on the longer trips to the outer islands.
- Daypack with hydrationMost islands have no drinking water, and you carry everything from the boat.
- Wildlife-proof food containerIsland foxes and ravens are clever at raiding packs and campsites.
- Snorkel setThe kelp beds and coves near Scorpion Anchorage are great for snorkeling in late summer and fall.
A first day, start to finish
- Morning boat from Ventura Harbor
- Land at Scorpion Anchorage
- Cavern Point Loop
- Lunch on the bluffs toward Potato Harbor
- Snorkel or kayak near the pier before the boat home
Don't miss
- Scorpion Anchorage, Santa Cruz IslandThe most visited landing in the park, about an hour by boat from Ventura, with a campground, kayak tours and easy hiking right from the pier.
- Cavern Point and Potato HarborFrom Scorpion, a 2-mile loop climbs to Cavern Point for whale watching, and a 5-mile round trip continues along the bluffs to the Potato Harbor overlook.
- Anacapa IslandThe closest island to the mainland, where you climb 157 steps from the dock to a 2-mile trail system with views of Arch Rock and Inspiration Point.
- Painted CaveOne of the largest sea caves in the world, on the north shore of Santa Cruz Island, seen only by boat or kayak.
- Prisoners HarborA quieter Santa Cruz Island landing with a new six-site campground opened in August 2026 and trails into the island's interior.
Know before you go
Do
- Bring all the food and water you need, since nothing is sold on the islands.
- Pack layers and a windbreaker, because the crossing and island bluffs are often cold and windy.
- Stop at the Ventura Harbor visitor center before or after your boat trip.
Don't
- Leave food unattended; island foxes and ravens will get into packs and tents.
- Bring pets, bicycles or plants and soil to any island.
- Count on landing at Anacapa if seas are rough; the captain can call it off.
The park is open all year, but you can only reach the islands on scheduled Island Packers boats or your own boat, and trips are often canceled for wind and high seas. The Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center at Ventura Harbor is open daily 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the Outdoors Santa Barbara Visitor Center is open daily 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; both close on Thanksgiving and December 25. In 2026, part of Santa Rosa Island remains closed after a June wildfire.
Take the boat to Scorpion Anchorage early, hike to Cavern Point first, then spend the afternoon snorkeling or kayaking near the pier before the return trip.Trekker's tip