Channel Islands National Park, comprised of five of the eight California Channel Islands, is home to a wide variety of nationally and internationally significant natural and cultural resources. Over 2,000 terrestrial plants and animals can be found within the park. One hundred and forty-five of these are found nowhere else in the world. Marine life ranges from microscopic plankton to the endangered blue whale. Archeological and cultural resources span a period of more than 10,000 years. The park consists of 249,353 acres, half of which are under the ocean and include the islands of San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa, and Santa Barbara. Even though the islands seem tantalizingly close to the densely populated, southern California coast, their isolation has left them relatively undeveloped, making them an exciting place for visitors to explore.

Use the menu below to quickly access information on this park:

General Information

Visitation

Annual visitation to the park's mainland visitor center is 120,000. Visitation to the islands and waters is low, with about 30,000 visitors traveling to the islands and another 60,000 who go only into park waters. Although most visitation occurs in the summer, migrating gray whales and spectacular wildflower displays attract visitors in the winter and spring. Autumn is an excellent time to travel to the park, as well as for diving, as the days are usually sunny, with minimal winds and clear ocean water.

Location

The islands within the park extend along the southern California coast from Point Conception near Santa Barbara to just north of Los Angeles. The park headquarters and visitor center are located in the city of Ventura.

Address

Channel Islands National Park
1901 Spinnaker Drive
Ventura, California 93001

Telephone

Visitor Center (805) 658-5730
Business Office (805) 658-5700
Fax (805) 658-5799
Permits (805) 658-5711

Operating Hours, Seasons

The park is open all year. Mainland visitor center hours are: Labor Day through Memorial Day, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends; Memorial Day through Labor Day, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekends. The visitor center is closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Climate, Recommended Clothing

Climate is mild with little variation in temperature year-round. However, be prepared for high winds, fog, and sea spray at any time. Visitors to the islands should dress in layers, with short and long pants, windbreaker, hat, sunscreen, and waterproof outer clothing. Wear sturdy hiking shoes with non-slip soles.

Directions

Ventura is located 70 miles north of Los Angeles and 30 miles south of Santa Barbara. From the 101 Freeway: northbound, take the Victoria exit, left onto Victoria, then right onto Olivas Park Drive through Harbor Boulevard, where Olivas Park Drive runs straight into Spinnaker Drive; southbound, take the Seaward exit left onto Harbor Boulevard, proceed on Harbor to Spinnaker Drive, turn right. The visitor center is located at the very end of Spinnaker Drive in the Ventura Harbor.

Transportation

Ventura is serviced by Amtrak, Greyhound, and airport shuttles from the Santa Barbara and Los Angeles International airports. Oxnard Airport has scheduled commuter service. Island Packers is the park's concessionaire for boat travel departing from Ventura and Channel Islands Harbors to all of the islands. A variety of trips, from half-day to several days, are offered. For prices, schedules and reservations, call or write: (805) 642-1393; Island Packers, 1867 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura, California 93001. Truth Aquatics is the park's concessionaire for boat travel departing from Santa Barbara Harbor to all of the islands. A variety of trips, from one to several days, are offered. For prices, schedules and reservations, call (805) 962-1127, or write, Truth Aquatics, 301 West Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara, California, 93101-3886. Channel Islands Aviation, located at the Camarillo airport, is the park's concessionaire for air travel to Santa Rosa Island. Trips vary from one-day to longer camping excursions. For prices, schedules and reservations, call (805) 987-1301, or write, Channel Islands Aviation, 305 Durley Avenue, Camarillo, California 93010.

Fees & Rates

There are no fees to visit the park and no fees for camping in campgrounds operated by the National Park Service. However, there is a reservation fee of $2.50 per campsite per night.

Golden Eagle Passport

The Golden Eagle Passport is an entrance pass to any national park, monument, historical site, recreation area, and national wildlife refuge that charges an entrance fee. It is a great convenience for those who plan on visiting several different areas that charge special fees. It is valid for one year from the purchase date. A Golden Eagle Passport may be purchased for $50 at any National Park Service entrance fee area or by mail. To order by mail, send check or money order (no cash, please) to:

National Park Service
1100 Ohio Drive, SW
Room 138
Washington, DC 20242
Attention: Golden Eagle Passport

Where entry is by private vehicle, the Golden Eagle Passport will admit the passholder as well as any passengers. Where entry by private vehicle is not possible, the pass will admit the passholder, spouse, children and parents.

The Golden Eagle Passport will not reduce use fees, such as those for camping, swimming, parking, boat launching, or cave tours. It covers entrance fees only.

Golden Age Passport

The Golden Age Passport is a lifetime entrance pass for those United States residents 62 years or older. These may be purchased at any National Park Service entrance fee area for a one-time processing fee of $10. The Golden Age Passport cannot be purchased by mail or telephone. Proof of age and citizenship or permanent residence must be shown at the time of purchase.

The Golden Age Passport will admit the passholder and any passengers in a private vehicle. When entrance is not via private vehicle, the pass will admit the passholder as well as children, spouse, and parents.

The Golden Age Pass grants a 50 percent discount to the holder on any federal use fees charged for things such as camping, swimming, parking, boat launching, or tours. It does not, however, reduce the price of special recreation permit fees or fees for concessions.

Golden Access Passport

The Golden Access Passport is a free entrance pass to any national park, monument, historic site, recreation area, and national wildlife refuge for those who are blind or permanently disabled. The Golden Access passport may be obtained at any National Park Service entrance fee area. Proof of a medically determined disability and eligibility for receiving benefits under federal law is necessary at purchase.

The Golden Access Passport will admit the passholder and any passengers in a private vehicle. Where entrance is not by vehicle, the pass will admit the passholder, spouse, children and parents.

The Golden Access Passport also provides a 50 percent discount on any federal use fees charged for services and facilities. It does not cover special recreation permit fees or fees charged for concessions.

All passes described above are non-transferable.

Facilities & Opportunities

Mainland Visitor Center provides interpretive programs, a movie about the park, tide pool display, native plant garden, bookstore and island exhibits. The facility is fully accessible and offers a picnic area overlooking the Ventura Harbor.

Anacapa Island (699 acres)

Anacapa has hiking trails, a visitor center, lighthouse exhibits, primitive campground, and picnic area and offers opportunities for scuba diving, snorkeling, bird watching, fishing, and observing marine mammals.

Santa Barbara Island (639 acres)

Santa Barbara has hiking trails, a visitor center, picnic area, and primitive campground and offers opportunities for hiking, bird watching, scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, and marine-mammal observation.

San Miguel Island (9,325 acres)

San Miguel has a primitive campground, miles of hiking trails, and beaches and offers Ranger-led hikes, marine-mammal observation, beach exploration, and bird watching.

Santa Rosa Island (52,794 acres)

Santa Rosa has hiking trails and a primitive campground and offers beach exploration, wildlife observation, ranger-led hikes, vehicle tours, and kayak beach-camping.

Santa Cruz Island (60,645 acres)

Ninety percent of Santa Cruz Island is owned by the Nature Conservancy. The National Park Service owns the eastern 10%, where visitors may observe wildlife, hike, camp and explore.

Marine Resources (125,000 acres)

Extending a mile from the islands' shoreline, the park's waters offer a full range of activities including sailing, power boating, fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing, wildlife observation and bird watching.

Mainland Headquarters and Visitor Center

The Mainland Visitor Center features a museum, living tide pool exhibit, three-dimensional models of all the park islands, interactive touch-screen exhibit, a tower with telescopes for viewing the islands, picnic area, a bookstore, and an outdoor native plant garden. Visitors will enjoy the 25-minute park movie, "A Treasure in the Sea," shown throughout the day in the auditorium. Every Saturday and Sunday, park rangers present free interpretive programs on the natural and cultural resources of the park. Throughout the week, other programs and school visits may be scheduled by calling the visitor center. All facilities are fully accessible.

Every Saturday and Sunday, the park offers several scheduled programs. Programs include "Tidepool Talk" at 11 a.m. and "Recreating at Channel Islands National Park" at 2 p.m. At 3 p.m., rangers offer programs that take an in-depth look at a variety of topics about the park. Programs are free to the public.

On Tuesday and Thursday at 2 p.m., experience the Anacapa Island Underwater interpretive program via live broadcast to the visitor center auditorium.

A special exhibit "Isla De Los Vaqueros: The Ranching History of Santa Rosa Island," presented by the Santa Rosa Chapter of the Santa Cruz Foundation, is on display at the visitor center.

Those who cant make it out to the islands can visit the visitors center at Ventura Harbor. The center has hands-on exhibits, a tide pool display, and information on the natural and cultural resources of the five Channel Islands as well as the undersea acres in the National Marine Sanctuary surrounding the park. A breathtaking 360-degree panoramic view of the harbor, islands, Ventura and mountains is available from the third floor. Visitors can experience the underwater world off of Anacapa each Tuesday and Thursday with the national parks underwater video program.

Basic Visit Recommendations

Inform yourself about the park, its features and safety concerns before visiting by contacting the park for brochures and the boat and air concessions for schedules.

Because of the time involved traveling from the mainland to the islands, a full day is recommended to visit the park. Anacapa is a great island for your first visit; it is closest island to the mainland (a 1.5-hour boat ride) and consists of dramatic, steep cliffs, with hundreds of sea birds and marine mammals. Snorkeling, kayaking, and diving are all excellent in the rich kelp beds around Anacapa.

For a longer visit, Santa Rosa is a good destination. Rangers will take you to various parts of the island to explore canyons and beaches.

If you're looking for a wilderness experience, San Miguel, furthest from the mainland, may be your choice. The island is often fog-covered or very windy. Access to many areas on the island is limited due to the fragility of the terrestrial and marine resources.

The islands have no stores, restaurants, or overnight accommodations; you must bring all your own food, water, and camping equipment.

Special Events and Programs

Every Tuesday and Thursday from Memorial Day through Labor Day, rangers conduct a live underwater video program from Anacapa Island. This unique program features an interpretive dive through one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world, the kelp forest. Visitors may view this program, without ever getting their feet wet, from the landing dock at Anacapa Island or the mainland visitor center.

From January through March there's whale watching of the gray whales; June through October the focus shifts to blue and humpback whales.

Adjacent Attractions

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary

UC Davis Species DataBase for Channel Islands National Park

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

For Additional Information

Write:

Superintendent
Channel Islands National Park
1901 Spinnaker Drive
Ventura, California 93001
Call: (805) 658-5730
Email: chis_interpretation@nps.gov

Back To Top

History

Seafaring Indians plied the Santa Barbara Channel in swift seaworthy canoes called tomols. The Chumash, or island people, had villages on the northern islands and traded with the mainland Indians. The southern island of Santa Barbara was home to the Gabrielino people. In 1542, explorer Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo entered the Santa Barbara Channel. Cabrillo, believed to be a Portuguese navigator in service to Spain, was the first European to land on the islands. While on his northbound odyssey of discovery, Cabrillo wintered on an island he called San Lucas (San Miguel or possibly Santa Rosa Island). He died as a result of a fall suffered on that island and is believed to have been buried on one of the Channel Islands, but his grave has never been found. Subsequent explorers include Sebastian Vizcaino, Gaspar de Portola, and English Captain George Vancouver, who in 1793 fixed the present names of the islands on nautical charts. Beginning in the late 1700s and into the 1800s, Russian, British, and American fur traders searched the islands' coves and shorelines for sea otter. Because its fur was highly valued, the otter was hunted almost to extinction. Hunters then concentrated on taking seals and sea lions for their fur and oil. Several of these species faced extinction as well. In the early 1800s the Chumash and Gabrielino people were removed to the mainland missions.

Hunters, settlers, and ranchers soon came to the islands. By the mid-1800s, except for fishermen operating from cove camps, ranching was the economic mainstay. The Santa Cruz Island ranch produced sheep, cattle, honey, olives, and some of the finest early California wines. In the late 1800s, the ranch on Santa Rosa Island was a major supplier of sheep to Santa Barbara and Los Angeles County markets. Anacapa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara Islands also were heavily grazed or cultivated. In the early 1900s the U.S. Lighthouse Service - later the U.S. Coast Guard - came to on Anacapa Island. The U.S. Navy assumed control of San Miguel Island just before World War II. The islands served an important role in southern California's coastal defenses. The military's presence on San Miguel, Santa Rosa, and the other Channel Islands is evident even today.

A series of federal and landowner actions have helped preserve these nationally significant island treasures. Federal efforts began in 1938 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed Santa Barbara and Anacapa islands as Channel Islands National Monument. In 1976, a U.S. Navy and National Park Service agreement allowed supervised visitation of San Miguel Island. In 1978 a conservation partnership between the Nature Conservancy, a national nonprofit conservation organization, and the Santa Cruz Island Company provided for continued protection, research, and educational use of most of privately owned Santa Cruz. Finally, in 1980, Congress designated the four northern islands and Santa Barbara Island and the waters for one nautical mile around each our 40th national park. Later that year, the ocean 6 miles out around each island was designated as a National Marine Sanctuary. Today, Channel Islands National Park is part of the international Man and the Biosphere program to conserve genetic diversity and an environmental baseline for research and monitoring throughout the world.

Back To Top

Reservation Information

There are no fees to visit the park and no fees for camping in campgrounds operated by the National Park Service. However, there is a reservation fee of $2.50 per campsite per night.

Camping reservations for National Park Service campgrounds on San Miguel, Santa Rosa, East Santa Cruz, Anacapa, and Santa Barbara islands are available through Biospherics Inc. at (800) 365-CAMP (2267). You can camp on all islands in the park. Each one is different. The Channel Islands National Park is a wilderness with few amenities. Wind screens are provided on Santa Rosa and San Miguel Islands, fire rings at East Santa Cruz. You will have to pack in everything else you need. Camping on the beaches on Santa Rosa Island is available for experienced kayakers and boaters on a seasonal basis; a permit is necessary. Call (805) 658-5730. A free permit is required of private boaters who hike beyond the ranger station on San Miguel Island. Call (805) 658-5711. Private boaters must get permission to land on Western Santa Cruz Island. Call The Nature Conservancy at (805) 964-7839.

Camping is available year-round on all five islands. No camping is allowed on The Nature Conservancy's western 90 percent of Santa Cruz Island.

Free camping permits are required for all of the campgrounds. Campgrounds are considered full when a permit has been issued for each site or there are 30 campers (50 for Santa Rosa). The campground on eastern Santa Cruz Island has 35 sites with four to six people allowed per site. Camping permits can be obtained no more than six months in advance. Information required for permits include camping dates, transportation information, number of campers, and an emergency contact. After you have reserved transportation to the islands, you may request a permit by calling the Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center at (805) 658-5711 or by writing to Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center, 1901 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura, CA 93001. Permits will be mailed to campers or they can be obtained in person at the visitor center.

Back To Top

Return to National Parks Directory

This content is provided courtesy of Maptech¨.

Perfect for the active explorer, the Maptech National Park Digital Guide is available for sale now.
Click here for more information and online ordering.