Channel Islands National Park


Channel Islands National Park encompasses five remarkable islands and their ocean environment, preserving and protecting a wealth of natural and cultural resources. Isolation over thousands of years has created unique animals, plants, and archeological resources found nowhere else on Earth and helped preserve a place where visitors can experience coastal southern California as it once was.

While the mainland visitor center in Ventura is readily accessible by car or public transportation, the islands are only accessible by park concessionaire boats and planes or private boat. Advanced planning is highly recommended.

  • Astronomy
  • Stargazing
  • Boating
  • Motorized Boating
  • Sailing
  • Boat Tour
  • Camping
  • Backcountry Camping
  • Canoe or Kayak Camping
  • Group Camping
  • Compass and GPS
  • Orienteering
  • Fishing
  • Saltwater Fishing
  • Food
  • Picnicking
  • Guided Tours
  • Self-Guided Tours - Walking
  • Boat Tour
  • Hiking
  • Backcountry Hiking
  • Front-Country Hiking
  • Off-Trail Permitted Hiking
  • Paddling
  • Canoe or Kayak Camping
  • Kayaking
  • Stand Up Paddleboarding
  • Junior Ranger Program
  • SCUBA Diving
  • Snorkeling
  • Surfing
  • Swimming
  • Saltwater Swimming
  • Wildlife Watching
  • Birdwatching
  • Park Film
  • Museum Exhibits
  • Shopping
  • Bookstore and Park Store

  • Architecture and Building
  • Archeology
  • Colonization and Settlement
  • Commerce
  • Trade
  • Explorers and Expeditions
  • Farming and Agriculture
  • Ranches
  • Maritime
  • Coastal Defenses
  • Maritime - Military
  • Lighthouses
  • Piracy and Privateering
  • Ships and Shipwrecks
  • Military
  • US Navy
  • US Coast Guard
  • Monuments and Memorials
  • Native American Heritage
  • Animals
  • Birds
  • Fish
  • Climate Change
  • Coasts, Islands and Atolls
  • Dunes
  • Estuaries and Mangroves
  • Fire
  • Forests and Woodlands
  • Fossils and Paleontology
  • Geology
  • Grasslands
  • Mountains
  • Natural Sounds
  • Night Sky
  • Astronomy
  • Oceans
  • Whales
  • River and Riparian
  • Scenic Views
  • Thickets and Shrublands
  • Trails
  • Unique Species
  • Rare
  • Endangered
  • Watersheds
  • Wetlands
  • Marshes
  • Wilderness

Inspiration Point by Tim Hauf

Steep, rugged ocean cliffs extending in an island chain.

Inspiration Point, Anacapa Island: One of the most spectacular views in the park can be found from Inspiration Point. Looking to the west, one may see Middle and West Anacapa, with Santa Cruz Island in the distance.

Arch Point by Tim Hauf

Yellow flowers in foreground extending out along a rocky coastline to a natural arch.

Arch Point, Santa Barbara Island: With winter rains, the coreopsis emerges from summer's dormancy with light green foliage and bright yellow daisy-like flowers

Torrey Pines by Tim Hauf

Pine tree high on a ridge overlooking a bay with blue water and white sand beach.

Torrey Pines, Santa Rosa Island: Torrey pines occur naturally in only two locations throughout the world--on the cool, fog drenched northeastern slopes of Bechers Bay and just north of San Diego.

Point Bennet by Tim Hauf

Brown seals and sea lions on white sand beach with blue water and partly cloudy sky.

Point Bennet, San Miguel Island: One of the greatest concentrations of wildlife in the world occurs on San Miguel with over 100,000 pinnipeds gathering to breed, pup, and rest.

Island Fox by Tim Hauf

Rust and grey colored fox in green grass.

Island Fox, Santa Cruz Island: Thousands of years of isolation in a unique island environment has resulted in the development of the endemic island fox, a dwarf form of the mainland gray fox.