Location: California Map
Area: 249,561 acres
Activities: swimming, diving, whale- watching
Fees and permits
There are no entrance
fees to visit the park. However, a fee is charged for camping on the
islands. The fee includes the National Park Service fee that
supports the operation of the campgrounds and a reservation fee by
the company that manages the reservation system for the National
Parks.
Channel Islands National Park is a group of islands of various sizes just of the coast of Southern California in United States. It covers a total area of 249,561 acres. Its wild life and biosphere are protected by the services of the Channel Islands National Park. Channel Islands National Park also called Northern Archipelago National Park is formed by five of the eight Channel Islands at little distance of the coast of the state of California, in the Pacific Ocean. Although the islands are close to the edge of densely populated southern California, their isolation has left them relatively untapped. Channel Islands National Park covers 100,994 hectares, of which 31,977 hectares are owned by the federal government.The Nature Conservancy owns and manages 76% of Santa Cruz Island, the largest in the park. The Channel Islands National Park is home to a wide variety of important natural and cultural resources. It was named National Monument of the United States on April 26, 1938 and National Reserve of the Biosphere in 1976. Its promotion to national park took place on March 5, 1980.
Camping
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 +1-800-365-2267. Campsites are generally located close to
one another and if the campground is filled to capacity conditions
may be crowded. No trash service is provided and all campers must
pack out their own trash. Be prepared to carry your camping gear
from the landing areas to the campgrounds.
Anacapa Island.
The campground is on East Anacapa Island, 1/2 mile from the dock
landing, up 154 stairs. There are 7 campsites with a campground
capacity of 30 people.
Santa Barbara Island. The campground is
1/2 mile uphill from the dock landing. There are 8 campsites with a
campground capacity of 30 people.
San Miguel Island. The
campground is a 1-mile hike uphill from the beach landing and has
windbreaks. There are 9 campsites with a total campground capacity
of 30 people. Fewer than 200 people per year ever get the experience
of camping on San Miguel Island.
Santa Rosa Island. The
campground in Water Canyon is 1 1/2 mile miles across the flats from
the pier landing, or 1/4 mile from the airstrip. There are 15
campsites with a 50-person campground capacity. The campground has
windbreaks, running water (most people bring drinking water) and an
invigorating shower.
Santa Cruz Island. The campground is in
Scorpion Valley and has 40 sites and allows 4-6 people per site. The
campsites are spread out along the valley floor 1/2 to 1 mile up the
flats from the beach landing.
Backcountry
Camping on the
beaches on Santa Rosa Island is available for experienced kayakers
and boaters on a seasonal basis; a permit is necessary by calling +1
805 658-5730.
The park's islands stretch along the southern coast of
California from Punta Concepción, near Santa Barbara, to San Pedro, a
suburb of Los Angeles. The park headquarters and the Robert J.
Lagomarsino Visitor Center are located in the city of Ventura.
The park is 100,994 hectares in size, half under the ocean, and includes
the islands of:
San Miguel 3,774 hectares.
Santa Rosa 21,365
hectares.
Anacapa 283 hectares.
Santa Barbara 259 hectares.
Santa Cruz 24,542 hectares, 76% owned by The Nature Conservancy, 24%
owned by the National Park Service.
More than 2,000 species of plants and animals can be found within the park. However only three mammalian species are endemic, one of which is the deer mouse known to carry the unnamed hantavirus. The spotted skunk and the island fox are endemic, as is the Sceloporus occidentalis becki among the reptiles. Aphelocoma insularis, harbor seals, California sea lions, Xantusia riveriana, barn owls, kestrels can also be found in the park. Americans, Horned Larks, Warbling Moorish and California Brown Pelicans. One hundred forty-five of these species are island-specific and are not found anywhere else in the world. Marine life ranges from microscopic plankton to the blue whale, the largest animal to ever live on Earth and still endangered. The cultural and archaeological remains extend over a period of more than 10,000 years.
Annual visits to the park's main visitor center exceed 300,000 a year. The number of visits to the islands and their waters is low, some 30,000 visitors arriving on the islands and another 60,000 staying in the park's waters. Although the influx of visitors is greater in summer, the migration of gray whales and the spectacular flowering of plants attract visitors in winter and spring. Fall is an excellent time to travel to the park or snorkel nearby thanks to the many sunny days, little wind, and very clear ocean waters. Camping is a popular activity on Santa Cruz Island, where visitors disembark at Prisoners Harbor on the north shore and stay in the inland valley. On April 6, 2009, a new visitor center opened at Scorpion Ranch in Santa Cruz.
Channel Islands National Park offers a wide variety of recreational activities. Kayaking through the sea caves is one of the most popular. Camping on your own or in authorized sites, hiking, scuba diving or spear fishing are some of the most outstanding activities available to visitors. The park is famous for the complexity, beauty and quantity of its sea caves. Thanks to the sea conditions and the availability of ferries, Scorpion Anchorage, on Santa Cruz Island, is the most visited area of the park by occasional or camping visitors. Due to its unique ecosystem quality, inexperienced visitors are advised to use caution when walking through the park due to the changing state of the ocean. Various companies are authorized to offer guide and escort services in the national park.