Channel Islands National Park

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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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Photos: National Park Service

About 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.

Quick Facts

State California
Designation National Park
State Code CA
Weather In general, the islands have a Mediterranean climate year-round. Temperatures are relatively stable, with highs averaging in the mid-60s (°F) and lows in the low-50s. However, there are seasonal differences…

Location & Map

Channel Islands National Park is located in California.

Operating Hours

The park is open 24 hours a day. Services and facilities have separate hours. Please see descriptions of those facilities elsewhere.

Wednesday All Day
Monday All Day
Thursday All Day
Sunday All Day
Tuesday All Day
Friday All Day
Saturday All Day

Activities

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

Getting There

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.

View Official Directions

Contact & Address

Address 1901 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura, CA, 93001
Phone 8056585730
Email chis_information@nps.gov

Topics & Themes

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

Visitor Centers

Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center

The Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center at Channel Islands National Park features a bookstore, a display of marine aquatic life, and exhibits featuring the unique…

Hours: The visitor center is open 8:30 am until 5 pm daily. The visitor center is closed on Thanksgiving and December 25th.

Outdoors Santa Barbara Visitor Center

The small Outdoors Santa Barbara Visitor Center not only has one of the best views of Santa Barbara, but also offers visitors information about Channel…

Hours: Open 10:30 am until 4:30 pm Thursday through Sunday. Closed Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, and the first Friday in September for Fiesta. Also, occasionally closes early for special events.

San Miguel Island Ranger and Visitor Contact Station

The visitor contact and ranger station is only open when staff is present.

Hours: The visitor contact and ranger station is only open when staff is present.

Santa Barbara Island Visitor Center

A small visitor center is located on the island. Features include displays on the natural and cultural resources of the island.

Hours: The visitor center is open 8:30 am until 5 pm daily.

Santa Rosa Island Visitor Contact Station

The historic schoolhouse is now home to this small visitor contact station with exhibits on the ranching history of Santa Rosa Island.

Hours: The visitor contact station is open 8:30 am until 5 pm daily.

Scorpion Ranch Visitor Center on Santa Cruz Island

The small visitor center resides in the historic Scorpion Ranch house which was constructed in 1886-1887.

Hours: The visitor center is open 8:30 am until 5 pm daily.

Visitor Center Anacapa Island

Once the historic Coast Guard general services building (workshop and garage), this Mission Revival style building now serves as a small visitor center that features…

Hours: The visitor center is open 8:30 am until 5 pm daily.

Campgrounds

Anacapa Island Campground

Primitive camping is available (seven sites; $15 per night per site; reservations required). Picnic table, food storage box, and pit toilet are provided. No water…

7 Sites

San Miguel Island Campground

Primitive camping is available (nine sites; $15 per night per site; reservations required). Wind shelter, picnic table, food storage box, and pit toilet are provided.…

9 Sites

Santa Barbara Island Campground

Primitive camping is available (seven sites; $15 per night per site; reservations required). Picnic table, food storage box, and pit toilet are provided. No water…

10 Sites

Santa Cruz Island Del Norte Backcountry Campground

The Santa Cruz Island Del Norte Backcountry Campground is currently the only backcountry campground on Santa Cruz Island. The hike to the campground is 3.5…

4 Sites

Santa Cruz Island Scorpion Canyon Campground

Primitive camping is available (25 individual sites at $15 per night-per site and 6 group sites at $40 per night-per site; reservations required). Picnic table,…

31 Sites

Santa Rosa Island Backcountry Beach Camping

Backcountry camping on Santa Rosa Island is currently limited to certain beaches between August 15th and December 31st. Hiking is along the beach and rugged,…

30 Sites

Santa Rosa Island Campground

Primitive camping is available (15 sites; $15 per night per site; reservations required). Wind shelter, picnic table, food storage box, toilet, and potable water are…

15 Sites

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