If you’re not convinced that California is the best state, then visiting Channel Islands National Park will definitely seal the deal for you. This national park is so stunning with its limestone cliffs, turquoise blue waters, and scenic hiking trails.
It’s located in between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, and can easily be done as a day trip from either place.
I lived in Los Angeles for over 10 years, not ever knowing that Channel Islands National Park was so close! So I wanted to share everything you need to know about Channel Islands National Park before you go.
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Firstly, Channel Islands National Park is comprised of 5 different islands: Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara Islands.
Anacapa and Santa Cruz islands are the most accessible, with year-round ferry service, and have the most to do for a day trip. I went to Scorpion Cove on Santa Cruz island for a day trip and had the best time.
To get to Channel Islands National Park, you’ll need to book your roundtrip boat tickets with Island Packers Cruises. Boats depart from two different harbors: Ventura Harbor and the Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard.
2. Reservations are required to visit
Because of the limited number of ferry spots, reservations are required to visit Channel Islands National Park. However, you don’t need to make a separate reservation with the park – just the boat tickets.
Make sure to make your reservations in advance! Since you have to book both your departure and return trip, spots can fill up quickly if you’re just looking to day trip.
3. You can take just a day trip or camp overnight
Day trips are the more popular option to visit the islands, but you can also choose to camp overnight to really maximize your time in Channel Islands National Park.
Make sure to read through all of the guidelines so you know what to pack and bring with you, and what’s not allowed.
4. Ferries can be canceled due to weather or rough seas
Definitely be aware that in the winter/spring (December – May) you could end up having to spend an extra night or two on the islands due to changing weather conditions.Â
There are bulletin boards on the islands that will be updated with the most up-to-date information regarding island pick-up times.
If you’re camping overnight, make sure you pack extra food and water, as there will not be places on the islands to purchase any.
5. There are no shops or restaurants on the islands
While there are visitor centers that may or may not be staffed, there are no shops, businesses, restaurants, etc on the islands. Whether you’re day tripping or camping overnight, make sure you pack the essentials and bring lots of food and water.
There are local restaurants by the harbors on the mainland that allow you to pre-order a bagged lunch. This is a great option if you don’t want to pack your own picnic lunch. I ordered lunch from Harbor Cove Cafe.
Additionally, there are no trash cans so everything you bring with you to the islands, you must carry back out with you.
6. There are pit toilets on the islands
Santa Rosa Island has flushing toilets and running water, but all the other islands have pit toilets. The good news is, you will be able to the bathroom on whichever island you choose.
7. There is minimal cell coverage
I’ve found this to be common in most US National Parks, but there is not much cell coverage throughout Channel Islands National Park. I did randomly find pockets of cell reception while on the Potato Harbor Trail, but it was slow and unreliable.
I recommend downloading Offline Google Maps or AllTrails before you go so that you’ll be able to access the hiking trails and maps even when you lose cell coverage.
8. There are 30 hiking trails throughout Channel Islands National Park
Although it may seem like the islands are small, there are so many incredible hikes you can go on to explore Channel Islands National Park! The most popular one is Potato Harbor, which you can easily hike on a day trip to Scorpion Cove (Santa Cruz Island).
9. There are barely any shaded or covered areas
This is something to keep in mind when planning your outfit and what to pack for Channel Islands National Park. I found that there were very few shaded areas throughout the island and I had to reapply my sunscreen often.
Definitely make sure you bring a hat, and lots of water to stay hydrated.
10. You can spot lots of native wildlife
Being able to see all of the wildlife is a major reason why you should visit Channel Islands National Park! On our ferry ride over to Scorpion Cove, we saw tons of dolphins swimming around and even a humpback whale.🤯
On the islands themselves, you can spot native wildlife like the island fox, island deer mouse, harvest mouse and spotted skunk. You can also see bald eagles flying around in the sky; although I unfortunately did not see one of these, how cool is that!
Make sure you have your camera ready to snap a pic of the wildlife!
11. Kayaks and snorkel gear are available to rent
On Santa Cruz Island, you can rent a kayak to paddle in the ocean waters at either Scorpion Anchorage or Prisoners Harbor. You may also bring your own kayak out to the islands.
Make sure to reserve a kayak in advance – there’s a limited number each day and the team needs to know how many kayaks to bring out to the island.
Have you ever visited Channel Islands National Park? Let me know if you have any other questions in the comments! And be sure to follow me on Instagram for more California travel content and tips.
mariss