How to plan your island adventure off the California coast
By Michelle Ibarra
Michelle Ibarra is a former hesitant hiker turned avid national park goer. Growing up as a second-generation immigrant and Cubana in Miami, Michelle writes to help others find the peace and joy of the national park experience that she discovered only after moving to Tucson, Arizona in 2019. She has visited 59 national parks, aims to visit all 63 before she turns 30, and writes avidly about inclusive park experiences.
An island adventure full of wildlife found nowhere else on earth, located a boat ride away from the central California shore? If you’re yearning for an affordable weekend island adventure, look no further than Channel Islands National Park.
Channel Islands National Park is on the ancestral land of the Chumash people, who have lived on the islands and on the southern and central California coast for at least 11 thousand years.
A hidden gem in plain sight
Until stopping in Ventura, California on a road trip up the Pacific Coast Highway, I did not know that Channel Islands National Park existed. As soon as I saw the majestic, gently sloping islands in the distance, I began planning my island adventure for the following March. As a city-girl-turned-national-park-devotee, I’d already learned a few tricks for a perfect and affordable national park trip, but a trip to these isolated yet accessible islands rich with wildlife and culture took a few extra steps that were completely worth the experience.
Channel Islands travel tips
- Book your ferry ride with Island Packers and your campsite in advance.
- Be prepared and bring layers for the windy boat ride and medication for seasickness if you are prone to it.
- Gear up! Review the camping tips and suggested gear list from National Park Service and what the Island Packers ferry will or won’t take. Bring extra food in case of a delayed ferry. You don’t need fancy gear to have a great time.
- Don’t overpack. Be ready to carry any camping gear at least a half mile from the pier to your campsite.
- Secure all bags with food in the island’s “fox boxes" (preferably all bags). The ravens will unzip even foodless bags and double-check for snacks.
- Don’t forget the visitor center located in Ventura’s harbor. It's a beautiful location in walking distance to a lovely beach, perfect for wading and watching ships go by.
- Stop by the park store in the visitor center and shop from a variety of park-approved t-shirts, books, collectibles, and more. Every purchase you make supports Channel Islands National Park.
- Enjoy the harbor. Ventura Harbor Village or Harbor Cove Beach are both within walking distance of the visitor center. Visit Ventura has even more suggestions about having a blast in the city, so be sure to check them out!
- Not looking to camp during your island adventure? Day trip it! Hike, kayak, swim, snorkel…and book a return ferry for the same day.
- Know before you go. Before undertaking any new outdoor adventure in a national park, check nps.gov for the most up-to-date information.
Getting to Channel Islands National Park
The only way to get to the islands is a boat passage with Island Packers or private boat that requires advance booking for both day trips or overnight camping. Like most visitors, I took the 90-minute boat ride to Santa Cruz, the largest island of the five and the one with the most amenities. The other islands are beautiful and certainly worth the trip, but Scorpion Campground on Santa Cruz Island has both running water and pit toilets, so it was the right choice for us.
The waters around the Channel Islands are rich in marine life, and you’re very likely to see some of it along your journey. Both on the way to and from the islands, you’ll witness whales surfacing for air, dolphins splashing through the water, and sea lions swimming around and lounging on buoys. The seas are the choppiest between December to March. While I enjoyed the bumpy boat ride, come prepared if you are prone to seasickness!
Santa Cruz Island highlights
Santa Cruz Island is one of five incredible islands protected in the park.
Stunning hikes
The sunset over Potato Harbor with sounds of the sea lions bellowing down below (5-mile hike). As a shorter alternative, Cavern Point is also stunning and only 2 miles.
Smuggler's Cove
Smuggler’s Cove and the remnants of a shipwreck. The beautiful beach is well worth the 7.5-mile round-trip hike. Just bring plenty of water because it gets hot.
Island foxes
The adorable island foxes. Hours of entertainment await you just watching these small creatures, who were once critically endangered.
Adventure by sea
See some of the world’s largest and most extensive sea caves and snorkel through kelp forests on the kayak tour with Channel Islands Adventure Company.
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The search for the island fox
The island fox evolved from gray foxes from the mainland. They are miniature in size due to the lack of predators and large prey, leaving the foxes looking like pups even when fully grown. They either came to the islands by “rafting” from the mainland or through transport by the Indigenous Chumash people. Due to encroachment by non-native golden eagles and the declining population of bald eagles in the 1990s, these foxes were nearly hunted to extinction. The golden eagles have thankfully been removed and bald eagles reestablished, leading to an astounding rebound of the second smallest fox in the world. Today, Western National Parks and other organizations help fund continuing research and spread awareness to protect their population.
Fox joy
Be prepared for foxes to greet you at your campsite. Plenty of foxes hang around Scorpion Campground trying to eat up any food scraps visitors may drop or leave unsecured. They are adept at getting into food containers (as are the very large ravens), so even without the presence of bears in the area, still make sure all food and scented items are in the food lockers that the park rangers have dubbed “fox boxes.”
A hike to remember
Figuring we would get to see more of the island and more wildlife, we quickly set off to hike Montañon Ridge Loop. The 10-mile trail takes you high up and throughout much of the accessible interior of Santa Cruz Island (76% of the island is owned by the Nature Conservancy, and is therefore off limits to all but the local flora and fauna). We thought the trek would be a breeze, considering we had been training for hiking Rim to Rim in the Grand Canyon, but the intense wind slowed us down, and there were steep, rocky terrain sections that challenged us. The views made the extra effort worth it. Grassy landscapes full of wildflowers danced in the breeze. The ridges were adorned with tunnels of twisted trees that open up to stunning coastal views. Everything was aglow in the afternoon light as we descended the ridge.
Island bliss just 80 miles from Los Angeles
We reached the Potato Harbor viewpoint just in time for sunset. The golden wildflowers bedazzled the grasses as the sound of sea lion bellows from the harbor combined with powerful crashing waves. It felt unbelievable under the beautiful painted skies and wide open vistas that we were only eighty miles away from Los Angeles, the largest metropolitan area on the West Coast. While the island has been a home to the Chumash people for thousands of years, in that moment the trail was the only visible evidence that humans had ever looked upon such raw natural beauty.
Running on (Channel) Island time
With just a little camping gear and planning, you're closer to an island getaway than you think. While it's tempting to pack outdoor adventures with activities, the islands are also perfect for relishing the quiet sounds of nature. We delighted in watching the foxes play at camp and walking to the beach by the pier to look out over the ocean. The lack of cell service made it easy to disconnect and be present with the sound of the winds and the smell of the waves. With islands brimming with natural beauty, heading to the islands with your favorite book or your favorite podcasts downloaded is a must. Hike, kayak, and connect with nature and yourself at this very special national park.
