Summary
$30
Ferry-bundled fee
4 live
Cameras
Historic Crowd Data
Avg. monthly visitors, 2015–2024 · National Park Service
Light
Moderate
Busy
Very Busy
Peak season is June–August, when around 34% of annual visitors arrive. For lighter crowds, aim for December–February.
Plan Your Visit
Ferry & Boat Access2 harbors · $30▾
Primary Departure
Year-Round Service
Ventura Harbor — Island Packers
Official NPS concessioner ferry. Serves Santa Cruz Island & Anacapa Island, the two most-visited islands. Round-trip fares run roughly $63–$100/adult depending on island & season.
💡 The park's $30/adult landing fee is bundled into your ferry ticket price — no separate payment needed.
islandpackers.com ↗
Secondary Departure
Limited Service
Oxnard Harbor — Island Packers
Additional Island Packers departures, typically fewer sailings than Ventura Harbor. Good alternate if Ventura is sold out.
💡 Confirm which harbor your specific trip departs from when booking — Island Packers runs both.
islandpackers.com ↗
Outer Islands
Seasonal / Weather-Limited
Santa Rosa, San Miguel & Santa Barbara Islands
Farther offshore, more exposed crossings. Service is seasonal and often paused entirely in winter due to weather. Reservations are essential.
💡 Always check islandpackers.com for the current schedule before planning a trip to an outer island.
islandpackers.com ↗
Things to Do7 categories▾
Hiking Trails4 islands▾
East Anacapa TrailsEasy
Figure-eight network over gentle bluffs to dramatic overlooks and the historic lighthouse; reached via a 157-step stairway from the landing cove
~2 mi total
Scorpion Valley TrailsSigned · Easy
Maintained, flat, signed trails from the Santa Cruz Island pier through oak-lined Scorpion Canyon
Montañon Ridge BackcountryUnsigned · Strenuous
Unmaintained, rugged, unsigned mountainous paths into Santa Cruz Island's interior highlands
Water Canyon Beach RouteEasy
Relatively flat walk on Santa Rosa Island from the campground out to the long sandy beach
Black MountainModerate–Strenuous
Rugged, mountainous climb on Santa Rosa Island — the only true mountain trek on any of the park's islands
Point Bennett Hike16 mi RT · Ranger-guided · Summer–fall
Ranger-guided-only trek across San Miguel Island to the park's largest pinniped haul-out
Sea Kayaking3 notes▾
Scorpion Beach, Santa Cruz IslandBeginner-friendly
NPS-described "world class" sea kayaking with easy beach access and clear water; guided tours available via Channel Islands Adventure Company
Sea Caves & CliffsGuide recommended
Dramatic sea caves ring the islands, but swell can fill a cave unexpectedly; NPS strongly recommends kayaking with an authorized guide/outfitter
San Miguel & Santa Rosa WatersExperts only
Consistently extreme wind and sea conditions around these outer islands
Snorkeling & Diving3 notes▾
Kelp Forest Diving & SnorkelingBuddy system required
Best around Santa Barbara, Anacapa & eastern Santa Cruz islands; water runs 55–70°F so a wetsuit is recommended
Sea Cave DivingAdvanced
Requires a helmet and extra caution; a dive flag is legally required whenever divers are in the water
Santa Rosa & San Miguel WatersExperts only
Not advised for novice divers or snorkelers due to hazardous wind conditions
Tidepooling4 sites▾
Frenchy's CoveCollecting prohibited
Prime tidepool site on Anacapa Island, near the landing cove
Smuggler's CoveCollecting prohibited
Tidepool area on Santa Cruz Island
Becher's Bay, SE Anchorage & East PointCollecting prohibited
Three tidepool areas on Santa Rosa Island
Eastern Cuyler HarborCollecting prohibited
Tidepool zone on San Miguel Island
Wildlife Viewing3 kinds▾
Whale WatchingGray whales Dec–Mar · Blue/humpback summer
27 cetacean species pass through the Santa Barbara Channel, including gray, blue, humpback & minke whales, orcas & dolphins
Point Bennett Pinniped Haul-OutRanger-guided hike only
Up to 30,000 pinnipeds of five species gather on San Miguel Island — one of the largest haul-outs in the world
Island FoxEndemic · Near threatened
Housecat-sized fox endemic to Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa & San Miguel islands; recovered from near-extinction in the 1990s to a stable population today
Stargazing & Night SkyAmong darkest in US▾
Loading…
Channel Islands has no formal DarkSky International certification, but NPS has documented it as having among the darkest skies of any national park in the contiguous U.S. since monitoring began around 1992 — the surrounding ocean keeps light pollution far lower than most mainland parks. Scorpion Anchorage (Santa Cruz Island campground) is cited as the best on-island stargazing spot. Best on new-moon nights — bring a red flashlight to preserve night vision and dress warm, ocean nights get cold and damp fast. NPS night sky info ↗
Bird WatchingTop 5 species▾
Island Scrub-Jay
Endemic — found only on Santa Cruz Island
Brown Pelican
Nests on Anacapa & Santa Barbara Islands
Peregrine Falcon
Recovery success story on the islands
Black Oystercatcher
Forages the rocky shoreline
Western Gull
Common year-round on all 5 islands
Concession Information1 location▾
Mainland Gateway — Ventura Harbor1 location▾
Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center StoreDaily 8:30am–5pm
Books, maps, apparel & gifts · run by Western National Parks Association
Today's Tides — Santa Barbara StationNOAA live▾
Loading--
Nearest NOAA reference tide station (Santa Barbara, #9411340) — actual island tide times shift slightly by location. Useful for planning tidepooling, a headline activity here; low tide exposes the richest tidepools.
Live Camera Feed
Campgrounds — All Boat-In / Hike-In Only5 areas · $15/night▾
Scorpion Ranch Reservation Only ▾
IslandSanta Cruz Island
Sites~31
WaterPotable water available
Access~0.5 mi walk from pier
NotesLargest & most popular campground in the park
Book on Recreation.gov ↗
Anacapa Island Reservation Only ▾
IslandAnacapa Island
Sites7 · capacity 30
WaterNone — pack in all water
Access157-step stairway from landing cove
NotesNot for anyone with mobility concerns
Book on Recreation.gov ↗
Water Canyon Reservation Only ▾
IslandSanta Rosa Island
WaterPotable water available
AccessNear Water Canyon Beach
NotesWindy island — stake down tents well
Book on Recreation.gov ↗
San Miguel / Cuyler Harbor Reservation Only ▾
IslandSan Miguel Island
Sites9 primitive · capacity 30
WaterNone — pack in all water
Access1-mile uphill hike from the beach
NotesMost remote & weather-exposed campground
Campground details ↗
Santa Barbara Island Reservation Only ▾
IslandSanta Barbara Island
WaterNone — pack in all water
Access~1 mile uphill hike from Landing Cove
NotesSmall campground above the cove; smallest of the 5 islands
Campground details ↗
Landmarks by Island13 stops · 5 islands▾
Anacapa Island3 stops▾
Arch RockViewpoint
Iconic natural sea arch, best seen from the boat
Anacapa LighthouseSelf-guided
Historic lighthouse, still active
Seabird RookerySpring nesting season
One of the largest seabird colonies on the Pacific coast
Santa Cruz Island4 stops▾
Painted CaveTour required
One of the world's largest sea caves — best by kayak/boat tour
Scorpion Canyon~1–2 hrs
Easy canyon trail near the campground & pier
Potato Harbor~2–3 hrs
Moderate coastal bluff hike, dramatic overlook
Devils Peak2,429 ft
Park's highest point
Santa Rosa Island2 stops▾
Torrey Pines GroveSelf-guided
One of only two native Torrey pine groves on Earth
Water Canyon BeachSelf-guided
Long, wide sandy beach near the campground
San Miguel Island2 stops▾
Point BennettRanger-guided hike only
Largest pinniped haul-out concentration in the world
Caliche ForestRanger-guided hike only
Ghostly calcified plant-root cast formations
Santa Barbara Island2 stops▾
Seabird ColoniesSpring nesting season
Smallest island, dense nesting seabird populations
Spring WildflowersFeb–Apr, variable
Vivid island wildflower bloom, weather-dependent
Park Contact Information