Boat/plane only
Access
5 islands
Park area
5 areas
Campgrounds
$30
Ferry-bundled fee
Live
Tide data
4 live
Cameras
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 ↗
Concession Information1 location▾
Mainland Gateway — Ventura Harbor1 location▾
Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center StoreBooks, maps, apparel & gifts · run by Western National Parks AssociationDaily 8:30am–5pm
Today's Tides — Santa Barbara StationNOAA live▾
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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 RockIconic natural sea arch, best seen from the boatViewpoint
Anacapa LighthouseHistoric lighthouse, still activeSelf-guided
Seabird RookeryOne of the largest seabird colonies on the Pacific coastSpring nesting season
Santa Cruz Island4 stops▾
Painted CaveOne of the world's largest sea caves — best by kayak/boat tourTour required
Scorpion CanyonEasy canyon trail near the campground & pier~1–2 hrs
Potato HarborModerate coastal bluff hike, dramatic overlook~2–3 hrs
Devils PeakPark's highest point2,429 ft
Santa Rosa Island2 stops▾
Torrey Pines GroveOne of only two native Torrey pine groves on EarthSelf-guided
Water Canyon BeachLong, wide sandy beach near the campgroundSelf-guided
San Miguel Island2 stops▾
Point BennettLargest pinniped haul-out concentration in the worldRanger-guided hike only
Caliche ForestGhostly calcified plant-root cast formationsRanger-guided hike only
Santa Barbara Island2 stops▾
Seabird ColoniesSmallest island, dense nesting seabird populationsSpring nesting season
Spring WildflowersVivid island wildflower bloom, weather-dependentFeb–Apr, variable
Stargazing & Night SkyAmong darkest in US▾
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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 ↗
Park Contact Information