Off the coast of United States‘ California, eight rocky islands on the Pacific Ocean offer pristine beaches, scenic landscapes and serene silence – a relief from the hustle of the busy Southern California lifestyle. Five of these islands comprise the Channel Islands National Park which, with the surrounding waters, are sanctuary for numerous birds, seals, sea lions, dolphins and whales.
Tip: A visit to the Channel Islands National Park can be combined with a short stop in chic Santa Barbara, famous for its Mediterranean-style houses and historical buildings; or with a longer visit to the city of rich and famous, the Los Angeles.
Planning your visit
Each of the five islands is unique, so choosing which island or islands to visit is not an easy decision and it depends on the season, time availability and your own interests. Visiting the Channel Islands is only possible with authorized boats or charter planes, so you will need to book a tour through one of the agencies in Oxnard or Ventura. There are limited boat trips offered:
- short boat rides (1-hour), ideal for a daytrip, are offered to Anacapa or Santa Cruz islands and are perfect for those visiting the island for a few hours or a whole day;
- longer boat rides (3- or 4-hours) to San Miguel, Santa Rosa or Santa Barbara islands which require you to bring your own camping equipment to overnight there; these are perfect for those who want to experience the islands at a leisurely pace (note that some islands allow camping only as part of organized tours through the concessionaire companies to protect the islands’ wildlife).
To help you decide, here are the main highlights of our favourite islands. Anacapa Island and Santa Cruz Island both make up for a great daytrip, the difference is that the Santa Cruz is much bigger, and offers more hiking opportunities. Anacapa Island, though smaller, makes up with its dramatic coastline. Another must-see island is the rough San Miguel Island – famous for its sea mammal populations. It is the farthest island from the coast and will require overnight camping, but it is well worth it during the pupping season with 6 different seal species claiming different parts of the island (California sea lions, harbour seals, northern elephant seals, northern fur seals, Guadalupe fur seals and Stellar sea lions).
Tip: There are no goods, services, food or water on the island, so bring your own. And make sure you don’t leave anything behind!
Anacapa Island
Being the closest to the coast, Anacapa is the best island to visit for those with limited time. Although hiking options are limited in this small island (only 3 kilometres of trails are on the island), this island offers the most dramatic and picturesque coastline. Here, the visitors will not find any sandy beaches, only steep vertical cliffs inhabited by numerous sea bird species. Beside stunning panoramas over the ocean, you can easily spot seals and sea lions playing in the chilly waters down below.
The best time to visit Anacapa Island is from March to August. During the blooming season, that runs from March to May, the island is dotted with bright yellow flowers. Numerous Western Gulls occupy this island from late April to August – and the end of May or early June is usually ideal to see the hundreds of newborn chicks. However, the mothers are very protective of their babies, so make sure to respect their space and do not stare at them or you will likely pay the (smelly bird poop) price. Ornithophobes should definitely consider visiting other islands during this period!
Leave a Reply