Channel Islands National Park, close to the California mainland, encompasses five of the eight California Channel Islands (Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel and Santa Barbara). Like the Galapagos Islands of South America, isolation has allowed evolution to proceed independently on the islands. The study of isolated evolution is fascinating.You can't get to this park by car. You must take a plane or ferry to see it. Because of this, it is rarely crowded.
Instructions
Explore Channel Island National Park
1. Cross the channel to Anacapa Island. It seems to change shape in the summer fog or afternoon heat, a mirage. The three islet of Anacapa Island separate from each other and only accessibly by boat. Waves have eroded the volcanic island, creating steep, towering sea cliffs, sea caves, and natural bridges, such as forty-foot-high Arch Rock—the symbol of Anacapa
2. Hike East Anacapa’s 1.5-mile trail. Thousands of birds use Anacapa as a nesting area because of the relative lack of predators. Sometimes you can see fluffy chicks hatch in May and June. You will see sea lions and harbor seals from Cathedral Cove and Pinniped Point overlooks.
3. Kayak, snorkel or dive in the kelp forests. See the tidepool areas to see anemones and starfish. Shell midden sites on the island show that Chumash people camped on the islands thousands of years ago.
4. Boat to Santa Cruz Island for its variety of flora, fauna, and geology. At over 96 square miles, Santa Cruz contains two rugged mountain ranges, deep canyons with year-round springs and 77 miles of coastline cliffs. See the giant sea caves, tidepools and beaches. Don't miss Painted Cave, named because of its colorful rock types. Painted Cave is nearly a quarter-mile long and 100 feet wide, with an entrance ceiling of 160 feet and in the spring a waterfall pours over this entrance.
5. Santa Rosa Island is a hunting preserve run by the former owners a few months of the year, but visitation is welcome throughout the year.Santa Rosa support a diverse array of plant and animal species. Santa Rosa Island also hosts colonies of seabirds, seals, and sea lions.
6. San Miguel island is shaped by the winds and storms from the Pacific Ocean. Visit this harsh but profoundly beautiful environment. Hikers can make an all-day, ranger-guided, 16-mile round-trip hike across the island to Point Bennett will never forget seeing one of the world’s most spectacular wildlife displays—over 30,000 pinnipeds (including up to five different species) hauled out on the point’s beaches at certain times of year.
7. Kayak to Santa Barbara Island. This one-square-mile island offers resting elephant seals, sea lions, blooming yellow flowers and tumbling Xantus’s murrelet chicks. Snorkel to see sea stars, sea urchins and orange garibaldi fish.
8. Take a half-day non-landing boat tour around Anacapa or a half-day, express boat trip to Anacapa or Santa Cruz Islands via Island Packers. During gray whale season (December through April), take a half-day whale watch trip out of Ventura, Oxnard, or Santa Barbara Harbors.
Tags: Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, National Park, Santa Barbara, Anacapa Island, Anacapa Santa
