Channel Islands National Park Custom Search Comprised of five in a chain of eight southern California islands near Los Angeles, Channel Islands National Park is home to a wide variety of nationally and internationally significant natural and cultural resources. Over 2,000 species of plants and animals can be found within the park. However only four mammals are endemic to the islands. One hundred and forty-five of these species are unique to the islands and found nowhere else in the world. Marine life ranges from microscopic plankton to the endangered blue whale, the largest animal to live on earth. Archeological and cultural resources span a period of more than 10,000 years. The park consists of 249,354 acres, half of which are under the ocean, and include the islands of San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa, and Santa Barbara. Even though the islands seem tantalizingly close to the densely populated, southern California coast, their isolation has left them relatively undeveloped, making them an exciting place for visitors to explore.    CONTACTS Email - chis_interpretation@nps.gov Fax- 805-658-5799 Write to Channel Islands National Park 1901 Spinnaker Drive Ventura, CA 93001 Phone Visitor Information Recorded Message - 805-658-5730 Headquarters Recorded Message - 805-658-5700 - 805-658-5711 TRAVEL BASICS Operating Hours, Seasons The park is open all year. The Robert J. Lagomarsino visitor center hours are: 8:30 to 5:00. The visitor center is closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Getting There PLANE - Channel Islands Aviation, located at the Camarillo airport, is the park's concessionaire for air travel to Santa Rosa Island. Trips vary from one-day to multi-day camping excursions. For prices, schedules, and reservations, call or write: (805) 987-1301; Channel Islands Aviation, 305 Durley Avenue, Camarillo, California 93010. CAR - Ventura is located 70 miles north of Los Angeles and 30 miles south of Santa Barbara. From the 101 Freeway: northbound, take the Victoria Ave., left onto Victoria, then right onto Olivas Park Drive to Harbor Boulevard, where Olivas Park Drive runs straight into Spinnaker Drive; southbound, take the Seaward exit left onto Harbor Boulevard, than proceed on Harbor to Spinnaker Drive, and turn right. The visitor center is located at the very end of Spinnaker Drive in the Ventura Harbor. Free parking is avaliable at the beach parking lot. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - Island Packers is the park's concessionaire for boat travel departing from Ventura and Channel Islands Harbors to all of the islands. A variety of trips, from half-day to multi-day, are offered. For prices, schedules, and reservations, call or write: (805) 642-1393; Island Packers, 1867 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura, California 93001. http://www.islandpackers.com Truth Aquatics is the park's concessionaire for boat travel departing from Santa Barbara Harbor to all of the islands. A variety of trips, from one to multi-day, are offered. For prices, schedules, and reservations, call or write:(805) 962-1127; Truth Aquatics, 301 West Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara, California, 93101-3886 http://www.truthaquatics.com Weather & Climate Climate is mild, with little variation in temperature year round. However, be prepared for high winds, fog, and sea spray at any time. Visitors to the islands should dress in layers, with short and long pants, windbreaker, hat, sunscreen, and waterproof outer clothing. Wear sturdy hiking shoes with non-slip soles. Accessibility The mainland visitor center is fully accessible. Due to their isolation and transportation requirements, the islands are not readily accessible for individuals in wheelchairs or those with limited mobility. Efforts are underway to provide some wheelchair accessible areas on Santa Rosa Island via air transportation. Please call the park for information. CAMPING Anacapa Island Make Reservations by Phone at 1-800-365-CAMP Open All Year Anacapa has hiking trails, a visitor center, lighthouse exhibits, picnic area and offers opportunities for SCUBA diving, snorkeling, bird watching, and observing marine mammals. The campground is on East Anacapa Island, 1/2 mile from the dock landing, up 154 stairs. There are 7 campsites with a campground capacity of 30 people. San Miguel Island Make Reservations by Phone at 1-800-365-CAMP Open All Year San Miguel has miles of hiking trails, and beaches and offers Ranger-led hikes, marine-mammal observation, beach exploration, and bird watching. The campground is a 1 mile hike uphill from the beach landing and has windbreaks. There are 9 campsites with a total campground capacity of 30 people. Fewer than 200 people per year ever get the experience of camping on San Miguel Island. Santa Barbara Island Make Reservations by Phone at 1-800-365-CAMP Open All Year Santa Barbara has 5 miles of hiking trails, a visitor center, picnic area, and offers opportunities for hiking, bird watching, SCUBA diving, snorkeling, fishing, and marine-mammal observation. The campground is 1/2 mile uphill from the dock landing. There are 8 campsites with a campground capacity of 30 people. Santa Cruz Island, Del Norte Make Reservations by Phone at 1-800-365-CAMP Open All Year A new backcountry campsite has recently opened at Del Norte on the north side of the island. The Del Norte campsite is nestled in a shaded oak grove and provides scenic views of the pristine coastline along Santa Cruz Island. To reach this backcountry site, visitors will follow the historic ranch road trail from Prisoners landing through a series of canyons and ridges, to a vista about 1,500 above sea level. This moderate 3?-mile hike travels through island oak woodlands and coastal sage scrub plant communities. A section of the trail meanders through thick stands of introduced fennel; a species targeted for removal in future restoration efforts planned by the park. An option for hikers is to continue the next day hiking eastward 11 miles and spend the next night at Scorpion campground. Transportation arrangements with the park concessionaires allow for this unique cross island adventure with dropoff or pickups occurring at both Scorpion and Prisoners. The Del Norte campsite has designated sites for four groups; each equipped with a picnic table and nearby access to a pit-style toilet. Water is not available and no fires are permitted. Santa Cruz Island, Scorpion Valley Make Reservations by Phone at 1-800-365-CAMP Open All Year 76% of Santa Cruz Island is owned by the Nature Conservancy. The National Park Service owns the eastern 24%, where visitors may observe wildlife, hike, camp and explore the newest addition to the park. The campground is in Scorpion Valley and has 40 sites and allows 4-6 people per site. The campsites are spread out along the valley floor 1/2 to 1 mile up the flats from the beach landing. Campers may choose between numerous shaded canyon sites. All gear must be carried by campers to the campsites. The campsites are primitive and all provisions must be brought by campers, including food, supplies and fueled campstoves. Potable water is provided at two taps in the lower campground. Due to extreme fire danger on the island the Superintendent has enacted a closure for campfires on East Santa Cruz Island. Enclosed camp stoves are permitted. Pit toilets are provided. Santa Rosa Island Make Reservations by Phone at 1-800-365-CAMP Open All Year Santa Rosa has hiking trails and offers beach exploration, surf fishing, wildlife observation, ranger-led hikes, vehicle tours, and kayak beach- camping. The campground in Water Canyon is 1 1/2 mile miles across the flats from the pier landing, or 1/4 mile from the airstrip. There are 15 campsites with a 50 person campground capacity. The campground has windbreaks, running water (most people bring drinking water) and an invigorating shower. Santa Rosa Island Beach Camping Open All Year Camping on the beaches on Santa Rosa Island is available for experienced kayakers and boaters on a seasonal basis. For More Information on this campground please call 805-658-5711 for permits. FACILITIES Visitor Centers ANACAPA ISLAND Open All Year Location - The facilities on Anacapa overlook the northern channel. Closures - Thanksgiving and Christmas Special Programs - During the summer, park rangers dive into the Landing Cove on East Anacapa with a video camera. Visitors can see, through the eye of the camera, what the diver is seeing by watching video monitors on the dock. Pristine tidepools can be explored. Springtime brings colorful flowers, including the strange tree sunflower, or coreopsis, a plant found only on the Channel Islands and a few isolated areas on the mainland. Exhibits - Visit the museum on the island, which houses the original crystal and brass Fresnel lens from the lighthouse. Available Facilities - Museum, visitor center, lighthouse exhibits, primitive campground, and picnic area. LAGOMARSINO VISITOR CENTER Open All Year Monday - Sunday Phone - (805) 658-5730 Location - 1901 Spinnaker Drive Ventura, California 93001 Closures - Thanksgiving and Christmas. Special Programs - Provides the visitor with interpretive programs, a movie about the park, tide pool display, native plant garden, bookstore and island exhibits. The facility is fully accessible and offers a picnic area overlooking the Ventura Harbor. Every Saturday and Sunday we offer several scheduled programs. Programs include Tidepool Talk at 11:00 a.m., and Recreating at Channel Islands NP at 2:00 p.m. At 3:00 p.m., rangers offer programs that look in depth at a variety of topics about the park. Programs are free to the public. Exhibits - A living tidepool exhibit, three-dimensional models of all the park islands, interactive touch-screen exhibit, a tower with telescopes for viewing the islands, picnic area, a bookstore, and an outdoor native plant garden. Visitors will enjoy the 25-minute park movie, 'A Treasure in the Sea', throughout the day in the auditorium. Every Saturday and Sunday park rangers present free interpretive programs on the natural and cultural resources of the park. Throughout the week, other programs and school visits may be scheduled by calling the visitor center. Available Facilities - Museum, picnic area, and bookstore SANTA BARBARA ISLAND Open All Year Location - The facilities on Santa Barbara look out over the eastern side of the island. Closures - Thanksgiving and Christmas Special Programs - There is an abundance of wildlife on Santa Barbara, primarily sea birds and marine mammals. This is a good area to view the underwater life, in the warmer waters of this southernmost island in the park. Snorkeling in the Landing Cove, visitors can see bright sea stars, spiny sea urchins, and brilliant orange garibaldi. Spring rains bring out the flowering plants, such as the tree sunflower, the endemic Santa Barbara Island live forever, shrubby buckwheat, sea blite, and an annual poppy. Exhibits - There is a visitor contact station/museum on the island, with exhibits, dioramas, and murals of the natural and cultural resources. Available Facilities - Museum, visitor center, primitive campground, and picnic area.   Map Detailed Map Contact Info Phone, Email, Address, GPS coordinates Campgrounds Nearby List of Nearby Campgrounds Weather Local weather forecast These outdoors activities are available near Channel Islands National Park.   Campgrounds Near Channel Islands National Park: Emma Wood State Beach, Ventura, 0 miles away Avenue Trailer Town, Ventura, 1 miles away Ventura Beach RV Resort, Ventura, 2 miles away McGrath State Beach, Ventura, 5 miles away Lake Casitas Recreation Area, Ventura, 8 miles away Camp Comfort Park, Ojai, 8 miles away Evergreen RV Park, Oxnard, 9 miles away   Marinas Near Channel Islands National Park: Ventura West Marina, Ventura , 3 miles away Anacapa Isle Marina, Oxnard , 8 miles away Peninsula Yacht Anchorage, Oxnard , 8 miles away Channel Island Harbor Marina, Oxnard , 8 miles away   Hotels Near Channel Islands National Park: Brant's Motel, Barstow , 1 miles away BEST WESTERN PLUS Inn of Ventura, Ventura , 1 miles away Inn On The Beach, Ventura , 1 miles away Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, Ventura, CA, Ventura , 1 miles away Crowne Plaza VENTURA BEACH, Ventura , 1 miles away Clocktower Inn, Ventura , 1 miles away The Pierpont Inn and Spa, Ventura , 1 miles away   Trails Near Channel Islands National Park: Coyote Trail, Ventura County , 10 miles away, 3.2 hiking miles, 2072 feet elevation difference Cozy Dell Trail, Ventura County , 11 miles away, 1.5 hiking miles, 780 feet elevation difference Foothill Trail, Ventura County , 11 miles away, 1.7 hiking miles, 679 feet elevation difference Pratt Trail, Ventura County , 11 miles away, 5.3 hiking miles, 2337 feet elevation difference Ocean View Trail, Ventura County , 13 miles away,  8.8 hiking miles, 1017 feet elevation difference Horn Canyon Trail, Ventura County , 14 miles away, 2.9 hiking miles, 3157 feet elevation difference Ortega Trail, Ventura County , 14 miles away,  18.2 hiking miles, 1624 feet elevation difference   Beaches Near Channel Islands National Park: Ventura City Beach, Ventura County , 2 miles away South Jetty Beach, Ventura County , 3 miles away Mandalay Beach, Ventura County , 6 miles away Hollywood Beach, Ventura County , 8 miles away Rincon Beach, Ventura County , 8 miles away   Ski Areas Near Channel Islands National Park: Shirley Meadow, California , 96 miles away, 600 foot drop, 3 lifts, 7 runs   Whitewater Near Channel Islands National Park: Sespe Creek, Ventura County , 18 miles away, Class IV-V - 31.5 miles long (Lion Campground to Highway 126 bridge)   Public Lands Near Channel Islands National Park: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Thousand Oaks - CA , 29 miles away San Buenaventura State Beach, California , 1 miles away Emma Wood State Beach, California , 2 miles away McGrath State Beach, California , 4 miles away Mandalay Beach Park, California , 6 miles away   Golf Courses Near Channel Islands National Park: Olivas Park Golf Course, Ventura , 4 miles away Golf Club Commerce, Ventura , 4 miles away Buenaventura Golf Course, Ventura , 6 miles away River Ridge Golf Club, Oxnard , 7 miles away Ojai Valley Inn and Spa Golf Course, Ojai , 9 miles away   Lakes Near Channel Islands National Park Lower Rose Lake, Ventura County , 16 miles away