Channel Islands National Park may be the least-visited national park in the state, but the islands’ remote location has directly influenced the evolution of 150+ endemic plant and animal species, earning the islands the nickname, “Galápagos of North America.”
If you’re willing to make the 1-2 hour ferry ride from Ventura or Oxnard, you’re in for an unforgettable experience—from diving or kayaking through the enormous marine sanctuary to hiking and off-the-grid camping.
Here’s a quick guide to help you make the most of the Channel Islands.
Channel Islands National Park
Channel Islands National Park comprises five of the eight islands in the island chain: Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, Anacapa, and Santa Barbara.
Santa Cruz and Santa Barbara are the largest and most-visited, offering a range of landscapes and features, including sandstone canyons, sea caves, and hiking trails. San Miguel, Anacapa, and Santa Rosa are the smallest islands in the national park.
The three other islands in the island chain are Santa Catalina Island, a popular resort and hiking destination with two small cities; and San Clemente and San Nicolas, which are owned by the military.
Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary protects 1,470 square miles of ocean waters around the Channel Islands. It has over 33 species of marine mammals and thousands of vibrant plant and aquatic species. Visitors love to explore the sanctuary by SCUBA diving, snorkeling, kayaking, boating, and some restricted fishing.
13,000 years of human history
In 1959, archaeologists found human remains on Santa Rosa Island over 13,000 years old, making them the earliest known human remains in North America. The northern islands were home to the Chumash, and the southern islands to the Tongva, with nearly 150 villages throughout the islands showing complex social and religious life.
After Spanish conquest, most island Natives were forced into missions such as Santa Barbara and San Buenaventura.
The ‘Galápagos Of North America’
The Channel Islands’ isolation has fostered unique ecosystems, with over 150 species found nowhere else. Notable examples include the Island Fox, which has six subspecies on six of the islands, as well as the bright-blue Island Scrub Jay, the Island Deer Mouse, the rare Island Spotted Skunk, the endangered Torrey Pine, and the fern-like Santa Cruz Island Ironwood.
Visiting the Channel Islands
In 2024, the Channel Islands saw 262,581 visitors, making it California’s least-visited national park. Most arrive via Island Packers ferries from Ventura or Oxnard, with Santa Cruz and Anacapa just 1–1.5 hours away.
Each island has its own campground, but there are no on-site services other than pit toilets, food lockers, and picnic tables. Visitors must bring all supplies, and water is only available at the Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz sites. There is no cell service, so plan ahead and download maps and ferry schedules.
🌐 Learn more: National Park Service