Channel Islands National Park
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Choosing which island at Channel Islands National Park near Ventura, California, you want to visit first can be challenging. You could explore the sea cliffs, sea caves, and natural bridges of Anacapa Island or hike in the mountains on Santa Cruz Island. Or your first choice might be San Miguel Island, which has some amazing archeological sites.
Since there are no bridges to the park, there is no direct RVing to Channel Islands National Park. The only way to explore this park is by boat, and you cannot bring an RV to any of the islands. However, there are beautiful options for RVing in nearby Ventura. You can find RV rentals near Channel Islands National Park in Ventura, Thousand Oaks, and Fillmore. These areas in southern California also feature some great campgrounds close to the Pacific coast.
Island Packers offers public boats to Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel and Santa Barbara islands. Many trips are only offered three or four times a week from spring to fall. The only way to get around the islands is by boat or on foot. You can find information about current conditions at National Park Service.
The Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center at Channel Islands National Park in Ventura is open daily from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. The outdoor Santa Barbara Visitor Center, which is open from 10:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. daily, also has park information and information on surrounding attractions.
- Spring 52-69 F
- Summer 59-80 F
- Fall 61-79 F
- Winter 52-65 F
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RV Rentals Near Channel Islands National Park
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Channel Islands National Park Hiking Trails
Each of the five islands has unique hiking trails to explore. Follow short hiking trails on Anacapa Island to see the last permanent lighthouse built on the West Coast. Some visitors to Santa Cruz Island follow the Scorpion Valley's flat trails, while others head into the mountains. On Santa Rosa Island, visitors can find flat trails leading to Water Canyon Beach and strenuous trails going up Black Mountain. Park rangers sometimes lead hikes on San Miguel Island, a former bombing range used by the U.S. Navy. Visitors can explore Cuyler Harbor Beach, Nidever Canyon, the Cabrillo Monument, and the Lester Ranch site without accompaniment but must sign a liability release and stay on designated trails. A hike on Santa Barbara Island usually starts with a steep climb up a rugged seaside cliff before leveling off and providing stunning ocean views.
Anacapa Island Trails
Santa Barbara Island Trails
Santa Cruz Island
Santa Rosa Island
Things to do Outside Channel Islands National Park
Most people leave Ventura when going to Channel Islands National Park, and you can find many things to do there. The park's visitor center is in Ventura Harbor Village, an outstanding place to go boutique shopping, dine in waterfront restaurants, and rent a boat. Guests can often catch live shows on the Seaside Promenade Stage. This city has many exciting places to watch shows or listen to live music, including the Rubicon Theatre, NAMBA Performing Art Space, and Bell Arts Factory.
Others start their Channel Island National Park visit in Santa Barbara. The Outdoors Santa Barbara Visitor Center is in the Waterfront of Santa Barbara Harbor. This area is home to the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum and the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center. Stearns Wharf is home to many small businesses. Stop at the Santa Barbara Fish Market to watch chefs buying fresh-caught fish.
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RV Resorts & Campsites near Channel Islands National Park
Each island at Channel Islands National Park has a primitive campground. This means there is no RV parking in Channel Islands National Park. Since no vehicles are allowed on the islands, you must camp in a tent. Many of these campgrounds require carrying your gear up to 1.5 miles and may require you to carry it up steep hills. Camping in the park costs about $15 per night.
There are many choices for campgrounds in Santa Barbara and Ventura. They are the campgrounds near Channel Islands National Park's starting points. El Capitan State Beach has a campground about 20 miles west of Santa Barbara. Visitors can camp on the beach at Point Sal State Beach, which is about 82 miles northwest of Santa Barbara. Located about 132 miles northeast of Ventura, visitors can camp at the El Mirage Recreation Management Area near Adelanto, California. Some options may be free while camping is also allowed at Jawbone/Butterbredt Recreation Management Area, about 150 miles northeast of Santa Barbara. There are also campgrounds in Los Padres National Forest and Angeles National Forest. Some options may be free, while others cost about $40 per night.
Campgrounds Near Channel Islands National Park
Find the Best Dumpstations Near Channel Islands National Park
Dumpstations Near Channel Islands National Park
How to get to Channel Islands National Park
While you can fly into Bechers Bay Airstrip on Santa Rosa Island at Channel Islands National Park, most visitors will fly into the Santa Barbara Airport and book a trip leaving Ventura Harbor with Island Packers. Instead of driving to Channel Islands National Park, you can get to the harbor from the airport, head north to Cook Place and turn right to Burns Place. Then, turn right again on Firestone Road, left on Hartley Place, right on Hollister Avenue and right on Hollister Avenue. Then, turn left on South Fairview Avenue. Take the ramp to get on US 101 South. Drive approximately 36.9 miles and take the Harbor Road Exit. Turn left on Harbor Boulevard and left on Schooner Drive. If you decide to skip Island Packers, you can find options to rent a boat in this area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Channel Islands National Park is 390 square miles or 249,354 acres. Half of the park is underwater, however. The park is comprised of five islands in total, off the coast of Southern California.
The visitor center in Ventura and the visitor contact station in Santa Barbara are wheelchair accessible. However, because of the remoteness of the islands, they are not easily accessible for people with limited mobility.
No, pets are not allowed at Channel Islands National Park. Because of the insular nature of the animals on the islands, animals from other places are not allowed.
Service animals are allowed on the islands if they have undergone a protocol of vaccines, parasite prevention, and a health exam to preserve the island species.
There is a designated campground on each of the five islands at Channel Islands National Park. There are also many RV campgrounds in the nearby towns of Ventura and Santa Barbara since there is no RV camping on the islands.
Some of the top things to do at Channel Islands National Park include whale watching, guided kayak tours, hiking, and fishing in the pristine waters.
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