Channel Islands National Park

I mean, how could you not love this place! We went to Santa Cruz Island (like most people do). We were able to hike and did sea kayaking during our time. So few people are in the island at any given time. You get to be in a remote place “alone”. There are bathrooms and drinking water that are extremely nice. You do have to pack out all your trash and bring 100% of your food with you. The weather is extremely pleasant. We went in mid-August and it was only a high of 70 degrees. It’s very sunny with not a lot of shade so dress appropriately for that. Visiting the island does take planning though. You need to make sure there is a ferry boat ride out and back in the day you would like to visit. If you have the opportunity to visit, highly recommend because of its unique experience of being “stuck” on a deserted island in the middle of the ocean for the day.

This is a hidden gem. It was a good adventure! Starting with the ferry ride across and then the remote feel to the camping. There was limited cell service so it was all interpersonal connections like nature should be. Keep your stuff packed up well the critters on this island are smart. A small lock for the tent better yet put anything scented in the boxes provided at the campsite. The hikes have epic views and sunsets. Go grab some adventure!

A very unique national park experience. We went on the painted cave tour that was offered by Island Packer cruises. They take you out to the Painted Cave the 4th largest sea cave in the world then drop you off at Santa Cruz Island for a few hours of hiking and exploring the national park. You will get to enjoy some of the rarest animals in North America and the world such as the island fox and California scrub Jay. Found only on the channel Islands.

What a beautiful, neat experience! To get to the islands, you need to take a boat out or book a ferry ride with Island Packers. We were able to get a reservation for the same day (late planning), and although there wasn’t many tours available, we got a reservation for Scorpion Cove on Santa Cruz Island. It was $70 per person for a round trip ticket. The boat road was worth the cost. We saw TONS of humpback whales, gray whales, and dolphins. 3 humpback were hanging right by the boat for a bit, we got lots of videos of that! The views from the hikes on the island were beautiful. Saw some gray foxes there as well. Highly recommend taking the trip out. You can camp on the island overnight.

Backpacked across Santa Cruz Island in Dec 2024. One of the best short backpacking trips out there! You can see the ocean and even the mainland almost the entire time unless you get stuck in a cloud, but it still feels very remote. The boat ride there might not be good for everyone as it does get decently rough, but I found that standing outside on the deck actually helped a lot and was something straight out of Pirates of the Caribbean. We even saw a megapod of dolphins and a whale on our crossing. Truly a wildlife lover’s wonderland!

one of the more unique parks. only way out is a long boat trip, to get off or on the island you have to brave the stairs while the boat is actively being forced back into them. a bit imtense.

Gorgeous national park. Only accessible via boat. Take the island packers ferry- they will stop for wildlife sightings. There is a small kayak concession and historical building on the main island, but other than that there aren't services. Pack in what you need. Very steep cliffs and not a lot of shade at the top. Beautiful views. Wildflowers in the spring. Small island foxes everywhere. Most trails may not be suitable for little kids, but the trail that goes through the campground is flat and shaded.

While our experience getting to this remote but unforgettable national Park was rough (and I'm not talking about the boat ride which was surprisingly smooth) it was so so worth it. To start with plan ahead with wherever you are staying or coming from. We were in Covina, a short 85 miles away, a trip that should have taken an hour and 20 minutes took us just over 3 hours...LA Traffic is unpredictable. Called when it became aware that we would not make it to our boat, Island Packers were able to move us to a new tour and saved the day! Boat ride out was smooth and the captain was fun and informative, stopping to see animals at all chances! Once on the island (Anacapa for us) we were able to walk around the whole main islands trails. Saw so many pelicans, sea lions and gulls, plus a falcon of some kind! Beautiful views from every corner! Highly recommend checking this park off your list, though maybe try and aim for a different island as Anacapa is not shaded and conditions can be harsh. Also be aware that you will see lots of bones, dead birds, and mice, as is nature. We were unaware beforehand but you can swim and snorkel in the landing Cove. Garabaldi ( CA state fish) spotted in the water near the dock!!