Paul & Tara Visit the National Parks: Channel Islands National Park

Visited: Nov 2016

Nearby metro: Los Angeles, CA; ferries leave from: Ventura, CA and Oxnard, CA

About 30-50 miles off the coast of southern California, lies an rugged, beautiful, volcanic island chain seemingly an entire world away from the bustling megalopolis of LA. The Channel Islands are made up of eight islands, the most famous of which is Santa Catalina Island. The Park protects five (5) of the eight islands. Four of the islands form a somewhat horizontal line, from east to west: Anacapa Island, Santa Cruz Island, Santa Rosa Island, and San Miguel Island. The fifth island lies far to the southeast of the other four, tiny Santa Barbara Island.

If you don't have your own boat, you're at the mercy of Island Packers' to visit the Park. They have year-round ferries that travel to Anacapa Island from Oxnard, CA. Anacapa Island is a small, picturesque island good for day-trippers. No camping is allowed on the island, so no overnight stays. Island Packers also has year round ferry service to Santa Cruz Island, leaving from Ventura, CA to two different ports: (1) Scorpion Ranch and (2) Prisoners Harbor. Santa Cruz is the largest island of not only the Channel Islands but all of California. Lots of camping opportunities here, but also good day trips at either of the two ports. Island Packers also offers ferry service to the other 3 islands, but it is very seasonal and there are not a lot of options. If you do camp, you have to pack in everything, there are no services on any of the islands.

We made reservations to take the ferry to Scorpion Ranch on Santa Cruz Island. The pier at Scorpion Ranch had been destroyed in a storm a few months before we visited and was under repair. Therefore, you needed to go on a small skiff from the boat to the shore. The day we visited had very high winds causing high waves and Island Packers did not want to operate the skiff due to the dangerous weather. Therefore, they offered a refund or to go to the alternate port on Santa Cruz Island, Prisoners Harbor. No sandy beach there, but some scenic hiking and other fun to be had as well. So, although we didn't go to our first choice, it was a good trip. Just be flexible with planning your visit here, it is very dependent on the weather. Despite the high swells, it was a beautiful day on the island.

the dock at Prisoners Harbor

The harbor is so named by an attempt to turn the island into a penal colony. It was home to about 30 convicts in the mid-1800s. It was not popular and the idea was eventually abandoned, but some of the structures built by the prisoners remain. Another interesting sight on the island is the endemic (exclusive) species, the Channel Island Fox.

Channel Fox

We then went on a short informal hike around the area. It was very pleasant.

We then hung out at the pier for the afternoon, waiting for the ferry to take us back to the mainland.

The highlight of the trip was the ferry ride. It took about an hour and half each way. The swells were pretty bad, so I got motion sick. But we saw lots of wildlife: harbor seals, dolphins, and even some humpback whales!