Channel Islands
National Park
About Channel Islands
Visited – October 2018 (#6 of 63)
Established (as NP) March 1980
250K acres (about 1/9th of Yellowstone)
Where are the Channel Islands: California, 60 miles off the LA coast.
Recommendations
Don’t miss: (On Santa Cruz) Hike along the bluffs to Potato Harbor, try kayaking the sea caves, and the night skies are great if you stay the night.
When to visit: Spring and fall are best for dry, manageable days. Supposedly the seas are more calm in the fall for the trip over. Summer can be brutal as there’s limited shade around the islands.
How long to stay: Day trips are most convenient, but an overnight is most memorable.
Definitely check out the Photo Gallery of our best pictures.
Photo Gallery
See Santa Cruz Island’s rugged coastline, amazing night time photos, and even some formerly endangered species.
Link to NPS Info
Click to visit the park’s website with maps, history, and lots of great info on things to do and places to see.
Trip Report
Read about our adventure to Channel Islands…..
Primitive camping, sunset hike with a surprise, kayaking in sea caves, and Milky Way hunting.
Channel Islands Blog Posts
Channel Islands Trip Report
Just 50 miles off the California coast, Channel Islands National Park is a primitive and stark contrast to neighboring Los Angeles. This is what much of the Southern California landscape would look like without irrigation, electricity, and asphalt. And it's...