15 Best Things to Do in Channel Islands | National Park Guide

Channel Islands National Park is to California what the Galápagos Islands are to Ecuador — a hypnotic nature wonderland brimming with beauty, intrigue, and adventure. The Channel Islands of California are an astonishing destination a couple of hours from Los Angeles.

Whether coming from another part of Southern California, a nearby city like Santa Barbara, or visiting from San Diego and further afield, Channel Islands is a must-see.

The park encompasses five islands that are a complete marvel. The 30,000 annual visitors who take the necessary ferry ride or boat trip to get to the park know something you can no longer afford to miss.

There are 15 good reasons to put the rugged, remote, and ravishing Channel Islands on your USA National Park checklist. Read on for the best things to do in Channel Islands, California.

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Best Time to Visit Channel Islands National Park

Lush island vegetation and blooming wildflowers are just two characteristics that make the Channel Islands one of the best national parks to visit in spring. You’ll also relish hiking escapades, water-based activities, and cave tours during this time.

The truth is you can visit Channel Islands National Park year-round, but here are the two winning seasonal highlights to help you pin down your perfect time:

• Spring (March-June): The weather is mild, with wind, fog, and rain occurring sporadically on the islands. That’s still no grave matter as the seabirds begin nesting and the island fox young make their grand entrance — both wondrous spectacles.

• Summer (June-September): The days are sunny and clear, with warm waters abounding. This is a favored time for wildlife tours (the blue whales and sea lions steal the show) and action-packed water sports. This is the busiest stretch, however.

Map Of Best Things to Do in Channel Islands

What to Pack for Channel Islands National Park

Besides an action camera for capturing incredible moments, your 10 packing list must-haves are the following:

• Comfortable undergarments: Smartwool hiking socks prevent chafing and blisters. And don’t underestimate the value of quality hiking underwear and a supportive sports bra.
• Hiking shoes: Sturdy shoes make each hike achievable. >>>Get hiking shoes here
• Stretchy hiking pants: Find hiking leggings that work for leisurely walking and high-action activities.
• Breezy T-shirts: The more breathable your T-shirts, the cooler you’ll feel. >>>Check activewear T-shirts here
• Backpack: Choose a functional backpack to store your carriables. >>>Consider this trail pack
• Water bottle: Water isn’t readily available at the national park. So fill your own bottles at the visitor centers on the California mainland in Ventura or Santa Barbara. >>>Check eco bottles here
• Sun protection: Enough sun protection is the king of all trips. >>>Buy sunscreen here
• Bug repellent: Bug repellents during the summer. >>>Try this mosquito-repellent
• Snacks: Stick to protein-rich snacks to keep you fired up. >>>Get assorted Clif Bars here
• First aid kit: Turn to your trusty medical kit stocked with the fundamentals in case of minor accidents. >>>Check first aid kits here
• Map: Bring a good-quality map of Channel Islands National Park. >>>Click Here
• National Park Pass: If you are an avid hiker like me, it’s worth getting the year-long America The Beautiful Pass. >Get It Here

How Much Time to Spend in Channel Islands National Park

Spend two to three days in the Channel Islands for a well-rounded experience in one of the country’s least visited national parks. That’s enough time for a cave tour, a sea life adventure, hiking, and perhaps one night of island camping.

How to Get to Channel Islands National Park

When you travel to Channel Islands National Park, the fun starts with the journey to get there. The first of a few steps is to make your way to the quaint town of Ventura, northwest of Los Angeles.

Next is to get to Ventura Harbor, where your ferry trip to the park departs. The ride takes about an hour if you’re traveling to Santa Cruz or Anacapa Islands. Journeying to the other three islands takes between 2.5 and 4.5 hours.

Island Packers Cruises is the park’s authorized ferry service. You can purchase snacks and drinks on the ferry, including wine and beer. If you want to do one better than an Island Packers ferry ride, you could splurge on a private boat ride, but these can be pricier.

There’s also a Channel Islands Aviation flight if taking to the skies for those astonishing aerial shots is more up your alley.

Where to Stay Near Channel Islands National Park

Since the Channel Islands National Park has no hotels, nearby Ventura City is an excellent place to stay. From here, you can take a day trip (or several) to the park.

Here are fabulous accommodations for Channel Islands National Park near Ventura, CA.

Budget | Motel 6 Ventura

Motel 6 Ventura Downtown is great for simple comforts without splashing too much cash. The rooms are cozy and clean, with bright pops of color livening up each living space.

Enjoy access to cable TV, free WiFi, kitchen essentials like a bar fridge and a microwave, and free parking. Small perks like ironing facilities and a hairdryer are included in your stay.

From Motel 6, it’s a five-minute walk to the Ventura County Fairgrounds and 1.2 miles to reach Ventura Harbor — your departure point for Channel Islands National Park. >>>Check Availability

Mid-Range | The Pierpont Inn

To bump up your Ventura stay to the mid-range level, consider The Pierpont Inn, with its homey accommodations and subtle modern touches. The property features pristine lawns, an outdoor swimming pool, and air-conditioned rooms.

Choose a room with a pool view or a suite with an ocean view. All units are well-furnished, including seating areas and TVs. Free WiFi and complimentary toiletries are also available for your convenience.

You’ll take an easy two-minute drive when it’s time to board your ferry or boat for Channel Islands National Park at Ventura Harbor. >>>Check Availability

Luxury | Ventura Beach Marriott

If you’re not worried about spending extra for luxury accommodation in Ventura, then the Ventura Beach Marriott will suit you just fine.

The well-lit, air-conditioned rooms are spacious, with divine decorative accents that ooze style and class. The units are adorned with superior comforts, including deluxe complimentary toiletries.

The property has a fitness center, a lovely garden area, an on-site restaurant, and an outdoor swimming pool.

Ventura Pier and the harbor are just a 3-minute drive away, where travelers taking a day or overnight trips to Channel Islands depart. >>>Check Availability

Camping | Santa Cruz Scorpion Campground

The adventurous types can take their national park visit to a new height of excitement when they make it a memorable Channel Islands camping experience.

Although simple, the Scorpion Ranch Campground, also known as Santa Cruz Scorpion Campground, is the most well-developed campground for overnight stays.

There are 25 individual sites accommodating up to six people per site and six group sites for larger crews of up to 15 people per site. You get access to picnic tables, storage boxes for your food (which will come in handy against a hungry island fox), and pit toilets.

Water is provided on this campground, but it’s always best to bring your own extra supply. These are pack-in-pack-out campsites where you’re responsible for carrying all your own gear. >>>Check Availability

Things to Do in Channel Islands National Park | 15 Attractions & Activities

With five islands making up this glorious park, it can get overwhelming trying to decide what to do in Channel Islands. Santa Cruz is the largest, Anacapa is the closest island to the mainland, and Santa Miguel is in the western region. Santa Rosa is an animal haven, and Santa Barbara is the smallest.

From hiking, snorkeling, and birdwatching to cave tours and camping, these 15 attractions and activities will make your Channel Islands National Park retreat unforgettable.

1. Enjoy Snorkeling Experiences 

When it comes to Channel Islands activities, snorkeling takes center stage — with Anacapa, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz Islands providing the best areas.

Lugging your own snorkel gear can be a pain, especially if camping in the park as well, so opt for equipment rentals via the Santa Barbara Adventure Company.

They offer guided snorkeling tours featuring kelp forest explorations, navigation through sea caves, and marine life-spotting. Underwater viewings are most sublime at Santa Barbara and the Anacapa Islands.

2. Conquer the Potato Harbor Trail

• Mileage: 5.2 miles (out and back)
• Elevation Gain: 633 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trail Guide: Link

Potato Harbor Trail is considered one of the best hikes in national parks, thanks to how quiet it is versus most national parks.

You’ll begin at the Scorpion Anchorage trailhead near Scorpion Beach and enjoy a moderate hike along Cavern Point and North Bluff toward Potato Harbor.

The views are spectacular, the air is crisp, and you might be lucky and spot elephant seals in the nearby cove.

3. Go Birdwatching

Birdwatching is another much-loved experience on the list of top activities in Channel Islands. There are plenty of bird species, with select areas offering something special for birders:

• Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Cruz Islands: You’ll find Scripps’s Murrelets populations on these islands and California brown pelicans along the west coast.
• Santa Cruz: Home to the scrub jay, only found in this part of the world.
• Anacapa Island: Here, you can witness famous seabird nesting colonies, such as the western gulls, particularly from April to July.

4. Visit the Anacapa Island Light Station

The second most visited of the five islands,  Anacapa Island, is the closest and easiest to access from the California mainland. Journey to this part of the park to see the Anacapa Island Light Station.

The lighthouse, with its automated fog horn, is over 90 years old and holds the record as the longest-operating lighthouse on the US West Coast.

Head to Inspiration Point for breathtaking park vistas and use these hiking photography tips and tricks for awesome Channel Islands National Park photos.

5. Try a Kayaking Adventure

For kayaking excursions in Channel Islands National Park, turn to Santa Barbara Adventure Company once more. They offer Adventure, Ultimate, and Discovery Sea Caves kayak tours — the latter being the most manageable for beginners.

The park’s unimaginable collection of about 200 sea caves is an absolute treat to explore while kayaking. East Santa Cruz Island is where you’ll enjoy the most mesmerizing views.

You can choose the tour and particulars that suit you, like whether to take a one-seater or two-seater kayak.

6. Explore Smugglers Cove

• Mileage: 7.7 miles (out and back)
• Elevation Gain: 1,421 feet
• Difficulty: Difficult
• Trail Guide: Link

Improved sleep and stress alleviation are two of the many physical and mental health benefits of hiking, making this one of the best Channel Island activities.

If you’re up for a challenge, add hiking Smugglers Cove to your itinerary. You’ll start at Scorpion Anchorage, and this hike is perfect for nearby Scorpion Ranch Campground visitors.

Other prevailing hiking trails include treks to Cathedral Cove, Chinese Harbor, and Prisoners Harbor.

7. Embark on a Wildlife Tour

At Channel Islands National Park, wildlife adventures give access to some 2000 plant and animal species, 150 of which are endemic. The Santa Cruz island fox population is a tourist favorite.

Small, intelligent, and mischievous when it comes to their love for human snacks, the island foxes frequent the Scorpion Ranch Campground and the historic ranch house.

On San Miguel Island, a hike to Point Bennett will afford sightings of elephant seals, sea lions, and harbor seals. Island Packers Cruises offers fun, educational whale-watching tours.

Sea lions, dolphins, blue whales, and more can also be spotted at the aptly named Sea Lion Rookery in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary on Santa Barbara Island.

8. Catch a Sunset at Cavern Point on Santa Cruz Island

• Mileage: 1.7 miles (loop)
• Elevation Gain: 289 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trail Guide: Link

There’s something about sunsets that’s calming and quite humbling, right? At Channel Islands National Park, the Cavern Point overlook allows incomprehensible California sunsets.

You’ll hike the Cavern Point Loop, an easy 50-minute walk to get you back to the Scorpion Anchorage trailhead. Your reward is spellbinding views in one of the park’s most charming spots.

9. Swim at Scorpion Beach

It isn’t an island visit without involving swimming and beach escapades, and Channel Islands National Park is no different. Scorpion Beach on Santa Cruz Island has clear waters and terrific ocean views.

Whether riding solo, with a significant other, or part of a family group, time spent on Scorpion Beach is about relaxing picnics, beachcombing, and seaside merriment.

Believe it or not, you might spot island foxes around the nearby campsites. Just remember to take care and frolic cautiously, as there aren’t any lifeguards.

10. Sightsee at Scorpion Anchorage

Your Channel Islands trip will include time at Scorpion Anchorage, which doesn’t appear for the first time in this article. That’s because it’s pretty much a Channel Islands hub.

This Santa Cruz Island harbor has a pier, leads to Scorpion Beach, and is close to some camping sites. Several hiking trails branch out from this point, with kelp forest tours, snorkeling, and kayaking launching here, too.

The Channel Islands Adventure Company and Island Packers Cruises keep Scorpion Anchorage alive with action. They operate a large portion of this destination’s activities and ferry transportation.

11. Take a Boat Ride to Prisoners Harbor

Take an Island Packers boat ride to Prisoners Harbor, a wonderful way to spend a day somewhere interesting, beautiful, and slightly mysterious.

This Santa Cruz Island port has somewhat of an eerie past, dating back to 1830. About 80 convicted criminals were contentiously transported to this part of the island to serve time in seclusion in a type of penal colony.

Today, Prisoners Harbor affords recreational activities, with beach access and opportunities for kayaking and paddling if the mood strikes.

12. Walk Along the Pelican Bay Trail

• Mileage: 4.3 miles (out and back)
• Elevation Gain: 922 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
• Trail Guide: Link

Another Santa Cruz Island gem is the Pelican Bay Trail, which is one of those rugged treks that challenges and rewards at the same time. It’s part of private Nature Conservancy land, meaning your Island Packers guide will be with you at all times.

It’s a stunning area with magnificent panoramic vistas, wildflowers in spring, and a tranquil atmosphere. The hiking expedition starts with a ferry trip to Prisoners Harbor before navigating to Pelican Bay.

13. Embrace Cool Discoveries at the Painted Cave

By now, it’s no secret that when planning what to do at Channel Islands National Park, cave sightseeing will come up tops on your itinerary. As mentioned earlier, the park has about 200 of them, providing numerous options when touring.

An Island Packers tour will take you to the 1227-foot-long Painted Cave, one of the largest sea caves in the world. Considered the rugged jewel of Santa Cruz Island, the multi-colored Painted Cave runs deep and dark. A boat ride is the only way to get to its 160-foot-tall entrance.

14. Do a Cuyler Harbor Beach Hike

• Mileage: 2 miles (round trip)
• Elevation Gain: Not applicable
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trail Guide: Link

Depending on the type of terrain, being on holiday can be a marvelous opportunity to include soft hiking in your itinerary. This activity is perfect to do within Cuyler Harbor at San Miguel Island.

You can take a slow-paced, self-guided leisure walk on its lovely stretch of white-sand beach. Hopefully, you’ll spot some seals meandering on the beach, which will be a nice surprise if you appreciate marine animals.

15. Tackle a Front-or-Backcountry Camping Excursion

Does island-style frontcountry and backcountry camping pique your interest? Rustic experiences await at Santa Cruz Island from August and Santa Rosa Island from August to December.

Backcountry camping is best suited for the more experienced hikers and kayakers, especially those with a solid backpacking repertoire in their pocket. The ocean and wind conditions for Santa Rosa Island backcountry beach camping can be a gamble, with frequent public closures.

So consider making Water Canyon Campground frontcountry camping your go-to while at this national park. You’ll delight in beach access, hiking, and majestic island vistas.

FAQs About the Channel Islands of California

These three frequently asked questions represent what travelers worry about most when planning to visit Channel Islands National Park and thinking about their itineraries. Get the answers you need to allay any last-minute concerns before setting off.

What Do I Need to Know Before Visiting Channel Islands National Park?

With things to do at Channel Islands National Park covered, now it’s on to the all-important ‘must-know before you go’ section:

1. The islands are have no hotels, restaurants, or transportation.
2. The park is free and open 24/7. You only pay when camping. You have to bring your own water and food. To be well-prepared, get tips on backpacking essentials for beginners.
3. When disembarking your boat or ferry service, and depending on the dock, expect to climb down ladders or steep stairs.
4. Campfires are prohibited at the park.
5. The ferries are strict about weight limits, so carry only the essentials.

Is Channel Islands Worth Visiting?

Yes, without a doubt! Channel Islands National Park is remote, blessed with lush natural features, and is the perfect place to hike or camp in a whole new way: island style. This is also the kind of destination where you can try a range of heart-thumping activities like kayaking, scuba diving, cave touring, and snorkeling.

How Do You Get to Channel Islands National Park?

Many travelers worry about how to visit Channel Islands because it’s a national park on an exotic island chain, after all. But getting to the park’s five islands isn’t as arduous as often feared.

You’ll travel to Ventura Harbor in Ventura, California, then board a boat or a ferry to Channel Islands. Remember to take the supplies you need and ready yourself for a lot of scenic walking, as there are no shops, restaurants, or standard transportation on the islands.

The Wrap-up on Things to Do in Channel Islands National Park

It’s all there for the taking: five islands, abundant sea life, gorgeous panoramic views, and 15 great reasons to make a trip to Channel Islands.

On your next Southern California journey, take the ferry ride or boat trip less traveled. That’s literally how to go to Channel Islands to make this phenomenal island park your new favorite holiday escape.

You can never be too prepared for an extraordinary trip like a Channel Islands expedition, so brush up on useful tips for planning USA national park trips before you go.

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