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PARADISE ISLANDS Explore Channel Islands National Park the “Galápagos of North America.”
PARADISE ISLANDS
Discover the wild shores and natural beauty of the Channel Islands National Park.
BY LAUREN BONNEY
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1: Retreat to Smugglers Cove on Santa Cruz Island; 2 & 4: See unique wildlife up close under the water; 3: Explore the pristine sea via kayak; 5: Hike among the wildflowers at Santa Cruz Island; 6: Spot (but don’t feed!) the native island foxes; 7: Visit the Anacapa Island Lighthouse.
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ust off the mainland, discover a world untouched at the Channel Islands National Park. This archipelago rises dramatically from the deep blue waters of the Pacific Ocean across the Santa Barbara Channel from Oxnard and is home to an incredible array of flora and fauna found nowhere else on earth. Only accessible by boat or plane, few visitors make the trip to these stunning, one-of-a-kind isles, resulting in a paradise rich in natural and cultural history.
The five islands that comprise the national park are filled with diverse ecosystems that can be enjoyed in rugged solitude. Catch a ferry to any of these beautiful islands for a single day of exploration or an entire week of discovery.
Guests to Anacapa Island will be greeted by towering sea cliffs, formed by years of gentle erosion. Explore the windswept landscape with roughly two miles of trails to roam. • Much of the island’s flora lies dormant for most of the year until exploding into a world of colors in the early spring. • Anacapa boasts thousands of seafaring birds, including the largest population of California brown pelicans and western gulls. We recommend avid birders plan a visit from May through June to see fluffy western gull chicks huddled in their nests right off the main trails. • The island is home to the 1932 Anacapa Island Lighthouse; wander to the highest point to see the station and for a glimpse of the famous Arch Rock in the ocean below.
Rising dramatically from deep, blue waters and only accessible by boat or plane, few visitors make the trip to these stunning isles, resulting in a paradise rich in natural and cultural history. Spend a day (or more!) discovering the islands for yourselves.
The largest island in California, Santa Cruz Island is comprised of more than 96 square miles of pristine land including two mountain ranges; a central valley and fault line; deep watery canyons; and 77 miles of rocky cliffs, sandy beaches and so much more. • On the northwest side of the island resides one of the largest sea caves in the world: Painted Cave is a quarter-mile long and 100-feet wide. Kayakers can explore the deep recesses of the colorful cavern named for the various lichen and algae decorating its interior. • With few predators native to the island, a huge bounty of plant species, land animals, seabirds and ocean-dwelling creatures have thrived here. Visitors are encouraged to discover this wild beauty, just as the Native Americans did 10,000 years ago. • Snorkel right off Scorpion Anchorage, or picnic along the shore at Prisoners Harbor. Those looking to stay on terra firma can take a leisurely stroll along the well-marked trails in Scorpion Valley or go for a heart-pumping hike in the Montañon region. • If you need more time to discover all that Santa Cruz offers, pitch a tent at one of the island’s campgrounds, including those at family-friendly Scorpion Ranch or within the Del Norte Backcountry.
SANTA ROSA ISLAND: FOX’NARD Open March through November 2-hour channel crossing
Just west of Santa Cruz Island, Santa Rosa Island takes on a different ecological form than its larger sibling. • The island is famous for a rare subspecies of Torrey pine, as well as some of the Channel Islands’ native plants and ani6 mals, including the island fox — the national park’s largest native land-based mammal. • Additionally, the current ecosystem is rich with canyon grasses, nesting bald eagles and lagoons. • Santa Rosa was once a reflection of a prehistoric world. In 1994, paleontologists unearthed the remains of a pygmy mammoth, a Pleistocene-era endemic species that roamed the island and grew to a height of about six feet. The preserved skeleton of the miniature
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mammoth is the most complete species’ fossil ever found. Learn about the history of the island during ranger-led hikes or on a self-guided interpretive walk.
At just one-square mile, Santa Barbara is the smallest of the five Channel Islands in the park. Nevertheless, the little isle teems with life. • An underwater volcanic eruption helped form the island’s twin-peaked mesa that juts upward from the triangular-shaped landmass. • A surprising variety of native songbirds, such as the horned lark, orange-crowned warbler and house finch, live in the brush and grasses peppering the landscape. The melodies of songbirds mingle with the bellows and barks of northern elephant seals and sea lions on the shore, creating a unique symphony. • Due to its isolation, Santa Barbara is a fantastic place to go swimming, snorkeling and kayaking, with water access only available at Landing Cove.
The westernmost and most isolated island, San Miguel is a staging area for an almost daily battle of the elements. High winds and dense fog hit the shores of the island, resulting in a harsh but beautiful landscape. • Hikers who make the all-day guided trek across the island will find gorgeous vistas and sights of wildlife. • Thousands of pinnipeds reside at Point Bennett, using the secluded beach as a breeding ground. Offshore, marine mammals such as dolphins, gray whales, orcas and even blue whales frequent the waters. • Access to San Miguel is by permit only, but it’s worth it — the island is spectacular. O
Ask the Experts
PARK RANGERS GIVE THE INSIDE SCOOP.
“One thing I do at the end of a hike is invite visitors to find a quiet spot and listen to the island. If people care about the islands, they’ll continue to be protected.” – BETHANY SZCZEPANSKI, PARK GUIDE
“Keep wildlife wild. The island foxes won’t run away so quickly. We encourage visitors not to approach or feed the foxes, though you can take pictures and observe them.” – LAURA SHASKEY, WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST
“The waters are a boater’s paradise, but we recommend using chart plotters or the Whale Alert app. Unless you have a GPS, there’s nobody out there, and there are no landmarks to guide you." – MERRILL MCCAULEY, PROTECTION RANGER
