A lighthouse on top of an island in Channel Islands, one of the US national parks

Channel Islands National Park encompasses five of the seven Channel Islands off the coast of southwest California. Each island has its own appeal and ecological splendor. On Anacapa, find a fully operational lighthouse from 1932. Santa Cruz harbors endemic species and hiking trails. Santa Rosa has crops of Torrey pines. On San Miguel, you could see thousands of seals. Last but not least, Santa Barabara is home to thousands of nesting seabirds.

This page contains affiliate links.

An image of a white lighthouse on green grass. Over the image, white text with a black shadow reads "An Island by Island Guide of Things to Do in Channel Islands"
An image of a group of islands. Over the image, white text with a black shadow reads "A Summary of Every Channel Islands Tour"
An image of a group of islands at sunset under a hazy purple sky. Text over the image says "Camping in Channel Islands" in white.
An image of a rocky landscape at sunset. Over the image, white text with a black shadow reads "Every National Park in California"
An image of a desert landscape with Joshua trees and granite rocks. Over the image, white text with a black shadow reads "11-Day Road Trip in Southern California"
An image of people watching the sunset by a cliff. Text over the image says "List of National Parks by Popularity" in white.

Channel Islands National Park Information

Park Size: 249,000 acres

Established: April 26, 1938 (as Channel Islands National Monument)

Entrance Fee: None

Nearby Communities: Ventura, Oxnard, Santa Barbara

Visitor Centers: There is one visitor center on the mainland located in Ventura Harbor.

Campgrounds: Anacapa Island Campground, Scorpion Canyon Campground (Santa Cruz Island), Santa Rosa Island Campground, San Miguel Island Campground, Santa Barbara Island Campground

How to Get There: Highways 101 and 126 both lead to the main visitor center in Ventura Harbor. The Island Packers boat cruises also depart from here.

Best Time to Visit: Channel Islands National Park is wonderful year-round. Spring is best for wildflowers and sees the most rain. Summer is best for fledgling shorebirds, humpback whales, blue whales, and sea lion pups. Fall is best for snorkeling, diving, and kayaking. Winter is best for harbor seals, gray whales, and sunsets.

Unique Things to Do: Search for endemic species, such as the Island Fox or Island Jay, while you visit.

An image of a group of islands at sunset. The text on the image is encouraging you to download a a guide to Anacapa Island in Channel Islands National Park by signing up for e-mail notifications.