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National park in California, United States
Photo: User: (WT-shared) DRJacobson at wts wikivoyage, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Channel Islands National Park comprises five rugged islands off the coast of Ventura County and Santa Barbara County in Southern California. Formerly home to ancient villages and 19th-century ranches, the national park is now a nature reserve with beautiful landscapes, peaceful hikes, unique wildlife, and great sea-kayaking.
Primitive camping is available in seven sites with a total campground capacity of 30 people. Picnic table, food storage box, and pit toilet are provided. No water is available. The distance from the boat landing to the campground is one-half mile and includes a 157-stair climb.
Primitive camping is available in seven sites. Picnic table, food storage box, and pit toilet are provided. No water is available. The campground is 0.5 miles from the dock landing and includes a steep climb.
Primitive camping is available in nine sites. Wind shelter, picnic table, food storage box, and pit toilet are provided. No water is available. The distance from the boat landing to the campground is one mile up a steep canyon (400-ft/120-m climb). Fewer than 200 people per year ever get the experience of camping on San Miguel Island.
Primitive camping is available in 15 sites with a 50-person campground capacity. Wind shelter, picnic table, food storage box, toilet, potable water (most people bring drinking water) and an invigorating shower are provided. The distance from the boat landing to the campground in Water Canyon is 1.5 miles across the flats from the pier landing.
Primitive camping is available in 25 individual sites (4-6 people per site) and 6 group sites (15 people per site). Picnic table, food storage box, potable water, and pit toilet are provided. The campsites are spread out along the valley floor 0.5 to 1 miles up the flats from the beach landing.
The Santa Cruz Island Del Norte Backcountry Campground is the only backcountry campground on Santa Cruz Island. The hike to the campground is 3.5 miles from Prisoners Harbor and 12 miles from Scorpion Anchorage. It has four primitive campsites (four persons per site) and users must camp within these designated sites. A picnic table, food storage box, and pit-style toilet are provided (campers must bring their own toilet paper).
Backcountry camping on Santa Rosa Island is limited to certain beaches between August 15 and December 31. Hiking is along the beach and rugged, unsigned (and sometimes unmaintained) dirt roads. The closest beach for camping is 8 miles from the boat drop-off location. No services are provided. Visitors must backpack to all locations and carry all of their own gear, food and water.
The islands are only accessible by boat. Island Packers is the official park concessionaire and provides boat access to all islands.
Read in the guideOn the islands there is no transportation besides your own two feet or a kayak. No bikes and no cars.
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Santa Barbara · Regional · SBA
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