Channel Islands National Park

城市概覽

This isolated chain of islands just off the Southern California coast boasts pristine natural splendor. Half of the Channel Island National Park's 49,354 acres (19,973 hectares) are underwater and the area is home to 2,000 species of plants and animals. Visitors to the park can explore waters surrounding the islands for some of California's best sea-kayaking and diving, or trek through the interior of the park's larger islands.

History For over 10,000 years, the northern Channel Islands have hosted a diverse range of peoples and cultures. The large number and undisturbed condition of archeological sites on the islands are shedding light on coastal migration patterns of the earliest Americans and their subsistence in the marine environment. Human remains discovered in 1959 at Arlington Springs on Santa Rosa Island have been dated to more than 13,000 years of age, among the oldest dated human remains in North America. New information about the Island Chumash, the native population that inhabited these islands for thousands of years, continues to fascinate historians and visitors alike. These native people relied on the sea for much of their sustenance and manufactured tools and trade items from shells and stones. The Chumash were able to travel between the islands and the mainland in plank canoes, called tomols, which were constructed out of redwood trees drifting down the coast. In 1542, explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo reached San Miguel Island while voyaging along the American coast seeking new lands for conquest and development. For 200 years, explorers and traders visited the islands where they hunted otters, seals, and sea lions for their pelts and oil, greatly increasing the exploitation of the marine resources and introducing diseases that decimated the native populations. Claimed for Spain by the early explorers, the islands fell under Mexican rule in 1821. Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa were awarded as Mexican land grants with the intent of raising livestock.

如何抵達

The islands are only accessible by boat. Island Packers is the official park concessionaire and provides boat access to all islands. Visits by private boat are also possible, following the instructions from the National Park Service.

2 Island Packers, 1691 Spinnaker Dr, Suite 105 B, Ventura, ☏ +1 805 642-1393, [email protected]. Scheduled ferry service to each of the islands from Ventura, and a few services from their secondary 1 Oxnard harbor at 3550 Harbor Blvd, Oxnard. Bus access is very limited at both harbors, so driving or taxi/rideshare is probably a better option. Tickets out and tickets back must be booked separately, and you should book several weeks in advance as the ferries sell out. (updated Jul 2024) Channel Islands Expeditions. Guided kayaking, snorkeling, and trekking trips, departing from Oxnard and Santa Barbara. (updated Jun 2025) The boat rides are beautiful with opportunities to spot wildlife if you're lucky: whales, sea lions, multiple species of dolphins, flying fish, and seabirds. Sit on the top level of the boat for the best views, or on the bottom near the stern (back) if you're prone to seasickness. The boat trip on Island Packers from Ventura Harbor to Scorpion Bay at Santa Cruz Island takes a little over an hour, and can be rough. The trip to Santa Rosa Island is more like three hours and can be rougher. Bring warm (and preferably waterproof) outerwear even in the summer; expect to get some ocean spray, and you may get wet. If the seas are too high, the concessionaire may cancel the trips for that day. Boats can sometimes take longer than scheduled if they slow down for rough waters or stop during the crossing to see marine life.

當地交通

On the islands there is no transportation besides your own two feet or a kayak. No bikes and no cars. Kayaks can be brought with you or rented with some extra planning.

必看景點

The park consists of five of the eight Channel Islands, and all waters within one nautical mile (1.8 km) from land.

San Miguel Island San Miguel is the westernmost island, and as a result receives the brunt of the northwesterly winds, fog, and severe weather from the open ocean. The cold, nutrient-rich water surrounding the 9,491-acre, eight-mile-long and four-mile-wide island is home for a diversity of sea life, including 100,000 northern elephant seals, California sea lions, northern fur seals and harbor seals that breed at varying times throughout the year on Point Bennett (30,000 may be on the beach at any particular time). Submerged rocks make the nearly 28-mile coastline a mariner's nightmare. Rough seas and risky landings did not daunt the Chumash who lived here, nor did they deter the first European explorer, Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, in 1542. Ranchers raised sheep from 1850 to 1948. Later, the Navy used the island for a bombing range. Today, native species are making a recovery in this sanctuary. Much of San Miguel island is closed to exploration due to unexploded ordnance, sensitive habitat, and archaeological sites unless accompanied by a park ranger or a park naturalist. The caliche forest, an area of petrified tree stumps is accessible with a guide via a five-mile round-trip hike. Point Bennet, home to thousands of seals and sea lions, can be reached with a guide via a 16-mile (25-km) round-trip hike. Cuyler Harbor beach, the Cabrillo Monument, the Lester Ranch site, and the ranger station are all accessible without a guide and can all be reached via the Nidever Canyon trail, which begins on the beach at the top of the dune above Gull Rock and climbs along the east wall of the canyon.

Santa Rosa Island

The second-largest island, with 53,051 acres - 15 miles long and 10 miles wide - offers rolling hills, deep canyons, a coastal lagoon, and windy beaches adorned with sand dunes and driftwood. The Chumash called it Wima or "driftwood" because chann

體驗活動

Hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, diving, swimming. Beautiful, rugged terrain awaits on the islands' hiking trails. For a day trip, visiting Anacapa or Santa Cruz will give you the most time to enjoy the island. The longer ferry rides to windswept Santa Rosa and San Miguel can eat up most of the day, so if you want to visit the outer islands it may be better to camp. Channel Islands National Park has amazing sea cave kayaking. Santa Barbara Adventure Company offers guided sea cave kayaking tours on several of the islands including Scorpion Bay on Santa Cruz. They also offer multi-day trips if you are considering camping and kayaking. This is a great way to see the islands and the safest way to tour the sea caves. ☏ +1 805-884-9283.

購物

Souvenirs and a few last-minute supplies are for sale at the ferry office in Ventura. Limited supplies are also sold near Scorpion Harbor on Santa Cruz Island.

美食

There is no food sold on the islands, so pack all you need to eat and plan to pack out all your trash. On the ferry, limited food options are available in the galley. Feeding the wildlife is illegal.

飲品與夜生活

Bring plenty of water. Potable water