Park Hours (Today)
All Day
Outdoors Santa Barbara Visitor Center: 10:30AM - 4:30PM
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About the Park
Channel Islands National Park encompasses five remarkable islands and their ocean environment, preserving and protecting a wealth of natural and cultural resources. Isolation over thousands of years has created unique animals, plants, and archeological resources found nowhere else on Earth and helped preserve a place where visitors can experience coastal southern California as it once was.
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Self-Guided Tours
Santa Rosa Island: Cherry Canyon Self-Guided Tour
This tour provides eight interpretive stops along the 1.75-mile walk from the pier to Water Canyon Beach via Cherry Canyon. Before you leave the ranch area, make sure to visit the ranch exhibit in the schoolhouse.
San Miguel Island: Self-Guided Tour
This tour provides 5 interpretive stops along the 1.5 mile hike (one-way) to the ranger station. Due to unexploded ordnance, you may only hike on your own to Cuyler Harbor beach, Nidever Canyon, Cabrillo monument, Lester ranch site and the ranger station. Visitors are required to stay on the designated island trail system. No off-trail hiking is permitted. Entering other areas without a ranger is a violation of federal law.
Santa Barbara Island: Arch Point Self-Guided Tour
This tour provides 7 interpretive stops along the 4 mile loop to Arch Point including a stop at Elephant Seal Cove.
Visitor Centers
Outdoors Santa Barbara Visitor Center
The small Outdoors Santa Barbara Visitor Center not only has one of the best views of Santa Barbara, but also offers visitors information about Channel Islands National Park, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, and the City of Santa Barbara. Open 10:30 am until 4:30 pm daily. The visitor center is closed on Thanksgiving Day, December 25, January 1, and the first Friday in August for Fiesta.
Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center
The Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center at Channel Islands National Park features a bookstore, a display of marine aquatic life, and exhibits featuring the unique character of each park island. Visitors also will enjoy the 25-minute park movie, “A Treasure in the Sea,” shown throughout the day in the auditorium (closed-caption film available upon request). The fully accessible visitor center is open 8:30 am until 5 pm daily. The visitor center is closed on Thanksgiving and December 25th.
Visitor Center Anacapa Island
Once the historic Coast Guard general services building (workshop and garage), this Mission Revival style building now serves as a small visitor center that features include displays on the natural and cultural resources of the island and the original lead-crystal Fresnel lens from the Anacapa Lighthouse.
Santa Barbara Island Visitor Center
A small visitor center is located on the island. Features include displays on the natural and cultural resources of the island.
Scorpion Ranch Visitor Center on Santa Cruz Island
The small visitor center resides in the historic Scorpion Ranch house which was constructed in 1886-1887.
Santa Rosa Island Visitor Contact Station
The historic schoolhouse is now home to this small visitor contact station with exhibits on the ranching history of Santa Rosa Island.
San Miguel Island Ranger and Visitor Contact Station
The visitor contact and ranger station is only open when staff is present.
Where to Stay
Anacapa Island Campground
Primitive camping is available (seven sites; $15 per night per site; reservations required). Picnic table, food storage box, and pit toilet are provided. No water is available. Distance from landing to campground is one-half mile and includes a 157-stair climb. WARNING: Western gulls nest on Anacapa Island From April through mid-August. During this time, visitors will encounter seabird rookery conditions: guano, strong odor, constant noise, bird carcasses, and birds protecting their territory.
Scorpion Canyon Campground
Primitive camping is available (25 individual sites at $15 per night-per site and 6 group sites at $40 per night-per site; reservations required). Picnic table, food storage box, potable water, and pit toilet are provided. Distance from landing to campground is one-half mile.
Del Norte Backcountry Campground
The Santa Cruz Island Del Norte Backcountry Campground is currently 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.Reservations are required ($15 per night-per site). A picnic table, food storage box, and pit-style toilet are provided (campers must bring their own toilet paper).
Water Canyon Campground
Primitive camping is available (15 sites; $15 per night per site; reservations required). Wind shelter, picnic table, food storage box, toilet, and potable water are provided. Distance from landing to campground is 1.5 miles from the pier and .25 miles from the airstrip.
Santa Rosa Island Backcountry Beach Camping
Backcountry camping on Santa Rosa Island is currently limited to certain beaches between August 15th and December 31st. Hiking is along the beach and rugged, unsigned (and sometimes unmaintained) dirt roads. The closest beach for camping is 8 miles from the boat/plane drop-off location. Reservations are required ($10 per night-per site). No services are provided.This is primitive, dispersed, backcountry camping. Visitors must backpack to all locations and carry all of their own gear, food and water.
San Miguel Island Campground
Primitive camping is available (nine sites; $15 per night per site; reservations required). Wind shelter, picnic table, food storage box, and pit toilet are provided. No water is available. Distance from landing to campground is one mile up a steep canyon (400 ft. climb).
Santa Barbara Island Campground
Primitive camping is available (seven sites; $15 per night per site; reservations required). Picnic table, food storage box, and pit toilet are provided. No water is available. Distance from landing to campground is one-quarter mile and includes a steep climb.
Getting Here & Transit
How to Get Here
While the mainland visitor center in Ventura is readily accessible by car or public transportation, the islands are only accessible by park concessionaire boats and planes or private boat. Advanced planning is highly recommended.
Park Amenities
Permits & Reservations
Permits may be required
Some activities in Channel Islands National Park — including backcountry camping, certain trails, and climbing routes — require advance permits. Check the official NPS website for current requirements before your visit.
Operating Hours
Channel Islands National Park
The park is open 24 hours a day. Services and facilities have separate hours. Please see descriptions of those facilities elsewhere.
- MondayAll Day
- TuesdayAll Day
- WednesdayAll Day
- ThursdayAll Day
- FridayAll Day
- SaturdayAll Day
- SundayAll Day
Live Webcams
Click any camera to open the live feed on the NPS website.
Channel Islands Live Broadcasts
Channel Islands Live is an exciting new way to experience the wild, isolated land and seascapes of your national park and national marine sanctuary. Take a virtual visit to the Channel Islands through live broadcasts from Anacapa Island that highlight the remarkable natural and cultural resources of the islands and their surrounding waters.
San Miguel Island Ranger Station Webcam
The San Miguel Island Ranger Station Webcam provides views of Cuyler Harbor, Harris Point, Green Mountain, the rain gauge, and the airstrip with Santa Rosa Island in the background.
Peregrine Falcon Webcam
The Peregrine Falcon Webcam provides an intimate view of the breeding and nesting behavior of peregrine falcons on Anacapa Island.
Bald Eagle Webcam (Sauces Canyon Nest)
The Bald Eagle Webcams provide an intimate view of the breeding and nesting behavior of bald eagles at the Channel Islands. In spring 2006, the first chick to hatch unaided by humans on the Channel Islands in over 50 years made headlines across the country. Thrilled with the public interest in this historic event, the National Park Service and its partners established webcams that bring live, streaming images of bald eagle nests into the schools and homes of millions of Americans.
Bald Eagle Webcam (Fraser Point Nest)
The Bald Eagle Webcams provide an intimate view of the breeding and nesting behavior of bald eagles at the Channel Islands. In spring 2006, the first chick to hatch unaided by humans on the Channel Islands in over 50 years made headlines across the country. Thrilled with the public interest in this historic event, the National Park Service and its partners established webcams that bring live, streaming images of bald eagle nests into the schools and homes of millions of Americans.
Ocean Webcam
Experience one of the richest marine environments in the world with a virtual visit to the Ocean Webcam. This webcam captures your attention with views of the majestic amber-colored kelp forest and the nearly one thousand different marine species found there.
Anacapa Island Webcam
The Anacapa Island Webcam provides incredible views of the park's iconic symbol Arch Rock, seabird rookeries, and the historic lighthouse, as well as the ocean life and sea conditions at the landing cove and nearby waters.
Mount Diablo Webcam
The Mount Diablo Webcam provides incredible views from the park's highest peak which rises 2,450 feet above the surrounding ocean and rocky terrain.
Photos
Yellow flowers in foreground extending out along a rocky coastline to a natural arch.
Pine tree high on a ridge overlooking a bay with blue water and white sand beach.
Brown seals and sea lions on white sand beach with blue water and partly cloudy sky.
Rust and grey colored fox in green grass.
When to Go
Crowd CalendarPlan your trip around peak seasons to avoid crowds or embrace the energy of the busy months. Our crowd predictions are based on historical NPS Visitor Use Statistics.
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Best Time
Year-round
Trip Length
2-4 days
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Planning Channel Islands
These common questions go deeper into logistics and planning. For real-time updates on road closures and current conditions, always check the Alerts section above.