Santa Cruz Island - Channel Islands NP
As we head into the 4th of July holiday week, I’m excited to take you to one of California’s most secluded National Parks, which happens to be less than 50 miles from my doorstep. However, I can’t drive to this park…today we’ll be setting sail for Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Park.
National Park & Nature Conservancy
Channel Islands National Park is made up of five unique islands and their ocean environments. Today we are exploring Santa Cruz Island. This island is the largest of all the Channel Islands at 97 square miles. Only 24% of this island is owned and operated by the NPS. The remaining land, which belongs to the Santa Cruz Island Reserve, is used for scientific research and education. Visitors are welcome to explore the National Park property, but no hiking is allowed beyond the park boundary (which is marked by a fence line). You can only visit the parts of the reserve (such as Queva Valdez) with permission from The Nature Conservancy and a guiding naturalists on rare occasions. I assure you, though, there is plenty to keep you busy on the National Park land…and in the water too!
Wildlife
The Channel Islands have been called the Galapagos of North America. Santa Cruz Island specifically is incredibly diverse and filled with the unique beauty nature provides. The island is home to over 1000 different pieces of plants and animals – 12 of which are found no where else on earth. Scorpions Ankorage and Beach features a large kelp forest, Smugglers Cove has beautiful tide pools, Cavern Point is a great spot for seasonal whale watching and you can even see leopard sharks right from the Prisoners Harbor pier during the Summer.
Sea Caves
Santa Cruz is also known for its sea caves. The island is home to over 100 unique caves which are popular with kayakers, snorkelers and scuba divers. The most famous of these is Painted Cave, located on the northwest side of the island. Painted Cave is one of the largest and deepest sea caves in the world, and is the longest sea cave in all of North America. This sea cave plunges over a quarter mile into the side of Santa Cruz Island, and during the rainy season a waterfall can form at the mouth of the cave. If you only have time to visit one sea cave during your visit, you’ll want to prioritize this one.
Hiking
There are 15 hiking trails covering the island, ranging from the easy 1/2 mile Prisoners Harbor walk to the strenuous 18 mile China Pines hike. The different trails will take you to windy bluff tops, wide vistas and hidden coves. Devils Peak, the highest point in all of the Channel Islands is located on Santa Cruz Island. This 2430 ft overlook sits on the property owned by The Nature Concsevcy, and a visit to this area requires a special permit. No matter what trail you take you’re in for some special scenery.
Wilderness
Hiking, camping, wildlife viewing and water activities are all popular here, but it’s very important to note that the island is extremely primitive. There are no stores, no restaurants, and no lodging on Santa Cruz. As a result, you need to bring everything you will need for your whole stay on the island, wether you are visiting for an afternoon or a full weekend in the wild.
Oceanlife
One thing that really sets Channel Islands National Park apart from California’s other 8 National Parks is the journey to reach the islands. To visit any of the 5 islands, you can plan at least one hour (up to 4) out on the open ocean. Many sea birds soar above the water, and I even saw a bald eagle on my most recent trip sailing around Santa Cruz Island. Over 25,000 common dolphins can be found in this area, and depending on the season you can expect to see blue, gray and humpback whales as well (just not at the same time) ;)
Know before you go:
• Island Packers runs trips to the island year round, and is one of the easiest ways to get to Santa Cruz Island.
• The boat ride from Ventura to Santa Cruz takes 1 hour plus.
• As with all National Parks, everything here is protected. It’s illegal to collect, feed, or disturb any wildlife, plant life, or other natural features.
• No pets are allowed on the island (service animals require a permit from the park superintendent).
• All water sports are at your own risk. There are no lifeguards on duty.
• Primitive camping is available at Scorpion Canyon Campground with pit toilets.
• Cell service is spotty at best on the island, and should not be relied on.
• Please be considerate of the Leave no Trace Principles to help keep this place wild and beautiful.
In Summary
Thanks for joining me at Santa Cruz Island this 4th of July week. For a virtual visit to this spot, make sure to check out my Behind the Blog video at the top of this post, or watch it on YouTube here. Until next week, I hope you find adventure and encouragement wherever you go.
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About Me
I’m Dawn Marie, a travel and lifestyle blogger based out of Southern California. With in-depth articles, travel guides, and reviews on hotels & products, I seek to share my journeys to help you plan for your own. My adventures take me all over California, the western United States, and around the globe...and every Monday I post new content here, including a comprehensive blog post and YouTube video.
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