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Channel Islands National Park

Designation: National Park

Location: California

Visit Official Park Website

📘 Park Overview

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.

🌤 Weather Information

In general, the islands have a Mediterranean climate year-round. Temperatures are relatively stable, with highs averaging in the mid-60s (°F) and lows in the low-50s. However, there are seasonal differences that visitors should take into consideration when visiting the park. In addition, visitors also should be aware that ocean and weather conditions vary considerably from day-to-day and island-to-island. For more information visit: http://www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/weather.htm

🚗 Directions

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.

Images

Steep, rugged ocean cliffs extending in an island chain.

Inspiration Point, Anacapa Island: One of the most spectacular views in the park can be found from Inspiration Point. Looking to the west, one may see Middle and West Anacapa, with Santa Cruz Island in the distance.

Credit: Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

Yellow flowers in foreground extending out along a rocky coastline to a natural arch.

Arch Point, Santa Barbara Island: With winter rains, the coreopsis emerges from summer's dormancy with light green foliage and bright yellow daisy-like flowers

Credit: Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

Pine tree high on a ridge overlooking a bay with blue water and white sand beach.

Torrey Pines, Santa Rosa Island: Torrey pines occur naturally in only two locations throughout the world--on the cool, fog drenched northeastern slopes of Bechers Bay and just north of San Diego.

Credit: Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

Brown seals and sea lions on white sand beach with blue water and partly cloudy sky.

Point Bennet, San Miguel Island: One of the greatest concentrations of wildlife in the world occurs on San Miguel with over 100,000 pinnipeds gathering to breed, pup, and rest.

Credit: Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

Rust and grey colored fox in green grass.

Island Fox, Santa Cruz Island: Thousands of years of isolation in a unique island environment has resulted in the development of the endemic island fox, a dwarf form of the mainland gray fox.

Credit: Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

Activities

Topics

Operating Hours

Sunday
All Day
Monday
All Day
Tuesday
All Day
Wednesday
All Day
Thursday
All Day
Friday
All Day
Saturday
All Day

Entrance Fees

No entrance fees listed.

Entrance Passes

No entrance passes listed.

3-Day Weather Forecast

Sunday, Mar 22

Fog

Fog

High: 67.5°F | Low: 59°F

Humidity: 96%

Wind: 6.5 mph

Rain Chance: 0%

UV Index: 8

Sunrise: 07:00 AM

Sunset: 07:13 PM

Moon: Waxing Crescent (11%)

Visibility: 6 mi

Dew Point: 61.1°F

Cloud Cover: 0%

Pressure: N/A mb

Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A

Ozone: N/A

EPA Index: N/A

Monday, Mar 23

Partly Cloudy

Partly Cloudy

High: 70.7°F | Low: 57.4°F

Humidity: 79%

Wind: 5.8 mph

Rain Chance: 0%

UV Index: 8

Sunrise: 06:59 AM

Sunset: 07:14 PM

Moon: Waxing Crescent (20%)

Visibility: 6 mi

Dew Point: 59.6°F

Cloud Cover: 0%

Pressure: N/A mb

Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A

Ozone: N/A

EPA Index: N/A

Tuesday, Mar 24

Partly Cloudy

Partly Cloudy

High: 69.4°F | Low: 57.7°F

Humidity: 71%

Wind: 5.8 mph

Rain Chance: 0%

UV Index: 8

Sunrise: 06:57 AM

Sunset: 07:14 PM

Moon: Waxing Crescent (30%)

Visibility: 6 mi

Dew Point: 57.4°F

Cloud Cover: 0%

Pressure: N/A mb

Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A

Ozone: N/A

EPA Index: N/A

Park Alerts

Western Gulls Nesting on Anacapa Island From April Through Mid-August Caution
During this time, visitors will encounter seabird rookery conditions: guano, strong odor, constant noise, bird carcasses, and birds protecting their territory. If visitors consider these conditions adverse, it is advised that they visit another island.
Temporary Closure on Santa Rosa Island Park Closure
The beaches and dunes of China Camp and Cluster Point, and area in-between, are temporarily closed to all visitor access for the protection of sensitive resources. Travel is allowed on marked paths.

More Info

Santa Barbara Island Open to Public via Dinghy Landings
Santa Barbara Island is open to public access following interim repairs to the dock damaged from high surf associated with Hurricane Marie in August 2014. Passenger landings at the island dock are restricted to dinghy landings only.
Temporary Closure on Santa Rosa Island Park Closure
The beaches and dunes of China Camp and Cluster Point, and area in-between, are temporarily closed to all visitor access for the protection of sensitive resources. Travel is allowed on marked paths.

More Info

Santa Barbara Island Dock Closed; Landings Restricted to Adjacent Rocky Ledge Information
Santa Barbara Island is open to public access, but landings are restricted to the rocky ledge adjacent to the dock. The dock is closed and is not expected to be repaired in the near future due to the severe winter storm damage.

More Info

Santa Barbara Island Dock Closed; Landings Restricted to Adjacent Rocky Ledge Information
Santa Barbara Island is open to public access, but landings are restricted to the rocky ledge adjacent to the dock. The dock is closed and is not expected to be repaired in the near future due to the severe winter storm damage.

More Info

Only Non-Potable Water Available At Scorpion Ranch (including the campground)
The water supply at Scorpion Anchorage is temporarily non-potable and must be treated by boiling, filtering, or with iodine. Repairs are underway and potable water is expected to be restored soon.

Park Events

Guided Hikes on the Islands

On days that the concessionaire boats run to the islands, guided hikes may be offered by national park rangers,  volunteers, or concessionaire naturalists. If they are not available to lead hikes, self-guided interpretive trail booklets are available.

Guided hike locations, distances, and departure times will be announced after your arrival on the island during the visitor orientation.

Please check with a ranger, volunteer, or concessionaire employee for more information.

Location: Park Islands

Date: Jul 11, 2018 12:00am to Jul 11, 2018 12:00am

Paid Event

Visitor Center & Contacts

📍 Physical Address:
1901 Spinnaker Drive
Ventura, CA 93001

🏤 Mailing Address:
1901 Spinnaker Drive
Ventura, CA 93001

📞 Voice Phone: 8056585730

📞 Fax Phone: 8056585799

✉️ Email: chis_information@nps.gov

Park Location


👏 Fun Fact
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