🥾 Montañon Ridge Loop (8.9 miles, 1,699 feet elev. gain): This long and rewarding hike provides incredible views of Santa Cruz Island’s western side and sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean & California’s mainland. Detours to Montañon Peak – the highest point in the park – and Potato Harbor make the hike even better.
🥾 Potato Harbor (5.0 miles, 620 feet elev. gain): Potato Harbor resembles a cove found along the Mediterranean Sea and is a must-see spot for those visiting Santa Cruz Island. If you’re lucky, you may hear or see sea lions down below.
🥾 Smugglers Cove (7.7 miles, 1,414 feet elev. gain): Smugglers Cove is a secluded beach on Santa Cruz Island’s southern side. The hike to it offers expansive views of Anacapa Island and provides the chance to get away from the island’s daytime crowds. Consider making a detour to the beautiful Yellowbanks vista, which adds about 3 miles.
🥾 Cavern Point Loop (1.7 miles, 291 feet elev. gain): This short loop is accessible from Santa Cruz Island’s Scorpion Anchorage. Cavern Point offers spectacular views of the park and is the best place to watch a sunrise or sunset.
🥾 East Anacapa Island Trail (2.5 miles, 390 feet elev. gain): The only trail on Anacapa Island is an absolute must-do. On this trail, visitors will find iconic views of the island that are worthy to photograph as a desktop background. Don’t forget to check out the lighthouse!

🚣‍♂️ Kayaking: Channel Islands Adventure Company offers guided kayak tours around Santa Cruz Island. They have different tours to accommodate various skill levels. If you’re able, reserve their longest one – the Ultimate Sea Cave Kayak Tour – to get the most bang for your buck.
🤿 Snorkeling & Diving: There’s no better way to see the park’s marine wildlife than via a snorkeling or diving endeavor. Channel Islands Adventure Company offers guided tours, or you can bring your own gear and explore Santa Cruz Island’s kelp forests on your own time. Scorpion Anchorage offers the best snorkeling and diving opportunities in the park.
⛺ Camping: To get the most intimate possible experience that you can have with the national park, consider camping on one of its islands. Scorpion Canyon Campground (Santa Cruz Island) and Santa Rosa Island Campground offer potable water, making them the most accessible. Most campgrounds are susceptible to high winds and require advance planning to enjoy.
🐬 Wildlife Viewing: It’s possible to encounter wildlife on land or in water at any time during your visit to the national park, so bring a pair of binoculars and a solid camera. Islands Packers offers whale-watching tours at certain times of the year.
🔭 Stargazing: The national park sports an incredible night sky, thanks to its long distance from California’s mainland. The only way to stargaze, however, is if you are willing and able to camp in the park.

🏞️ Malibu Creek State Park: This park sits just north of Los Angeles, about 40 minutes from Ventura. The mountainous park houses some excellent hiking and climbing, along with historical movie sets like 1968’s Planet of the Apes.
🏙️ Santa Barbara: The “American Riviera” sits only 30 minutes from Ventura. The city boasts a variety of outdoor activities – including beaches – along with a vibrant food scene and local culture.
🏙️ Los Angeles: America’s second largest city sits about an hour from Ventura. Here, visitors can explore Hollywood, the Santa Monica Pier, the Griffith Observatory, Universal Studios, and so many more places. If it’s your first time in California, consider spending a few days here.
🏞️ Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area: This large outdoor recreational space intersects with Malibu Creek SP and several other state parks. Those seeking a mountainous getaway should look no further than this popular area.
🏞️ Joshua Tree National Park: One of America’s most unique national parks sits about 3 hours from Ventura, on the other side of Los Angeles. If you are a national park enthusiast (or an avid rock climber) in the area for a few days, consider a stop in Joshua Tree.

📅 When to Visit: Each time of the year offers something unique for visitors to Channel Islands National Park, as summarized by this NPS link. I’d recommend either summer, which is peak season and ideal for many of the park’s activities, or spring, which brings vibrant colors to the islands’ vegetation.
⌚ How Long to Visit: A trip to Channel Islands can be as short or as long as you’d like, but depends on the island you visit. Santa Cruz Island – the park’s largest and most popular island – is best explored over the course of several days (if you are willing to camp). The same is true for Santa Rosa Island. The smaller islands can be explored thoroughly with a day trip.
🚗 How to Get There: The only way to reach the Channel Islands is by boat. Island Packers – located in Ventura, CA – offers transportation year-round to the various islands in the national park. The cost and length of trips depends on the island you are visiting.
🛏️ Where to Stay: If you want to stay in the national park overnight, be prepared to camp. Each of the islands features a campground, but the best is by far Scorpion Canyon Campground on Santa Cruz Island. If you only plan to visit the park for the day, you can stay in Ventura, Oxnard, Santa Barbara, or Los Angeles, which all sit in close proximity to the Island Packers dock.
🧳 What to Bring: This answer depends largely on what you plan to do in the park. At a minimum, bring sturdy hiking shoes or boots, sunglasses, a sun hat, sunscreen, and plenty of food and water. Those camping will need their usual camping gear along with carefully thought-out food and water supplies. I’d recommend bringing your own snorkeling gear (mask, snorkel, flippers, wetsuit) if you plan to snorkel: though rentals are available on Santa Cruz Island, having your own gear allows you to work with your schedule.

✅ DO bring plenty of food and water with you during your visit to the park, even if you are just visiting for the day. Only two of the campgrounds have water, and there are no amenities otherwise. Once you arrive, you must rely on your own preparedness and supplies.
✅ DO make an effort to camp in the park, if you are able. This will make your visit to Channel Islands National Park far more memorable than a simple day trip.
✅ DO make reservations – like Island Packers trip(s), kayaking tours, and campsites – far in advance. Many of these things book up on weekends months in advance.
❌ DON’T attempt to feed or pet wildlife, especially the island deer mouse, which can carry hantavirus. Though some of the park’s wildlife may seem friendly, this is no excuse to treat them like pets.