About The California Channel Islands

The Channel Islands lie off the California coast between Point Conception and the Mexican border in the Pacific Ocean. There are eight Channel Islands and public visitation is allowed on six of the islands. These include the five islands of Channel Islands National Park, located primarily near Santa Barbara and Ventura. Much of Santa Catalina Island, near Long Beach, is also open to public visitation.

This islands range vary in their size. Santa Cruz Island is the largest of the Channel Islands at 98 square miles while the islets that make up Anacapa Island respectively equal 1 square mile total. The islands are home to over 150 species of plants and animals including many endemic subspecies that are only found on specific islands.

Island Characteristics

The islands are usually grouped in several ways. As mentioned previously, five islands encompass Channel Islands National Park that was founded in 1980. This includes San Miguel, Santa Cruz, Anacapa, Santa Barbara and Santa Rosa Island. Santa Catalina Island is unique for it’s modern amenities and comforts made possible by the popular resort town of Avalon, California that attracts a large number of visitors each year looking to get away for an overnight stay or week long vacation.

The islands can also be split or grouped together by county lines. Santa Barbara County claims four of the islands while Ventura and Los Angeles County are each responsible for two of the islands respectively.

Running north to south, San Miguel Island takes the northern most position while San Clemente Island brings up the rear of this beautiful archipelago located on the eastern most front of the Pacific Ocean. In total, the islands encompass a land mass of almost 350 square miles or 221,500 acres.

How To Visit The Channel Islands

Most people begin their discovery of the islands and the surrounding ocean by taking a day trip to the closest islands (Anacapa, Santa Cruz and Catalina) or by whale watching near the islands. A day trip offers spectacular views of the ocean and a very good opportunity to see dolphins, whales and other wildlife. Whale watching trips focus and the marine life, and usually do not include an opportunity to land on an island. Day trips that land on an island offer the opportunity to hike on trails and explore visitor centers (Anacapa and Santa Cruz Island) or to visit the city of Avalon or Twin Harbors on Catalina Island.

Overnight trips offer visitors the opportunity to see more remote parts of the islands that are not accessible to day trippers. The only island that offers amenities like hotels and restaurants is Catalina (which also has campgrounds). Otherwise, you stay in campgrounds, bring your own food, and in some cases, your own water. San Nicolas and San Clemente Islands are owned by the U.S. Navy, and the public is prohibited from landing there, although some charter companies offer diving trips near those islands.

All six islands that are open to the public offer campgrounds, miles of hiking trails, kayaking, swimming, snorkeling, diving, whale watching, plus spectacular views. Catalina offers all of these, plus entertainment that also available in a modern tourist destination.

Island Packers

Island Packers offers quality trips and visitations to the Channel Islands. According to their website, they are also the "Official Boat Concessionaire for Channel Islands National Park." This family-owned company has been in business for over 50 years. They provide opportunities for families, school groups, businesses, research teams, and other island-oriented interest groups to visit the Channel Islands and explore the island's neighboring coastal waters. We highly recommend taking a boat trip with Island Packers for a convenient and safe way to visit the islands. You can find more information on their website here.