This post was written in partnership with Visit California and Visit Oxnard. All opinions expressed are my own. Santa Cruz Island , the largest of the five islands that make up Channel Islands National Park , is a mesmerizing combination of landscapes. The trails, with ocean on one side and gentle mountains rising from the other, felt like being transported to Basque Country in Spain. It is the Channel Islands and it is spectacular. Despite being off the coast of bustling Los Angeles, the Channel Islands ranks among the lesser visited national parks.
It averages , visitors each year, a small slice of the national parks pie when compared to big hitters like Yosemite 3. This sense of remoteness means that forethought is required to visit Santa Cruz Island.
To reach its windswept shores, you must first book a boat ticket in advance. Due to its access via boat, you can expect to arrive at a certain time and leave at a certain time, and to get around the island you must walk. If you are now chomping at the bit to visit the Channel Islandsβand I very much recommend that you doβthen this comprehensive travel guide is essential to planning your trip.
In this post, you will learn what to expect, where to hike, and find helpful tips to make the most of your trip. Year-round, best in late spring and early fall. Most of my guides include only a brief bit of history to provide context, but the Channel Islands turned out to be another beast entirely. Its varied cultural and historical past is fascinatingβlone survivors, old human fossils, prisoners, a casual import of 24, sheep. History not your thing?
Just want to plan your trip? Skip to the next section! Because, as it happens, the Channel Islands is home to the earliest evidence of humans on the North American continent.
