Overview

Just off the coast of teeming Southern California lies a sanctuary from civilization, Channel Islands National Park. Isolated, lightly visited, largely undeveloped and unpopulated, these five islands — San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa, and Santa Barbara — are home to 2,000 species of plants and animals, 145 of them found nowhere else on Earth. Sometimes called the Galapagos of North America, the park spans almost 250,000 acres, half protected marine environment, half land. The visitor center for Channel Islands National Park is located on the mainland in Ventura. Visitors can reach the park via authorized tour boat, private boat, or the small airport on Santa Rosa island. Primitive campsites are available on all five islands. Anacapa is closest to the California coast and is known for its large population of sea lions. Biodiverse Santa Cruz has one of the deepest sea caves in the world, while archaeologists have unearthed extensive Chumash Indian sites on Santa Rosa.