Anacapa Island in Channel Islands National Park

Anacapa Island

Brown pelicans and a 1930s lighthouse call Anacapa Island home.

Plan Around Anacapa Island

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Anacapa Island Details

Anacapa Island is actually three small islets strung together, accessible to each other only by boat. Five miles long and a quarter-mile wide, Anacapa is the closest of the Channel Islands to the mainland, located just 12 miles offshore of Oxnard, Calif. The island gets an average of just eight to 13 inches of rain annually, so it may be a bit surprising that 265 species of plants can be found on the island, including two only found on Anacapa and 20 others found only on the Channel Islands. An Anacapa deer mouse may scurry by, and the island's west end is home to the largest breeding colony of California brown pelicans. Harbor seals and California sea lions also rest and breed on the island, and marine life thrives in the rich kelp forests and tidepools. The Anacapa lighthouse was lit in 1932 and was the last permanent lighthouse built on the West Coast. Thirty sea caves are found on the island.

Difficulty

Low

Distance

N/A

Estimated time

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Region

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Nearby Parks Around Anacapa Island

Compare nearby parks around Anacapa Island when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.

176.4 mi away

Joshua Tree

National Park · CA

198.6 mi away

Pinnacles

National Park · CA

221.7 mi away

Death Valley

National Park · CA

258.9 mi away

Yosemite

National Park · CA

422.1 mi away

Zion

National Park · UT

435.8 mi away

Grand Canyon

National Park · AZ

Nearby Points of Interest Around Anacapa Island

Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Anacapa Island while the map context is still fresh.

0.1 mi away

Middle Anacapa Island

Visiting Middle Anacapa Island is a no-go unless you're a bird.

1.3 mi away

Inspiration Point (Channel Islands)

For one of the best views over the Santa Barbara coastline, make the hike up to this scenic outlook.

1.3 mi away

Inspiration Point Trail

Find, well, inspiration on the Inspiration Point Trail.

1.7 mi away

East Islet Campground

Take the 157 stairs to get closer to the stars on Anacapa Island.

1.7 mi away

East Anacapa Island

The eastern side of the island is open for exploration.