Channel Island National Park Live Webcams

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Introduction

The Channel Islands has over 12,000 years of human history. Native Chumash communities inhabited the northern islands for millennia, relying on the land and sea for sustenance. European explorers arrived in the 16th century, encountering a rich Chumash culture. By the 19th century, the islands transformed: vast sheep and cattle ranches occupied Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel islands, while fishing and marine mammal harvesting thrived in the channel waters. Ancient Chumash villages coexist with historic ranches and military structures.

On April 26, 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt designated Anacapa and Santa Barbara islands as the Channel Islands National Monument. Initially, the monument protected these two islands, but it was later expanded to include a one-mile area around the islands, encompassing offshore kelp beds and marine life. In 1976, all eight Channel Islands were recognized as a Biosphere Reserve under the auspices of UNESCO. March 5, 1980, marked a significant milestone when five of the Channel Islands—Anacapa, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, San Miguel, and Santa Rosa—were officially established as Channel Islands National Park.  The park includes not only the islands themselves but also a marine sanctuary that extends six nautical miles around the islands. Channel Islands National Park spans 249,561 acres (100,994 hectares), encompassing five of the eight Channel Islands. Santa Cruz Island, the largest, is divided between The Nature Conservancy and the National Park Service.  The other islands are Anacapa, Santa Barbara, San Miguel and Santa Rosa. In 2022, Channel Islands National Park hosted approximately 323,250 visitors.

Due to their isolation, the Channel Islands support fewer native animal species than similar habitats on the mainland. Birds and bats reached the islands through aerial means, while some species rafted across on debris. Notably, the islands are home to 23 endemic terrestrial animals, including 11 land bird subspecies. The island fox and deer mouse, recognized as distinct subspecies, thrive on each island where they occur. Bald eagles soar overhead, and marine wildlife abounds, making the Channel Islands a haven for nature enthusiasts.

Please visit the Wikipedia site for more information.

Hiking

The park is an impressive place to hike.  The majority of hikes are not difficult but they are different on each island.  See the NPS website for more information.

Anacpa Hiking has about 2 miles (3.2 km) of trails that offer scenic views of the coast and the last permanent lighthouse built on the west coast. The trails are gentle and meander over gentle slopes to dramatic overlooks. An interpretive trail guide is available on the island to interpret these and other island resources.

Santa Cruz Island offers several trails.  The majority are out of Scorpion Anchorage.  I would highly recommedn Smugglers Cove and Potato Harbor.  Easy trails range from the maintained, relatively flat, signed trails of Scorpion Valley to the unmaintained, rugged, mountainous paths of the Montañon area. Visitors may explore the national park property on Santa Cruz Island, but no hiking is allowed beyond the national park boundary onto The Nature Conservancy property. The boundary is the property line marked by a fence line.  The distance of the trails on Santa Cruz Island varies depending on the trail. The Montañon Trail is an unmaintained, rugged, mountainous path that is approximately 8 kilometers or 5 miles long.

For those of you who want a longer hike, I would recommend the hike from Prisoner's Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage .  It is 16 miles, no water till Scorpion campground but the scenery is incredible.  you can stay the night at Del Norte Camp if you want to break it up.

Santa Rosa Island has several trails and roads that traverse its eastern region, providing visitors with spectacular hiking opportunities. These trails and roads range from the maintained, relatively flat, signed trails of Scorpion Valley to the unmaintained, rugged, mountainous paths of the Montañon area. Visitors may explore the national park property on Santa Rosa Island, but no hiking is allowed beyond the national park boundary onto The Nature Conservancy property. The boundary is the property line (marked by a fence line) between Prisoners Harbor and Valley Anchorage. The distance varies depending on the trail. The Scorpion Valley Trail is a relatively flat, signed trail that is approximately 4.8 kilometers or 3 miles long. The Montañon Trail is an unmaintained, rugged, mountainous path that is approximately 8 kilometers or 5 miles long.

San Miguel Island offers several trails and roads that traverse its eastern region, providing visitors with spectacular hiking opportunities. The distance of the trails on San Miguel Island varies depending on the trail. The Santa Rosa Trail is a relatively flat, signed trail that is approximately 4.8 kilometers or 3 miles long. The Montañon Trail is an unmaintained, rugged, mountainous path that is approximately 8 kilometers or 5 miles long. While many parts of the island are closed to protect wildlife, fragile plants, and geological features, several areas are open for you to explore. San Miguel Island is owned by the US Navy and is open only when National Park Service personnel are on the island. A permit (including liability waiver) is required to visit the island. Visitors are required to stay on the designated island trail system. No off-trail hiking is permitted. The island was a former bombing range and there are possible unexploded ordnance. Visitors must be accompanied by a ranger beyond the ranger station.

Santa Barbara Island has several trails and roads that traverse its eastern region, providing visitors with spectacular hiking opportunities. Once visitors have scaled the rugged cliffs using the steep trail from the landing cove, they will find a just over 8 kilometers or 5 miles of trails that meander over gentle slopes and low mountain tops to dramatic overlooks and magnificent coastal views.

Grocery Stores, Hotels and Restaurants Easy, there are none 😃

Transportation

Channel Island National Park is accessable only by private boat or Island Packers Concessionaire ferry boats.

Camping