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Channel Islands National Park, Ventura, CA

Photo: TripOfALifestyle.com, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

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Channel Islands National Park

1901 Spinnaker Dr · Ventura, CA

Why you should go…

Channel Islands National Park covers five islands off the Southern California coast: Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel and Santa Barbara. You reach them by boat, and once there you can day hike, camp, scuba dive or kayak through the sea caves. The island fox lives only on these islands. On the mainland, the Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center in Ventura Harbor has marine life exhibits and a 25-minute park film.

  • #national park
  • #islands
  • #sea kayaking
  • #hiking
  • #camping

Good to know

General sport & outdoor guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Weather calls the shots

    Check the forecast the morning of and keep an indoor backup in your pocket for the day it turns.

  • Shoes, water, sun cover

    The three things that decide whether you last the whole outing or cut it short after an hour.

  • Parking and launches fill early

    On a nice weekend, lots and trailheads are often full by mid-morning.

  • Daylight shrinks in shoulder season

    Spring and fall visits need an earlier start than the same trip in July.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Channel Islands National Park, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Tours
    Outdoor Adventure

    Island Packers

    $50+

    Ferry service to Channel Islands National Park for day trips, camping drop offs, and whale and wildlife watching cruises.

    0.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Shopping
    Family Favorite

    Ventura Harbor Village

    Free

    A waterfront shopping and dining village at Ventura Harbor with boutiques, seafood restaurants and harbor activities.

    0.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Shopping

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Ventura

    Free

    Official visitors bureau for Ventura, California, with guides to beaches, Channel Islands access, dining and downtown culture.

    2.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Cal Coast Adventures

    $25–$50

    Downtown Santa Barbara bike shop renting cruisers, e-bikes and road bikes, plus guided bike tours and surf lessons.

    26 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Santa Barbara Waterfront

    Free

    Walkable stretch of beaches, harbor and Stearns Wharf with boating, whale watching and waterfront dining.

    27 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Aqua Surf School

    $50+

    Surf lessons, camps, and board rentals for all skill levels on Santa Monica Beach.

    48 mi awayMore like this