Theodore Roosevelt Presidential LibraryPublic Lands Directory

Alerts and conditions

Park Closure Parts of Santa Rosa Island Closed During Wildfire Recovery

Burned areas on Santa Rosa Island remain closed. Backcountry beach camping in Southeast Quadrant will remain closed for the remainder of the 2026 recreation season. Click the more link for additional information.

Read the full alert

Information Santa Barbara Island Dock Closed; Landings Restricted to Adjacent Rocky Ledge

Santa Barbara Island is open to public access, but landings are restricted to the rocky ledge adjacent to the dock. The dock is closed and is not expected to be repaired in the near future due to the severe winter storm damage.

Read the full alert

Weather Small Craft Advisory issued November 8 at 2:51PM PST until November 10 at 3:00AM PST by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA

* WHAT...Hazardous sea conditions.

* WHERE...Portions of the coastal waters of southwest

California.

* WHEN...Until 3 AM PST Tuesday.

* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...See the Coastal Waters Forecast (CWFLOX)

for more.

What to do: Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions.

Read the full alert · Until Nov 10, 2026, 11:00 AM

Overview

Channel Islands National Park encompasses five remarkable islands and their ocean environment, preserving and protecting a wealth of natural and cultural resources. Isolation over thousands of years has created unique animals, plants, and archeological resources found nowhere else on Earth and helped preserve a place where visitors can experience coastal southern California as it once was.

From the National Park Service

History

The designation history for this site (every law, proclamation and order, and the administration behind each) is being researched and checked by the Library’s historians.

What to see and do

Activities

  • Astronomy
  • Stargazing
  • Boating
  • Motorized Boating
  • Sailing
  • Boat Tour
  • Camping
  • Backcountry Camping
  • Canoe or Kayak Camping
  • Group Camping
  • Compass and GPS
  • Orienteering
  • Fishing
  • Saltwater Fishing
  • Food
  • Picnicking
  • Guided Tours
  • Self-Guided Tours - Walking
  • Boat Tour
  • Hiking
  • Backcountry Hiking
  • Front-Country Hiking
  • Off-Trail Permitted Hiking
  • Paddling
  • Canoe or Kayak Camping
  • Kayaking
  • Stand Up Paddleboarding
  • Junior Ranger Program
  • SCUBA Diving
  • Snorkeling
  • Surfing
  • Swimming
  • Saltwater Swimming
  • Wildlife Watching
  • Birdwatching
  • Park Film
  • Museum Exhibits
  • Shopping
  • Bookstore and Park Store

Browse hiking, biking and paddling routes on AllTrails

Plan your visit

Hours

Channel Islands National Park: The park is open 24 hours a day. Services and facilities have separate hours. Please see descriptions of those facilities elsewhere.

Getting there

While the mainland visitor center in Ventura is readily accessible by car or public transportation, the islands are only accessible by park concessionaire boats and planes or private boat. Advanced planning is highly recommended.

Visitor centers

Campgrounds

  • Anacapa Island Campground (7 sites) — reserve
  • Scorpion Canyon Campground (31 sites) — reserve
  • Del Norte Backcountry Campground (4 sites) — reserve
  • Water Canyon Campground (15 sites) — reserve
  • Santa Rosa Island Backcountry Beach Camping (30 sites) — reserve
  • San Miguel Island Campground (9 sites) — reserve
  • Santa Barbara Island Campground (10 sites) — reserve

Weather

In general, the islands have a Mediterranean climate year-round. Temperatures are relatively stable, with highs averaging in the mid-60s (°F) and lows in the low-50s. However, there are seasonal differences that visitors should take into consideration when visiting the park. In addition, visitors also should be aware that ocean and weather conditions vary considerably from day-to-day and island-to-island. For more information visit: http://www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/weather.htm

Phone: 8056585730

Whose lands these are

These lands are the ancestral and present-day homelands of Native nations. A section on whose lands these are is being prepared with tribal review. In the meantime, Native Land Digital offers a starting point.

Photos

Yellow flowers in foreground extending out along a rocky coastline to a natural arch.
Arch Point by Tim Hauf · Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com
Pine tree high on a ridge overlooking a bay with blue water and white sand beach.
Torrey Pines by Tim Hauf · Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com
Brown seals and sea lions on white sand beach with blue water and partly cloudy sky.
Point Bennet by Tim Hauf · Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com
Rust and grey colored fox in green grass.
Island Fox by Tim Hauf · Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

Pair it with