Channel Islands National Park Camping, California

Campsite name: Chickenfoot Lake in Little Lakes Valley, California

Channel Islands National Park is located off the shores of Southern California. The park consists of five islands and can only be accessed through a ferry or a boat. With only 30,000 visitors per year, it is one of the best places to get away from the crowds.

To visit the Channel Islands National Park you will need to travel from Ventura, California first. Ventura is located 1.5 hours north of Los Angeles.

Camping type: Backcountry Campground

Campsite opening hours: Check-in and check-out time is at 11:00 am. Quiet time is from 10:00 pm.

Booking Link: The boats that travel to the channel islands reach capacity much faster than the campgrounds. People who want to camp must first secure their transportation. Check out Island Transportation to discover more information about the boats and plan options.

Reservations can be made no more than six months in advance. They can be made at recreation.gov or via (877) 444-6777

Fees: Reservations are required for all campgrounds. There are no entrance fees to visit the national park. However, a reservation is charged which is $15 per night per site.

Facilities: There is one campground located on each island. The backcountry campgrounds are primitive and all campers must stay within the designated areas. The campsites feature picnic tables and pit toilets. There are trash containers and you must leave no trace and pack all of your trash out with you.

Unfortunately no fires are permitted however gas stoves are allowed for cooking purposes.

Two of the outer island campgrounds, San MIguel and Santa Rosa, have wind breaks at the campsites as the weather can be intense on these islands.

Ticks are present throughout the island and may carry diseases that affect humans including Lyme Disease. You can learn more about tick prevention here.

Camping Month: Camping is available all year round on the five islands. The islands are often sunny and feature a temperate climate during the day. However the weather can change quickly and on the northernmost islands of Santa Rosa and San Miguel strong winds and fog are common.

Sun exposure can be an issue in the summer season as the campgrounds lack shade and are exposed.

From August to December you are allowed to camp on the pristine beaches of Santa Rosa Island. With 55 miles of stunning and undeveloped coastlines there is plenty of room to explore.

Gear: Camping is available all year round on the five islands. The islands are often sunny and feature a temperate climate during the day. However the weather can change quickly and on the northernmost islands of Santa Rosa and San Miguel strong winds and fog are common.

Sun exposure can be an issue in the summer season as the campgrounds lack shade and are exposed.

From August to December you are allowed to camp on the pristine beaches of Santa Rosa Island. With 55 miles of stunning and undeveloped coastlines there is plenty of room to explore.

 
Food: Water is not available at most of the campgrounds and therefore you must supply all of your own water. However there is water available only at Water Canyon on Santa Rosa Island and Scorpion Canyon on Santa Cruz Island. For the boat trip, water containers may not exceed five gallons.

The National Park Service provides storage boxes at each campsite which are available to safely store your food in. The island features many scavenging animals including birds.

At the Scorpion Canyon campsite on Santa Cruz Island, foxes and ravens are crafty and have learnt how to open zippers. We recommend securing your food and trash with anything to help secure your zips. These include paper clips, zip ties, safety pins and/or small carabiners. Even though the foxes are very cute and you will most likely see many of them they are very sneaky. If you turn your back for one second they will creep up and take your food. They even like dirty socks too so be fox aware!

Sometimes the weather changes and the sea conditions are not safe for boats to travel to the island. This is more likely to happen during the months of December through to May. It is recommended that campers pack supplies for an extra day just in case this happens. However for any emergencies park rangers are available to assist.

Lookout Spot: Each island is unique and has their own stunning lookout spots. We suggest heading out for a sunset hike and finding the best location for a picturesque sunset. Ask the rangers on the island their favorite sunset location and you’ll be sure to have found a winner.

Activities: Snorkeling - A snorkeling tour will take you to explore the kelp forests that are home to colorful marine life. With more than 800 species of marine creatures that call the Channel Islands home. You may have a chance to see sea stars, reef fish, nudibranchs and sea urchins. You can bring your own snorkeling equipment with you or rent gear from Santa Barbara Adventure Company on Santa Cruz Island.

Whale watching - Book a tour and have the chance to spot wildlife such as the pacific gray whales, blue whales, humpback whales, basking sharks and california sea lions. Check out this handy guide which details what wildlife are around in the different seasons.

Highlight: Kayaking - The water is very clear on the island so booking a kayaking tour is a great activity. The Santa Barbara Adventure Company operates from Santa Cruz Island. Each kayak trip is unique however depending on the ocean conditions and wildlife sightings. Depending on the swell you may have the opportunity to visit sea caves. The company provides wetsuits, water shoes and snorkeling equipment.

Tips: 

For first time visitors to the Channel Islands it is recommended to camp on Santa Cruz Island. It is the largest and features the most activities such as kayak tours, snorkeling tours, hiking trails and a large campsite.

Here is our guide to which season to pick when visiting the Channel Islands National Park in California. 

• Summer Months
  • Whale Watching starts (humpback and blue whales)
  • Lots of crows
  • Great time for sailing, snorkeling, diving, kayaking, and swimming
  • Sea Lions give birth to their babies
• Fall Months
  • Whale watching season sends
  • Fall bird migration starts
• Winter Months
  • Best for sunsets
  • Rainy season starts
  • Not the best time for ocean activities e.g kayak, sail, etc.
  • Gray whale watching starts
• Spring Months
  • The islands are lush and the flowers start to bloom
  • The birds start nesting
  • Island fox pups are born