The best Channel Island to visit really depends on your definition of fun.
As a guide in Channel Islands National Park, I know that every visitor’s definition of fun is very different. Some want a 30-mile backpacking trip to a remote island beach surrounded by elephant seals and others prefer a boutique hotel with beach bars and restaurants. Maybe you’re somewhere in between.
I can help you find the best channel island to visit no matter what your interests are!
Is Anacapa Island the Best Channel Island to Visit?
Bird Watching + Scuba Diving + Snorkeling!
If you prioritize avian ecology, panoramic ocean views, and remote kelp forest diving, Anacapa might be the best Channel Island to visit, but let me warn you, Anacapa Island is an acquired taste, even for me. Most visitors don’t know what they’re in for when they arrive.
An isolated strip of rock an hour from shore, this volcanic island is home to thousands of nesting seabirds and is surrounded by some of the healthiest kelp forests in the world. However, there’s very little shade or protection from the elements and animals that inhabit the island.
After climbing the ladder up to the pier, prepare to climb 150+ steps to the top of the island where you’ll quickly find thousands of western gulls and California brown pelicans covering the guano-capped rocks. Throughout the spring and summer, nesting season is in full swing atop Anacapa Island.
As you hike to Inspiration Point, perhaps the most picturesque view in Channel Islands National Park, you’ll have to sidestep dozens of tiny nests with speckled eggs laid right on the trail. These eggs will soon hatch into tiny fluffy gull chicks hopping around. You’ll also have to dodge protective parents swopping within inches of your head, defending these chicks.
In the fall and winter, once most birds have left the island, the sea temperature is at its warmest and perfect for exploring the underwater world. If you can manage the current, the kelp forests below are teeming with life and make Anacapa Island one of the world’s top 10 cold water dive sites. Additionally there are over 150 sea caves and arches above sea level to explore via kayak.
Is Santa Cruz Island the Best Channel Island to Visit?
A Little Bit of Everything!
As the largest island off the California coast, there are a lot of things to do on Santa Cruz Island. If variety is what you’re looking for, Santa Cruz Island is the best Channel Island to visit for you! There are two ferry stops on the island: Scorpion Cove and Prisoners Harbor. These two locations are located 15 miles apart and are wildly different from each other.
Scorpion Cove: Sea cave kayaking + snorkeling + island foxes + hiking
Scorpion Cove is the easiest location to visit for first-time visitors to Channel Islands National Park. There are a plethora of rangers and guided tours available to you, as well as potable drinking water.
In my opinion, the best thing to do at Scorpion Cove is take a guided kayak tour through the sea caves and arches that make Scorpion Cove unique! There are also great beginner snorkeling spots and hiking trails here as well with some more challenging options mixed in. Additionally, if you take a quick walk through the campground, you’re sure to see the cutest endemic species on the island: the island fox!
Prisoners Harbor: Strenuous hiking + seclusion
Prisoners Harbor is for the more seasoned hiker. The trails are more strenuous, but the crowds are significantly less. The Pelican Trail might be my favorite hike on the island, especially with springtime flower blooms! There are also snorkeling opportunities, though I think Scorpion is better for this.
Is Santa Rosa Island the Best Channel Island to Visit?
Hiking + Wildflowers + Whale Watching + Painted Cave!
Santa Rosa Island is the best channel island to visit if you don’t mind spending twice as long on the ocean as you do on land. Santa Rosa is 3+ hours from the mainland, but is completely worth the journey!
You’ll get a great look at Santa Cruz Island on the way including the famous Painted Cave if the sea conditions cooperate. You might even see a few of the 30+ whale or dolphin species that can be found in the Santa Barbara Channel! Windswept sand dunes and incredible endemic wildflower blooms await your arrival.
As a day trip to Santa Rosa Island, your time on the island is rather short—only a few hours or so. This will give you time to explore the unique coastline and hike the beautiful Cherry Canyon Trail (best in spring), but won’t leave time for much else. To best explore Santa Rosa Island, I’d recommend camping or backpacking for a couple nights so you can also explore the Torrey Pine forest, Lobo Canyon, and Skunk Point, or one of the many serene backcountry beaches.
Is San Miguel Island the Best Channel Island to Visit?
Marooned with the Pinnipeds!
San Miguel Island is the best channel island to visit for the rugged outdoors person. Really, the only option to explore San Miguel Island is on an overnight backpacking trip. Located a 4+ hour rough ferry ride from civilization, this isolated island is not an easy destination unless you are prepared for lots of wind and sun, lots of hiking, and lots of pinnipeds (seals and sea lions)!
There is no pier here, so a small skiff will drop you off on the sand, from which point you’ll have to hike a mile straight uphill to the campground above. Besides this walk, you’re required to be with a naturalist for any other hiking here.
Most campers prioritize hiking to Point Bennet—a 16-mile round trip—that offers a rare look into one of the healthiest pinniped breeding colonies in the world. Here, you’ll see elephant seals, rare fur seals, and sea lions barking and groaning for miles along the beach.
As of this publication in July 2024, San Miguel Island is closed for ongoing trail reconstruction. Check for recent updates here.
Is Santa Barbara Island the Best Channel Island to Visit?
An Isolated Rock with a LOT of Seabirds!
In compete honesty, I’ve never been on the island. Santa Barbara Island has been closed due to storm damage for almost a decade, so I haven’t gotten the chance to check it out, but that kind of makes me want to even more! I’ve heard tales of rare pelagic birds and crystal clear water, but I’ll have to explore the tiny island once it reopens.
Is Catalina Island the Best Channel Island to Visit?
Shops + Restaurants + Hotels + Beach Bars!
Catalina Island isn’t in the National Park, but it is the best channel island to visit if you really don’t like camping. It is the only island with other sleeping accommodation options and more of a beach vacation vibe. The water tends to be warmer and the town of Avalon is always bustling with tourists and sailors window shopping and searching for their next beach bar!
The town of Two Harbors is much quieter but still offers similar island vacation vibes with restaurants and gift shops. There’s even a pretty nice campground there!
Of course there is hiking, snorkeling and backpacking too, including the famous Trans Catalina Trail. Catalina Island is even a sailing destination for many visitors who take advantage of the countless protected anchorages surrounding the island! However, most people visit for the touristy shops and island nightlife.
More to Explore in Channel Islands National Park
Your adventure doesn’t have to end here! Looking to explore more of Channel Islands National Park? Not only can you see whales, but you can also hike around on an island, kayak through massive sea caves, find some of the 150+ endemic species that call the island home, and even camp overnight!
Click on a guide below for help planning the perfect trip for YOU!
Looking for a mainland adventure? Check out some of my favorites in the posts below!