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Twenty miles off the coast of Santa Barbara, California lies one of the largest sea caves on the planet! Embedded a quarter mile deep into the rugged west end of Santa Cruz Island, the Painted Cave (Channel Islands National Park’s best kept secret) hides behind a relatively small opening.
However, this inconspicuous cave is so deep that the furthest reaches are engulfed in total darkness, with only the sounds of California sea lions to guide your way.
Miles from the nearest pier or beach, Painted Cave is only accessible by boat— and a rather reliable one at that considering the heavy wind and swell that consistently erode the fragile volcanic rock of west Santa Cruz Island.
As of March 2024, there are three options for exploring Painted Cave for those without their own vessel:
- A Painted Cave Charter on an Island Packers’ high speed catamaran
- On the way home from a Santa Rosa Island Trip with Islands Packers (Feb-Nov)
- A full-day Guided Kayak Excursion with Channel Islands Expeditions (summer only)
*Fun Fact: Often, a nearby cave called Blimp Hangar is often confused for the Painted Cave, deceiving passing boaters with its massive mouth while Painted Cave hides in the shadows around the corner. Scroll down for more fun facts!
How to Visit Painted Cave with Island Packers
Island Packers, Channel Island National Park’s transportation concessionaire, provides quick transport to and from Channel Islands National Park via their high-speed catamarans.
Whether you are visiting for two weeks or only an afternoon, Island Packers will do their absolute best to brave the prevailing wind and swell (and seasick passengers) to get you to your destination safely while pointing out as much wildlife as possible along the way!
Island Packers offers two trips that will get you up close and personal with Painted Cave: A Painted Cave Charter from Prisoners Harbor on Santa Cruz Island and a Santa Rosa Island Trip.
When each day is up, you’ll have explored on an island, around an island, and even under an island, all without having to get wet!
What to Expect on a Charter Cruise to Painted Cave in Channel Islands National Park
Channel Crossing
A Painted Cave Charter is the easiest way to take a look inside Painted Cave. This is the best option if seeing Painted Cave is your main focus, but you don’t want to get in the water.
Your day will begin around 8am when you arrive at Ventura Harbor to check in (departure times vary) and end around 6pm when you return to the harbor.
After checking in, you will board the vessel which will promptly leave the harbor and speed across the Santa Barbara Channel towards Prisoners Harbor.
The channel crossing takes about 90 minutes at the minimum with added time for traffic, a.k.a. wildlife sightings! Island Packers loves to stop and tell you all about the local marine life!
Upon arriving at Prisoners Harbor, you will stay onboard the vessel while those not on the charter cruise disembark, then off you’ll go towards Painted Cave! Channel Islands National Park is teeming with wildlife, so during this time, the captain will be on the lookout for more wildlife to show off as the vessel cruises through the park waters.
Painted Cave
After about a half hour, you’ll arrive at Painted Cave, where the captain will get you as close a look as possible at the cave—as close as sea conditions safely allow. Definitely take photos, and definitely look all around you, but don’t yell “echo” into the cave because we want to minimize impact on wildlife (sea birds and sea lions).
Some of the plant species that inhabit the cave are endemic which means they aren’t found anywhere else in the world! After some time spent here, you’ll return via a north shore cruise of Santa Cruz Island—narrated by an experienced Island Packers naturalist.
Exploring Prisoners Harbor
Soon, you’ll arrive back at Prisoners Harbor where you’ll disembark up a vertical ladder onto the pier and have two to three hours to explore Santa Cruz Island. Here, there are options for hiking, beach exploration, and even fishing! You might even see an endemic island fox or Santa Cruz Island scrub jay along the way!
However, keep in mind there are no shops or restaurants out there, not even potable water, so make sure to bring everything you need for your time on the island.
If you love hiking, I highly recommend the Pelican Bay Trail—a moderate to strenuous hike that weaves through canyon ecosystems (home to countless endemic plant species) and across expansive bluffs with views over the ocean. You most likely won’t have time to complete the entire hike, but I personally think even hiking ten minutes up the trail to the first overlook is worth it!
If this sounds awesome, be sure to sign a waiver (online or paper) in the Island Packers Office during your morning check-in (the trail is on private property of The Nature Conservancy).
What to Expect on a Santa Rosa Island Trip
A Santa Rosa Island Trip is similar to the charter from Prisoners Harbor, but your main focus is the island time while checking out Painted Cave is an added bonus on the way home. This trip is best for those who are already interested in exploring Santa Rosa Island, but also want to check Painted Cave off their bucket list.
Prepare to spend at least three hours on the water each way. Santa Rosa Island is located past Santa Cruz Island, so you’ll get a good look at both islands on this trip. This is a longer day, so plan accordingly.
You’ll have about three hours to hike (I like Cherry Canyon Trail) and explore the white sand beaches of Santa Rosa Island on a day trip, but camping is also an option.
On the ride home, the ferry will pull over and give you a quick look at Painted Cave before heading home.
Full-Day Guided Kayak Excursion into Painted Cave
This full-day guided kayak excursion (SUMMER ONLY), offered by Channel Islands Expeditions is, in my opinion, the BEST way to explore Painted Cave! The cave extends a quarter mile back into the deep, dark depths of Santa Cruz Island, and the only way to explore every nook and cranny is to get into the water yourself.
Plan to meet in the morning at Santa Barbara Landing, where you will begin your journey. As you cross the channel, be on the lookout for whales and dolphins!
Unlike the Island Packers ferry options, you won’t be setting foot on land because the boat will anchor just around the corner from Painted Cave! Channel Islands National Park is half underwater, and that will be the portion you’ll be exploring today.
Your day will be spent completely on the water where you’ll kayak downwind along the rocky volcanic coastline, exploring all the nooks and crannies of west Santa Cruz Island along the way. Then you’ll explore the eerie depths of Painted Cave! You might even spot a couple curious California sea lions who love the cave just as much as we do!
Afterwards, you can warm up with a hot shower aboard the vessel before heading back to Santa Barbara.
Who Painted the Painted Cave?
Contrary to popular belief, Painted Cave on Santa Cruz Island is not named for native Chumash artwork. Painted Cave was not painted by the hand of man at all, but mother nature herself! Each color represents a crucial part of the Channel Islands story:
The deep red and orange tones are a clue into the islands’ formation. Iron deposits wove their way into hot magma as it instantaneously solidified when it hit the cold ocean depths—a process which trapped pockets of air and ash, enhancing erosion and resulting in the striking sea caves and arches that you see today.
The greens are comprised of the strongest plants, mosses, and algae which have survived the Painted Cave’s harsh salty environment, resulting in countless endemic species—some only found in Painted Cave!
The purples of the intertidal algae appear near the water line, marking the tidal fluctuations that happen twice per day.
The white has arrived on scene by two very different mechanisms. Firstly, calcium deposits leech through the porous cave walls as fresh water from historic rain makes its way to the ocean. Secondly, unique bird species like pigeon guillemots nest in the rocky cave walls, and leave their mark behind in the form of guano, which fertilizes the critical kelp forest habitiat below.
The kelp forests below introduce a whole different palette of colors. From the dark yellow giant bladder kelp and bright orange garibaldi to the kelps’ nemesis: the purple urchin, the colors of Painted Cave tell an ever-changing story.
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