Why Visit Channel Islands National Park?
Channel Islands National Park off the coast of southern California, is home to thousands of years of natural and human history. The islands were formed offshore, which means they’ve never been connected to the mainland.
Consequently, the ecosystem is fragile and the few species that made the journey across the channel had to adapt and evolve to survive in their ever-changing island habitat, resulting in over 150 endemic species of plants and animals, including countless unique wildflowers in the spring. Some of these animals have gone extinct like the pygmy mammoth, whose 5.5-foot skeleton was found on Santa Rosa Island.
There are countless archaeological sites proving that humans found their way to the islands over 10,000 years ago— the ancient beginnings of a modern-day Native American culture called the Chumash. The Chumash creation story begins on Santa Cruz Island (Limuw), making Channel Islands National Park a cultural epicenter as well.
Many of these cultural locations are on bluffs overlooking the ocean, evidence that humans have been drawn to these same panoramic views of the ocean for thousands of years.
Below, I’ll help you hike to the best views of Channel Islands National Park where you can behold the same view that thousands of humans over thousands of years have found so special!
#4 Torrey Pines Loop: Santa Rosa Island
Difficulty: Strenuous
I love the Torrey Pines! Having grown up in southern California, there’s something extra special about a panoramic ocean view from the shade of a pine forest— especially a pine forest so unique it’s only found two places in the entire world!
Although this is a long (7.5 miles roundtrip from pier) and strenuous hike, sometimes it takes a bit of effort for the best reward! This trail would definitely be rated higher if it were more doable in a day trip (my personal advice below).
Hiking Torrey Pines Loop
The strenuous, steep portion of Torrey Pines Loop only measures approximately 2.5 miles in length. The other 5 miles of hiking is essentially just walking along the mostly flat Coastal Road to reach the trailhead. The Torrey Pine Forest is visible from the ferry as well as from the pier, so you can easily see your destination in the distance.
Once you’ve reached the loop, I’d recommend hiking clockwise if you have the time. This way, you’ll be in the shade of the forest for the steep uphill and have an incredible unobstructed view of the ocean on the downhill side!
There is a bench at the main vista point, but there are incredible views of Channel Islands National Park along much of the trail. Specifically, you can see Carrington Point as well as Santa Cruz Island and the California mainland in the distance.
Time Management on Santa Rosa Island: Camping vs. Day Trip
It will be challenging to complete this 7.5-mile strenuous hike in few hours allotted for a day trip to Santa Rosa Island. I’d recommend this hike on a camping trip, but if you only have one day, then plan for a summer or fall excursion.
During the longer days, pickup times tend to be later at Santa Rosa Island. Look for a 3:00pm island departure time at the earliest to ensure you have enough time to complete the hike.
Even so, you’ll still only have about 3 hours, so prepare to hike quickly, or even trail run the road to maximize your time in the forest!
#3 Cavern Point Loop: Santa Cruz Island
Difficulty: Easy
In my opinion, the third best hike for views of Channel Islands National Park can be seen from Cavern Point at Scorpion Cove on Santa Cruz Island. As the second closest ferry stop, it only takes an hour to cross the Santa Barbara Channel, leaving ample time for island exploration!
Cavern Point Loop is a short, rocky trail leading from sea level to the bluffs atop Cavern Point and back down the other side. This trail is considered easy despite the incline, but the effort is very much worth the view. I could spend hours gazing across the channel, looking for gray whales, and listening to crashing waves and sea lions. This trail is best completed as a 2-mile clockwise loop.
For those uncertain about the incline, you will have plenty of time to move slowly. For those uncomfortable hiking alone, there are guided hikes on this trail offered by volunteer naturalists practically every day!
For those wanting a longer hike, consider hiking to Potato Harbor or even Montañon (#2). You’ll pass Cavern Point on the way!
Hiking Cavern Point Loop
Cavern Point Loop is best hiked clockwise for a more gradual incline and incredible views on the descent.
Begin by walking straight from the pier, past the visitor center, past the kayak guiding storefront, and into the campground.
As you pass through Scorpion Campground, look for those adorable yet tricky island foxes! They are usually always hanging around looking for food from careless humans. Don’t let their small size and cute faces fool you, feeding them is quite illegal.
At the back of the lower campground, you will take a right at a small, single track trailhead leading uphill from the campground.
**Local Tip: Be sure to top up waters and use the restroom in the campground since there are no opportunities for either on trail.
As you climb higher in elevation, you’ll come to a saddle where you can catch your first glimpse of the incredible views ahead. Continue up the short, steep hill to your right until the terrain flattens and your uphill workout is over.
From here on out, the rest of the hike is flat until the final descent back down to the visitor center.
Although tiring, the work definitely pays off in the numerous vista points you’ll encounter. You’ll pass at least four outstanding vista points that each offer slightly different views over the eroded cliffs into the kelp forests below. Here, I often spot California sea lions, spotted harbor seals, and migrating Pacific gray whales!
#2 Montañon via Potato Harbor: Santa Cruz Island
Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous
In my opinion, the best views of Channel Islands National Park from Santa Cruz Island are from Montañon Ridge.
The entire strenuous loop is roughly 9 miles in length and takes you along the highest ridge line (1,700 feet) on the east end of Santa Cruz Island, while also offering incredible views of Cavern Point and Potato Harbor on the way.
I’d recommend hiking the loop counterclockwise so that you can get to the beautiful views right away, and can turn around early to catch the ferry if need be.
Hiking to Potato Harbor
Difficulty: Moderate
There are two options for hiking to Potato Harbor (ordinarily a moderate loop). Either go the quickest way through the campgrounds and up Potato Road, or add a little bit of distance and begin at Cavern Point Trail next to the visitor center and enjoy incredible views within seconds.
I recommend the longer, scenic route beginning at Cavern Point.
The exact route can be found here.
After passing Cavern Point Lookout, continue along the bluffs for just over a mile until you reach Potato Harbor Lookout, enjoying ocean views the whole way.
If this is far enough for you, complete Potato Harbor Loop by returning the way you came and descending down Potato Harbor Road through the campgrounds and out to the pier. Your hike will total approximately 5 miles.
Hiking to Montañon via Potato Harbor Trail
Difficulty: Strenuous
If you’d like to continue hiking to Montañon Ridge, backtrack about a quarter mile from Potato Harbor Lookout until you reach a trail heading into the island towards the mountains. Begin hiking along this trail.
You’ll encounter views of Chinese Harbor and Prisoners Harbor to your right as you climb in elevation, and the view behind you will keep getting better and better!
Once you reach the ridge line, you’ll find some large oak trees that provide some of the only shade on the trail— perfect for eating lunch while gazing over the east end of Santa Cruz Island!
Completing Montañon Ridge Loop
Once you are ready to descend, follow the ridge until you reach a fork in the road and follow signs for Scorpion. You’ll want to keep left at each fork until you’ve arrived at the campground. It’s a good idea to reference a GPS map at this point so you don’t end up at Smugglers Cove or on your way to Prisoners Harbor, miles from the pier.
The descent (Montañon Trail proper) has beautiful views but is taxing at the end of a long hike as the trail is very eroded. Luckily, this portion only lasts about a mile before the trail quality improves significantly.
Continue descending down Scorpion Canyon until you finish your hike at the top of the upper group campground.
Lastly, refill waters and use the restroom in the campground before following the main road straight out to the pier.
#1 Inspiration Point: Anacapa Island
Difficulty: Easy
My favorite hike for views of Channel Islands National Park is definitely Inspiration Point on Anacapa Island. This 1.5-mile easy hike is more of a figure 8 than a loop with the campground at the center.
It’s hard to get lost and regardless which direction you choose to hike, you’ll end up at the breathtaking Inspiration Point.
Getting to Anacapa Island
To get to Anacapa, you’ll have to book a ferry ticket (more information below) and take a one-hour ferry ride.
To get on Anacapa Island itself, you’ll have to climb a ladder from the ferry to the pier, then climb what we like to call the Anacapa Stairmaster— a series of 150+ steps that lead you from the pier to the top of the island. Once on top, the island is actually pretty flat.
Hiking to Inspiration Point
Once on top of the island, the hike is fairly flat but has no shade. Anacapa Island is very small and ribbon-like (a quarter-mile wide at its widest), so you’ll have ocean views the entire way, sometimes off of both sides of the island.
I’d recommend hiking the lower side of the figure 8 (right side) first, then returning via the high side (still keep right). Essentially, you’ll hike both small loops counterclockwise.
The lower trail is a tad longer and traverses the lower bluffs with a nice vista point where you can spend some time looking for California sea lions playing in the kelp forests below. The upper trail traverses the high point on the island and is a more direct trail, offering views off the back (south) side of Anacapa Island.
While hiking, you’re likely to see nesting seabirds (March-June), endemic plant species, California sea lions swimming through kelp forests below, remnants of coast guard structures built while they were constructing the lighthouse, and incredible views for essentially the entire hike.
Best Time of Year to Hike on Anacapa Island
Time of year really alters your experience at Anacapa Island, and many visitors don’t know what to expect. If your main focus is a peaceful hike to Inspiration Point, I personally recommend visiting Anacapa in February. Why? Let me explain.
By March, flowers are in full bloom, and the island is brought back to life! The island may be too alive for some visitors, as nesting western gulls flock to the island by the thousands. Unfortunately, they choose to build nests right on the trails, resulting in very stressed out birds guarding nests and harassing visitors every 10 feet.
By May, the adorable fluffy chicks have hatched and gull parents will swoop past threats with talons open, sometimes grazing and definitely scaring unsuspecting hikers.
When summer rolls around, the gulls are fledging and the anxiety levels aren’t quite as high, but the sun is hot on the exposed hike with no shade or sun protection.
However, late summer is a great time for snorkeling through the pristine kelp forests and kayaking through sea caves! The air and water temperatures are warmest at Anacapa Island in August and September.
By October, temperatures begin to cool off and the gulls have mostly left the island, restoring the tranquil environment.
October through February is actually a great time to visit Anacapa to avoid hot temperatures and crowds, but to time the flower blooms with a quiet island, February is best!
Why is Inspiration Point the Best Hike for Views of Channel Islands National Park
Each of the best views of Channel Islands National Park are breathtaking and only represent a small portion of the amazing hiking all throughout the park! However, my absolute favorite hike for views of Channel Islands National Park is Inspiration Point Trail for a couple reasons:
1. Anacapa is Relatively Easy to Access
Luckily, if you can climb a short ladder and 150 steps, you can enjoy incredible views right away. The hike is actually the easiest part!
Additionally, this island is the closest to the mainland which means you’ll only be on the ferry ride for one hour before you’ll be standing atop a remote island. Consequently, you’ll end up with plenty of time to relax, take your time, and enjoy the view!
2. You'll See Incredible Views of Channel Islands National Park along the Entire Hike
There’s nothing quite like panoramic ocean views in every direction.
While hiking Inspiration Point Trail, you can expect views of the ocean off every side of the island. Anacapa Island is so tiny that you can sometimes see the Pacific Ocean to the south and the Santa Barbara Channel to the north all at the same time!
Additionally, there are numerous vista points along the way that allow you a glimpse at the eroded volcanic cliffs and kelp forests below.
At Inspiration Point itself, you cannot only see middle and west Anacapa, but Santa Cruz Island in the distance. On a clear day, you can even see the mainland from Malibu to Point Conception and even remote San Nicholas Island to the south!
Best Time for Hiking in Channel Islands National Park
The best time of year to go hiking in Channel Islands National Park is from October to June, when daytime temperatures are usually cooler and the crowds are usually less crazy than summer.
Since the best views of Channel Islands National Park are from above, you’ll be hiking uphill a lot, so cooler temperatures are advantageous.
In terms of crowds, the least crowded time of year is usually from mid-January to early March, between schools’ winter and spring breaks. If you’re looking for warmer weather, the last week of August is also relatively less busy than the rest of summer since it’s the first week of school in many places.
During these times, you are much more likely to find greater availability when booking tickets and reserving campsites.
How to Get to Channel Islands National Park
These four incredible hikes are located in Channel Islands National Park. To get to the park, you must take a passenger ferry run by Island Packers—the park’s transportation concessionaire. Island Packers has been shuttling visitors to the Channel Islands for over 50 years!
Ferries leave from both Channel Islands Harbor and Ventura Harbor, depending on your island destination, so make sure to arrive at the correct harbor. The harbors are located about a 15-minute drive from one another, and both harbors have plenty of free parking.
The ferry ride will take approximately one hour to reach Anacapa Island or Scorpion Cove on Santa Cruz Island and three hours to reach Santa Rosa Island depending on wildlife sightings. Island Packers is known to go out of their way to show off the local wildlife (whale watching guide here)!
Due to the unpredictability of the Santa Barbara Channel, oceanic conditions shift quickly, especially in spring when high winds are frequent. These winds cause rough seas, and occasionally trips are cancelled.
Be sure to call Island Packers to find out your trip status at 5:30am the morning of your departure. Even if your trip is still good to go, the recorded message will warn of rough seas if present, and remind you of other important information to make your day go as smoothly as possible!
How to Prepare for a Day on the Channel Islands
Preparing for a day in Channel Islands National Park means preparing for a long day on the ocean and on an island with minimal amenities and minimal cell phone coverage. Bring everything you will need for a full day of adventuring including food, extra water, extra layers, and sun protection.
On the Island
On the island, the only amenities are pit toilets and a kiosk with trail maps. There are no trash cans on any island, so prepare to pack out all trash. There are no restaurants and minimal indoor areas other than a tiny visitor center at each location.
Anacapa Island and Prisoner’s Harbor on Santa Cruz Island do not even have potable water. Luckily, Scorpion Ranch on Santa Cruz Island and Santa Rosa Island have potable water spigots in the campgrounds if you really need to top up.
There is generally a volunteer, Island Packers guide, or National Park Ranger at each location as well to give you a full island orientation upon arrival, to respond to an emergency, or to answer any questions, but keep in mind the islands are considered a wilderness area with medical attention at least two hours away.
You can refill water bottles and purchase snacks on the ferry, but don’t expect anything more extravagant than microwave burritos and trail mix (there is draft beer though!).
Additional Resources
On the Water
Your day in the park is as much on the water as it is on land, and rightfully so, as more than half of the park is actually underwater! Crossing the Santa Barbara Channel is an exciting rollercoaster over swells.
Additionally, you might see whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions, sharks, sunfish, seabirds, or all of the above! The ferry frequently stops for “traffic” like this, especially on the nicer days.
For some, racing through waves isn’t as pleasant. If you are prone to seasickness, eat a light, healthy breakfast, take the proper medication in advance, sit outside on the lower back deck of the boat, keep your eyes on the horizon, and bring extra electrolytes to refuel once on the island if you do get sick.
It’s common to feel nauseous on the way to the island, but uncommon to feel nauseous on the way home due to the direction of the prevailing wind and swells, so once you make it to your destination, you should be good to go for the rest of the day!
Remember, the best views of Channel Islands National Park aren’t only from land but from the ferry as well!
For a Santa Barbara Channel Whale Watching Guide, click here!
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, designed to allow The Unremarkable Climber (me) to earn a small commission if you choose to book through them, at no extra cost to you. This really helps support the site and lets me know you find this information valuable! That being said, all of the experiences I recommend, commission based or not, are genuine recommendations for some of my favorite activities, so I hope you enjoy them as much as I have! Feel free to contact me with any questions.
More to Explore on the Channel Islands
Your adventure doesn’t have to stop here! Looking to explore more of Channel Islands National Park? Not only can you go hiking, but you can also go whale watching, kayak through sea caves, snorkel through kelp forests, see more of the 150+ endemic species that call the island home, and even camp overnight!
Looking for a mainland adventure? Check out some of my favorites in the posts below!
Where to Go Hiking in Santa Barbara after Rain: Top 4 Trails
The Best Way to Spend One Day in Santa Barbara, California
Los Angeles to Lake Tahoe Road Trip: 7 Day Eastern Sierra Route
Tangerine Falls: The Sketchiest Santa Barbara Waterfall Hike
Rock Climbing in Ojai, California: A 3 Day Travel Guide
Rock Climbing in Malibu, California: A 3 Day Travel Guide
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