If you’re scanning for seabirds or marine life, the bow (or front) of the boat is the place to be-but hang on tight, because it’s a wild (and often wet) ride. It can get mighty windy out here, which creates chop, so anyone prone to seasickness might consider popping Dramamine before boarding. The islands sit on the southern side of the Santa Barbara Channel, and the shortest ferry crossing takes roughly an hour. If you forget the latter, or if you want to supplement your stash, the Island Packers ferry sell snacks and libations (including the adult variety) on board. In addition, visitors should pack plenty of layers, a personal first aid kit, and food for the day. With the exception of the Scorpion Canyon Campground on Santa Cruz and the Water Canyon Campground on Santa Rosa, there’s also no potable water. Plan to carry a gallon per day per person if you’re traveling outside those areas. Unlike many other marquee parks, there are no restaurants, hotels, stores, and traffic… which is actually a huge plus. Infrastructure is minimal across the islands. Pack everything you need-yes, everything. And I do recommend camping, especially if you’re visiting the two biggest islands, Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa, since there’s so much to see. Weekends fill up quickly for both, especially in the warmer months. It’s not as crucial to strike out early if you’re camping, but you will need to coordinate carefully and book early to ensure that campsites and boats are available on the same dates. Most folks cruise over on the Island Packers ferry (more on this shortly), and I recommend taking the earliest one you can schedule to maximize your island time. Unlike most national parks, this one is car-free-well, except for the main visitor center, which is located in the harbor area of the park’s gateway town, Ventura, California-so you’ll need to arrive via sea or sky. What You Need to Know Before Visiting (BlueBarronPhoto/iStock) I could tell that the Channel Islands had burrowed deep within his heart, and I suspect that after a visit, you might feel the same. When I asked Graham why he’d spent almost two decades of his life connected to this place of tiny foxes and outsize scenery, he responded that it was because he could experience the land and the ocean as they once were-before the 1980 creation of the national park, and before Spanish missionaries arrived in the 16th century and nearly decimated both the landscape and the Chumash and Tongva ways of life. I’ve never not seen one on Santa Cruz, where they roam Scorpion Anchorage and the nearby campground looking for discarded snacks-that is, if the massive (and surprisingly dexterous) ravens don’t get to them first. The most famous of these is the island fox, an adorable floof that’s roughly the size of a well-fed house cat. Over time, the Chumash and Tongva people came to inhabit the islands, and their descendants remain connected to them over 10,000 years later.īecause the islands are isolated from the mainland, nearly 150 of the more than 2,000 species of plants and animals existing across them are found nowhere else in the world. Four of the park’s five islands (Anacapa, San Miguel, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, and Santa Rosa) once existed as a single volcanic landmass that was partially submerged during a post-ice-age period of glacial melt, creating the chain we see today. You better bet I answered the call.Ĭhannel Islands National Park, located off the coast of Southern California, provides visitors countless pinch-me moments, but despite a fellow tourist blurting out that she felt like she was living in a movie, I can assure you that everything here is quite real. Beyond it all, the yawning mouths of barnacle-crusted sea caves beckoned like geologic sirens. Fleshy harbor seals sunbathed on craggy outcroppings as a bald eagle cruised a thermal above. A squadron of California brown pelicans perched nearby on craggy Scorpion Rock, while peregrine falcons swooped down to ruffle their feathers. On this perfect spring day, fingers of feather boa and giant bladder kelp swayed beneath my kayak. The idea of killer sharks existing in a place like this was akin to a villain in a Disney film to me even they took on an unthreatening feeling. It’s a testament to the stunning beauty of these islands and the Pacific waters surrounding them that I only ruminated on his response for a moment. “Well, probably the two encounters I’ve had with great white sharks.” “What are some of the most memorable wildlife encounters you’ve had at the park?” I asked Chuck Graham, a writer, photographer, and paddler who’s been guiding here for almost 20 years. While cutting lazy circles in the teal waters near Channel Islands National Park’s Scorpion Anchorage during my second-ever sea-kayaking experience, I made a rookie mistake.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |