National park · California

Channel Islands National Park

Eight rugged islands off the Southern California coast often called 'America's Galápagos' for their endemic species (like the island fox), with human habitation traced back 8,000 to 13,000 years.

Entrance
No fee listed by NPS
Hours
Open 24 hours daily Channel Islands National Park
Established
March 5, 1980
Region
California
Channel Islands National Park
Photo: NPS Photo · Public domain (US National Park Service)
The Channel Islands National Park patch

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History

Channel Islands National Park protects significant natural, scenic, wildlife, and cultural resources of the Channel Islands, which have been relatively undeveloped despite their proximity to California's densely populated coast. The park also preserves evidence of ancient human habitation dating back 8,000 to 13,000 years.

Key events

  1. Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo first observed the Channel Islands in 1542.
  2. Anacapa and Santa Barbara islands were designated a national monument in 1938.
  3. The 1969 oil spill from a Union Oil rig was the largest at the time in U.S. territorial waters, impacting wildlife and leading to environmental protections.
  4. All eight Channel Islands became a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1976.

Trails

  • Cavern Point Loop 2 mi · Moderate
  • Inspiration Point 1.5 mi · Moderate
  • Smugglers Cove 7 mi · Moderate
  • Lobo Canyon 9 mi · Moderate
  • Prisoners Harbor to Pelican Bay 8 mi · Hard

Plan your visit

Hours · Channel Islands National Park

Open 24 hours, every day

The park is open 24 hours a day. Services and facilities have separate hours. Please see descriptions of those facilities elsewhere.

Entrance fees

NPS lists no entrance fee for this park.

Fees and hours as of May 2026. Check current details on NPS.gov

When to go

  • Spring. Gray whale migration, wildflowers, calm seas for kayaking
  • Summer. Best kayaking conditions, warmest water for snorkeling, blue whales
  • Fall. Fewer crowds, humpback whales, excellent visibility
  • Winter. Gray whale watching, elephant seal breeding, solitude

Wildlife

Island foxesSea lionsHarbor sealsDolphinsBlue whalesGray whalesIsland scrub jaysBrown pelicans

Nearby patches

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