The Channel Islands form an eight-island archipelago along the Santa Barbara Channel in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Southern California. Five of the islands are part of Channel Islands National Park, and the waters surrounding these islands make up Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.
We took a cruise around Anacapa Island on a beautiful sunny day.
Anacapa Island
And the next day, went for a foggy boat ride to hike Santa Cruz Island from Scorpion Beach to Potato Harbor.
Santa Cruz Island
Wildlife
Since the Channel Islands have never been attached to the mainland they are referred to as the Galapagos of North America. Isolation over thousands of years has created unique animals, plants, and archeological resources found nowhere else on Earth and helped preserve a place where visitors can experience coastal southern California as it once was.
We saw dozens of dolphins playing as we cruised to the islands.
The rocky shores of Anacapa are perfect resting and breeding areas for California sea lions and harbor seals. The raucous barking of sea lions can be heard from most areas of the island.
Seabirds are probably the most conspicuous wildlife on Anacapa Island. Thousands of birds use Anacapa as a nesting area because of the relative lack of predators on the island. While the steep cliffs of West Anacapa are home to the largest breeding colony of endangered California brown pelicans, all the islets of Anacapa host the largest breeding colony of western gulls in the world.
Ventura Pier
We spent a couple of hours on the beach watching the surfers and enjoying the day on the pier.
Big thanks to friends Tim, Jenn, and Allison (sorry no picture) for driving so far to meet with us. We had a great time catching up. Hope we can do it again when we are back in California.
Next big stop will be Gold Canyon, Arizona. We will stay there for the remainder of the year to get some service done to our RV and relax during the holidays.
10 thoughts on “Channel Islands National Park”
Wow! Looks beautiful! Hope all is well, O Intrepid Ones. We miss you guys!
Miss you too! Can’t wait to see you when we are in Houston. More to follow on those plans. Take care.
They are wonderful pictures and you both look great. Thanks for sharing. Take care
Thanks Mary Alice. Hope you enjoyed summer and this school year is going well for you. Hope we can catch up soon.
Oh these are some of the most beautiful photos. I would love to go there and see all the birds, wild life,
the beautiful waters and rock formations. You guys are so fortunate to take all these wonder trips to beautiful areas. I know everyone has enjoyed the photos as much as I have. Hope you have a great time in Arizona. I am sure you have been to Lake Powell in Arizona…if not and you are near, you would love it. The boat tours are
great. Hope you get some rest and enjoy the rest of the year.
Hi Sue. Thank you. Scott is doing a great job of documenting our travels. We ventured into the Lake Powell area when we were driving from the Grand Canyon to Zion. We made sure to put this area on our places to return to. Hope Ed is recovering and that you are having a nice summer.
Hello! You guys look great. The island is beautiful. Wish I were their with you. Love Glynda
Hi Glynda. Wish you were with us too. Love you.
Tim finally gave me your blog info – was so great to meet you guys! Definitely let us know next time you are in the area, we would love to catch up!
Hi Jenn, Loved meeting you too. Let me know if you are interested and I can sign you up for our blog. Hope to be back in CA 2021. Next year we will be going up to Maine and back to TX. Take care