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Credit 1 Pam Starr
2 Alyn Robert Brereton
3 Julie MacKinnon
4 Linda Pittman
5 Parham Pourahmad
6 Larry Whiting
7 Randall Finley
Visitation: 680,000
Area: 250,000 Acres
Lat: 33.96157
Lon: 119.997177
Nearby Services
Gas-Ventura Harbor and beyond, .25 mi. MilesFood-Ventura Harbor and beyond, .1 mi. MilesLodging-Ventura Harbor and beyond, .5-2 mi. Miles
Site Facilities
Brochure/Species List Bus Accessible Camping/lodging
Food/Vending Machines Interpretive Signs Trails
Visitor Center/Ranger Station
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Top Banner Photo Credits
Pam Starr
Alyn Robert Brereton
Julie MacKinnon
Linda Pittman
Parham Pourahmad
Larry Whiting
Randall Finley
Channel Islands National Park - Site # 51
The park islands are the only place in the U.S. where California brown pelicans nest.
PremiumPremium - the most significant sites, worth visiting if you have limited time. Premium sites have high wildlife values year-round, staff on site, interpretive programs and/or displays, and well-developed facilities.

Anacapa Island, Channel Islands NP. Photo by Tim Hauf: 1024x682.66666666667 Heermann's Gull near Channel Islands NP Visitor Center, Ventura. Photo by Kyle TePoel: 1024x768 Whalewatching at Channel Islands NP. Photo by Tim Hauf: 1024x682.66666666667 Humpback whale : 1024x819.2 Kayaking in Santa Barbara Channel near Channel Islands National Park and Refugio State Beach.: 1024x679.25333333333 Common Dolphin come along side the Condor Express near Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Park. : 1024x714.24 A whale-watching excursion to Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Park. This incredible sea cave is one of the longest in the world. Photo by Barbara Steinberg: 1024x768

Background: The National park consists of five rocky, wave-cut islands and the surrounding one nautical mile of marine waters. The islands are crucial rookeries for California sea lions, harbor seals, northern elephant seals, northern fur seals, and threatened Steller sea lions and Guadalupe fur seals. Rugged cliffs and scrub-dominated plateaus provide critical habitat for 60 bird species, including Cassin's auklets, Xantus's murrelets, pigeon guillemots, ashy storm petrels, Brandt's cormorants, and western gulls. The park islands are the only place in the U.S. where California brown pelicans nest. Craggy shorelines include tidepools inhabited by turban snails, tube worms and limpets. The islands offer views of up to twenty species of whales, porpoises, and dolphins, some of which can be seen from the visitor center in Ventura. Many species here, such as island foxes and island scrub-jays (Santa Cruz Island only), differ from their mainland counterparts and are distinct species.
Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz islands offer some interpretation of previous native Chumash and and family ranching life. There are also lighthouses.

The Experience: The Channel Islands National Park provides habitat for numerous endemic plants and animals that occur nowhere else in the world. The islands are critical to nesting seabirds and to pinnipeds for pupping, breeding, and hauling out.

Wildlife and Where to Find It: From boats and kayaks and by foot trails on islands.
Island Packers, one of the park concessionaires, offers whale watching during the year. Please refer to Island Transportation for contact information. Other whale watch operators are located in Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Channel Islands Harbors as well as down in the Los Angeles area.

Viewing Tips: More than 60 breeding bird species. High probability of seeing marine birds year-round, especially in spring. Seals and sea lions are seen year-round. Also watch for humpback and pilot whales, seven dolphin species, small mammals, predators, songbirds, and amphibians year-round. Gray whales and northern elephant seals are seen in winter. Trails, camping, picnic areas on islands, boat tours from Ventura.

Nearby Viewing Sites: Santa Clara River mouth
Ventura River mouth
Los Padres National Forest
Santa Monica National Recreation Area

Festivals & Events: Difficult due to distance, travel time and cost to visit the islands

Visitor Information: Ventura Visitor and Convention Bureau - (805) 658-4726 - http://www.ventura-usa.com
Viewing Site Hours of Operation are:
Staff On-site: Yes
Open: Everday
Hours: 8:30am - 5:00pm
Year Round: Yes

Road Information:   Dirt. 
Road Hazards: 
 Number of Parking Spaces: 0
Parking Fee: No
Proximity to viewing area:
 Pull-Through Parking: Yes
Parking Notes: Parking at Ventura Visitor Center only. The islands are only open to the public by passenger boat.

How to Get There: From north of Ventura on Highway 101, take Seaward Avenue exit. Turn left on Harbor Boulevard and turn onto Spinnaker Drive. or, from south of Ventura on Highway 101, take Victoria Avenue exit and turn left. Turn right on Olivas Adobe Road. Take Spinnaker Drive to visitor center.
 

Contact Information
Managing Agency: National Park Service
Agency Site URL: http://www.nps.gov/chis
Physical Address:1901 Spinnaker Drive
Ventura, CA 93001
Agency 2:1901 Spinnaker Drive
Ventura, CA 93001
Manager Phone:805) 658-5700 Contact Us:by Email
Site Phone:(805) 658-5700
County: Santa Barbara and Ventura
Addition Website: