This realistic Channel Islands Ferry to Hiking Trails Guide helps you plan your next adventure in this national park.

Channel Islands National Park protects five islands off the coast of Los Angeles, California. It is a great destination for adventure lovers who seek to escape the city.

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Sights & Places of Interest

You could choose to visit any of the five islands in the park. Four islands are next to one another. They are along the California coast between Oxnard and Point Conception.

Despite what the name suggests, Santa Barbara Island is not next to the city of Santa Barbara. It is closest to Santa Catalina Island outside of the park boundaries.

• Anacapa Island: the second smallest island and the closest to the mainland.
• Santa Cruz Island: the largest island and the second closest to the mainland.
• Santa Rosa Island: the second largest island, right next to Santa Cruz Island.
• San Miguel Island: one of the smallest and the most remote island of the four.
• Santa Barbara Island: the smallest and the most remote island in the park.

You might wonder what island to choose for your first trip to the Channel Islands. You should pick either Anacapa Island or Santa Cruz Island.

Both islands are easy to reach. They are a 60-minute ferry ride away from the coast. Both of them have a few easy, moderate, and strenuous hiking trails. You would enjoy the rugged landscape and see wildlife.

Other islands are also beautiful destinations. But they are further away. They are best for a longer exploration.

This Channel Islands Ferry to Hiking Trails Guide first describes the ferry ride to Santa Cruz Island.

1. Wildlife Watching

It takes about an hour to reach Santa Cruz Island from Ventura Harbor. This short ferry ride is ideal for wildlife viewing. You can count on spotting harbor seals and dolphins during any season.

Whales migrate to this part of the Pacific Ocean from Alaska in the winter. December through April is the perfect time to see humpback, gray, and blue whales.

You could use the ferry ride as a whale watching tour. There is no need for Angelenos to travel to Alaska, Hawaii, or Boston to watch whales. They can do it just a few hours away from their city.

1.1. Harbor Seals

It should not take you long to spot wildlife. Be on the lookout for wildlife while the ferry is still exiting Ventura Harbor. This is a prime location to see harbor seals.

These animals like the buoys at the mount of the harbor. They are not afraid of the boats. If a seal is at the buoy you will be able to watch it for a few minutes.

1.2. Dolphins

You can relax and enjoy the ride after the ferry starts sailing in the Southern California Bight. There will be about 20 minutes or so when marine birds will be the only animals you could see.

But you could enter an area full of dolphins about halfway into the ferry ride. In this case, get ready for an amazing spectacle.

Dolphins can quickly surround the boat. Once they do, they will start to race it. Dolphins will be jumping out of the ocean. They will then quickly go back underwater.

You will have about 5 to 10 minutes to enjoy this race. The ferry will accelerate at some point to reach its destination on time. Dolphins would not be able to compete with this speed.

You should consider taking an upper deck seat close to the boards. This seat almost guarantees that you will get the best views of marine wildlife.

But this seat has a few drawbacks. You would have to deal with direct sunlight for most of the trip. Apply sunscreen or wear sun protective clothing. This will make your journey on the island way more enjoyable.

1.3. Whales

You could also see whales if you take the ferry between December and April. This is the best time to see whales in the Southern California Bight.

Keep in mind that the ferry boat is not a whale watching tour. The captain will not be changing the course to get closer to the whales.

But you could still see a whale or two if they happen to be nearby. In this case, the boat will slow down. You will get a chance to see a couple of whale flukes from a distance.

The boat will then resume it journey to the island or the mainland.

1.4. Island Foxes

When you arrive at Santa Cruz Island, be on the lookout for island foxes. Island foxes are small and pretty animals. They resemble cats the most. And they are quite comfortable approaching humans.

The tourist activity is to blame. Some tourists feed the foxes despite an explicit ban. Others do not properly discard of the food waste. As a result, foxes started to associate humans with food.

Still, foxes are wild animals. You should give them space. It is best to admire foxes from a distance.

You could run into an island fox almost anywhere on the island. But a few spots have the most encounters.

• Potato Harbor Viewpoint.
• Upper Scorpion Campground.
• Scorpion Ranch.

The Potato Harbor Viewpoint and the Upper Scorpion Campground are a bit away from the Anchorage. But you will not miss the Scorpion Ranch. It is right next to the ferry landing.

2. Santa Cruz Island

You would need to disembark the ferry before seeing any wildlife on the island. You will likely be eager to start your exploration of the trails.

But not so fast. You would need to attend a ranger session first. This introduction is brief but mandatory. Every visitor has to attend it.

A National Park Ranger will cover the island rules and answer questions. You are on your own after this session.

2.1. Scorpion Cove Trails

Scorpion Cove is a major trailhead. You can choose from four trails.

• Cavern Point is a 2-mi (3.2-km) moderate hike. You will gain about 250 ft (76 m) on this trail.
• Potato Harbor is a 5-mi (8-km) moderate hike. The elevation gain is 325 ft (99 m).
• Scorpion Canyon Loop is a 4.5-mi (7.2-km) moderate to strenuous hike. You will gain 760 ft (232 m).
• Smuggler Cove is a 7.5-mi (12-km) strenuous hike. Get ready for 1,286 ft (392 m) in elevation gain.

It is a good idea to start your exploration of Santa Cruz Island with the Cavern Point. Depending on your fitness level and time you can add Potato Harbor and Scorpion Canyon to your hike.

Smugglers Cove is a longer hike. It goes in a different direction than the other trails at Scorpion Cove. You can visit it on your next trip to Santa Cruz Island.

This Channel Islands Ferry to Hiking Trails Guide will now describe the Cavern Point Trail.

The first part of the trail goes strictly uphill. Get ready for a quick elevation gain. Every turn will bring even more feet (meters) for you to cover.

This is the most challenging section of the trail if you only go to the Cavern Point or Potato Harbor. On the bright side, the views will get better and better the higher you get.

Even the trail itself is visually stunning. Just hope that you visit the park after plentiful rainfall. There will be lots of blooming flowers and high grass then.

The trail loses some of its appeal during a dry season. It looks a lot like Texas trails in the summer. You can get similar views in Big Bend or Guadalupe Mountains.

2.2. Scorpion Anchorage

You will arrive at a viewpoint as soon as the uphill trail section comes to an end. This viewpoint has amazing views of Scorpion Harbor. You will be able to see Scorpion Rock right across the anchorage.

But there is more to this viewpoint than Scorpion Cove. You would also see Anacapa Island and California Coast in the distance. You can just get a glimpse of a place where the ferry started its journey.

Try to visit the island during the spring or winter bloom. The area will look remarkable with yellow flowers and green grass.

Grass and blooming flowers make a large difference. You would still see Scorpion Anchorage and Anacapa Island during a dry season. But the views from this point would pale in comparison to spring blooming.

The trail mostly levels off after the viewpoint. It is flat and easy to follow all the way to the Cavern Point. There is just a fraction of the total elevation gain in this trail section.

Bushes and grass transform the surrounding landscape. It is remarkable how different the island looks during a dry season.

It will look as if you are hiking in Death Valley, Badlands, or Petrified Forest when the grass is dry.

There are still things to see on this trail even if the colors are different. The Southern California Bight will be on full display no matter when you visit the Channel Islands.

Amazing views of the Bight are a nice benefit of the Cavern Point Trail. You could see countless yachts near the islands. The views are a bit similar to the Golden Gate Straight near Lands End in San Francisco.

The Southern California Bight is also an important route for oil tankers. You will see a couple of oil rigs during your ferry ride.

2.3. Cavern Point

You will reach the Cavern Point after another 10 to 15 minutes. The views of these scenic cliffs are a great reward for this hike.

The Cavern Point cliffs look a lot like the cliffs in Ireland. They are not quite Cliffs of Moher or Kerry Cliffs. But they are a bit similar to Howth and Bray Cliff Walks.

The trail goes downhill after the Cavern Point until it meets the Service Road. You can take this path back to Scorpion Anchorage.

It could be tempting to take an easy way out. But you would have to find a way to fill the time there until the departure of the return ferry.

You could continue your journey to Potato Harbor, Scorpion Canyon, or both. In this case, do not get your hopes up about hiking downhill. This trail section is quite short. You will start gaining elevation soon.

The North Bluff Trail will continue west until the intersection with the Potato Harbor Road. Both the trail and the road have little elevation gain.

Get ready for a fairly flat hike. The distance to the viewpoint is 1.9 miles (3 km) each way.

You will get another look at the cliffs from a no name viewpoint. It is about halfway between the Cavern Point and Potato Harbor.

Cherish these gorgeous views. The trail is about to go inland as soon as you turn onto the Potato Harbor Road.

2.4. Montanon Ridge

The surrounding landscape resembles a desert during a dry season. Only a handful of cacti could be in bloom if the island experienced a drought. In fact, it looks most like nearby Joshua Tree National Park.

The trail would have brought you to the higher ground once again. You can enjoy the distant views of Anacapa Island and the mainland.

This section of the trail is quite boring. You will be hiking along the cliffs. Yet, there are no viewpoints to enjoy the views of the cliffs and the Bight.

There will be endless grass fields on both sides of the Potato Harbor Trail. The Montanon Ridge is the only other thing to see while hiking on the Potato Harbor Road.

This mountain ridge goes through the entire island. You would need to cross it if you would like to reach Smuggler Cove or Prisoners Harbor.

2.5. Potato Harbor

You will reach the Potato Harbor Viewpoint at the end of this uneventful hike. The shape of the harbor resembles a potato. It is responsible for the harbor’s name.

Potato Harbor is the westernmost point on the island for most visitors. You would need to hike the Montanon Ridge Trail to go further.

This 10-mi (16-km) trail is very strenuous. It is unlikely that you will have enough time to finish it before the same day ferry departs.

There is no ocean access from the Potato Harbor Viewpoint. You can only enjoy this beautiful harbor from afar. Still, these views are worth a hike on this long and somewhat boring trail.

But there is a way to reach the harbor. You just need to have a boat. It is very likely that there will be a yacht there during your visit.

The harbor is a popular destination for tourists. Between a third and a quarter of all daily visitors hike to Potato Harbor while exploring the island. You will not be hiking alone.

But differences in fitness level and abundance of hiking trails ensure that you will not be in a crowd either. Less people mean better chances to see wildlife.

It is hardly a surprise that Potato Harbor Viewpoint became a great wildlife viewing spot. Island foxes know that tourists bring food with them. They are not afraid to approach tourists.

If you failed to see a fox at the Cavern Point Trail, try your luck at Potato Harbor. Chances are you will see these cat like animals at this viewpoint.

Island foxes are not the only wildlife you could see at the Potato Harbor Viewpoint. Sea gulls are a common sight. Keep an eye out for ravens. These birds wait for you to drop some food.

2.6. Upper Scorpion Campground

You should turn back towards Scorpion Anchorage if you plan on making it in time for the same day ferry. You would need to take the Potato Harbor Road again for 0.7 miles (1.1 km).

Once you reach the intersection with the North Bluff Trail, you will have two options. You could return via the same trail you used on the way in.

Or you could continue on the Potato Harbor Road towards the Upper Scorpion Campground. This 0.9-mi (1.5-km) path goes downhill. It is also a trailhead for the Scorpion Canyon Trail.

The campground is easy to spot thanks to a few tall eucalyptus trees. You will be able to spot them during any season. The whole area will look quite different in a drought.

But you can could count on these evergreen trees. They will remain green even during dry seasons thanks to a creek that flows in the valley. Go towards these trees and you will not get lost.

The campground is another magnet for island foxes. Foxes know that they can always find food scraps near people. And what could be a better spot for food waste than a campground?

Get ready to spot a fox near the campground and Scorpion Ranch. You can count on the presence of foxes in this area. This will be one of your final chances to see these island creatures on this trip.

You will never know when you will see a fox. It could jump out of the surrounding bushes. Or it might even cross the trail right in front of you.

2.7. Scorpion Canyon

The campground is at a trail junction. It is possible to return to Scorpion Anchorage via a shortcut. This is a good idea if you are short on time.

You would have hiked a total of 5 miles (8 km) and gained 530+ ft (162 m) in elevation. This is a respectable distance with lots of views and memories.

But there is another option if you have the time and strength to carry on. The Scorpion Canyon Loop Trail is a longer and more challenging path.

It will take you another 3.5 miles (5.6 km) to get to the Anchorage. There is also extra 735 ft (224 m) in elevation gain. Still, this trail is worth another chance to get great views of the island.

2.8. Smugglers Road

The first few miles (km) of the loop are a strenuous uphill hike. If you manage to survive it, you would get beautiful views of the island. The best views are at the intersection with the Smugglers Road.

This road connects Scorpion Anchorage with Smugglers Cove. You would need at least an 40 minutes to reach the Cove from the Scorpion Canyon trailhead. Add another 50 minutes for the hike back.

The distance and elevation gain are comparable to the Scorpion Canyon Loop Trail. Another 3.9 miles (6.3 km) and 764 ft (232 m) in elevation gain are no joke.

You will likely be cutting it close if you take the Smugglers Road to the Cove. It could be difficult to get back in time for the ferry.

It would be wise to turn north towards Scorpion Anchorage. The Smugglers Road goes strictly downhill from this point. It is a fairly easy path to follow.

2.9. Little Scorpion Anchorage

There is one more place for you to visit before you reach Scorpion Anchorage. Take a side trail from the Smugglers Road before it goes around a ridge.

This way you could get a closer look at the Scorpion Rock and Little Scorpion Anchorage. The views there will be breathtaking!

The road takes a sharp turn around the cliff after this side trail. You will get a view of harbor, anchorage, and historic ranch. You will reach Scorpion Anchorage just in time for your ferry back to Ventura.

Continue with this Channel Islands Ferry to Trails Guide. You will learn more about ways to get to the sights, entrance requirements, and places to stay.

Getting to Channel Islands

Channel Islands National Park is about 80 miles (129 km) west of Los Angeles, California.

You could only access the park by a private boat or public passenger ferry. A journey to the islands starts at either Ventura or Oxnard harbors.

Make sure to check the departure port for your ferry. Most ferries leave from Ventura Harbor. But some Anacapa Island ferries depart from Oxnard.

Ventura Harbor will be the starting point for your ride if you visit Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island.

Ventura and Oxnard are about halfway between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. You can reach these cities by car or train fro LA.

• Car: a drive from Los Angeles takes about an hour and 15 minutes. A rental car is a faster and more economical way of travel for a larger group.
• Metrolink: a journey on this train takes 2 hours. It costs $14 per person each way.
• Amtrak: a train ride takes about 2 hours. It costs $26 per person each way.

Where to Stay near Channel Islands

There is an easy answer for a place to stay when visiting the Channel Islands. You could stay right on one of the islands.

This option will work best if you are into camping. In this case, go ahead and book a spot at one of the campsites on the island.

If camping is not your thing, you would have to find a place to stay on the mainland. Staying in Ventura makes great sense when visiting any of the Channel Islands. The city’s harbor is a gateway to the park.

You could also look into places to stay in nearby Oxnard. Oxnard Harbor is a starting point for a ferry ride to Anacapa Island. Both Oxnard and Ventura are just a short drive from the harbors.

All ferries to the islands leave early in the morning. It means you have to be at the starting point at 9:30 a.m. or earlier. You might not want to drive from afar that morning.

If you do not mind a slightly earlier start to the day, there are a few other options. Look into places to stay in Santa Barbara and Thousand Oaks. Both cities have a lot of properties for you to choose from.

It could still happen that you do not find a place to stay to your liking in either city. There is one final option. But it involves a longer drive.

You would need to venture to Los Angeles. You will find a great selection of hotels and vacation properties in the second largest city in the United States.

A great deal could make a drive well worth it. Budget at least 75 minutes to reach Ventura or Oxnard from LA without traffic.

Entrance Requirements & Passes

Channel Islands National Park does not charge entrance fees. If you have a boat you can visit the Channel Islands for free.

But most visitors to the park do not have their own boat. They arrive on a ferry. Island Packers is the sole ferry operator. The port, ferry travel time, and prices differ depending on the island you choose to visit.

• It takes 1 hour to reach Anacapa Island or Santa Cruz Island.
• But you need to budget 3 hours to get to Santa Barbara Island.

This Channel Islands Ferry to Trails Guide described a trip to Santa Cruz Island. There are two anchorages on the island. You can travel to Scorpion Cove and Prisoners Harbor.

Both anchorages have scenic trails. But Scorpion Cove is a better destination for a day trip. There is a good reason for it. The same ferry brings you to both anchorages.

It first stops at Scorpion Cove before going to Prisoners Harbor. You would have to spend time waiting for Scorpions visitors to disembark.

The same thing happens on the way back. The ferry leaves Prisoners Harbor before picking up park visitors at Scorpions Cove.

As a result, disembarking at Scorpion Cove gives you almost two more hours on the island.

There is a trail that connects the two anchorages. Bu it is impossible to reach the same day return ferry unless you go for a trail run. You need to cover 13 miles (21 km).

A round trip ferry ride to either Santa Cruz destination cost $63. Add another $21 to the cost of the return ticket if you plan on camping on the island. Book your trip early since the ferry rides often sell out.

Takeaways: Channel Islands Ferry to Hiking Trails

Channel Islands National Park is a must visit destination when in Los Angeles. These islands are an oasis of tranquillity right next to one of the busiest metro areas in the United States.

You might wonder whether these islands are worth a long journey from the city. It will take you a full day to visit even the closest Channel Islands. You will spend at least 2.5 hours in a car and 2 hours in a ferry.

But the beauty of these islands is well worth this journey. Go to Anacapa or Santa Cruz Islands on your first trip. Take the earliest ferry to the island and a late return ferry to Ventura Harbor.

This will leave you plenty of time to visit the Cavern Point, Potato Harbor, Scorpion Canyon, and Little Anchorage.

You can spot harbor seals and dolphins on the way to the island. You can even see whales if you visit the islands in the winter. Once on the island, look out for the island foxes.

Take a look at this Channel Islands Ferry to Hiking Trails Video Guide. And visit the YouTube channel for the latest videos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Safe realist travels!