What Is Santa Cruz Island?
There are a total of eight islands lining the deep Santa Barbara Channel, each with unique ecosystems and endemic species. Only five make up Channel Islands National Park; Santa Cruz is the second closest and the largest of these!
What Makes It Beautiful?
Santa Cruz makes its own ecosystems! When I arrived, clouds covered the entire horizon, but by the time I reached the top of the Montañon Ridge, the sky around the island was blue, and the clouds completely surrounded it. I felt like I was floating on Laputa from Gulliver’s Travels! In general, though, apart from the stunning vistas, I was intrigued by watching the golden grassland shift to rocky chapparal to woodland along the hike. This was really the hike to take in some of Santa Cruz’s incredible endemic plants, like nowhere else on Earth!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Pay the entrance fee to help maintain trails, signs, structures, and other visitor services!
- Volunteer with the National Park Service!
- Donate to the Channel Islands Park Foundation!
- Be a responsible visitor! Remember the old adages: Pack out what you pack in! Take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints!
How Do I Get There?
The only official way to get to the Channel Islands is to visit Island Packers and take a boat. The total boating time is about an hour. Here is the address:
1691 Spinnaker Dr.
Ventura, CA 93001
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit the Park?
Boats go to Santa Cruz year-round, so pick a season! Winter is best for whale watching! Spring is best for flowers! Summer and fall are best for water sports (kayaking and diving)!
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