Channel Islands National Park

About Channel Islands

Channel Islands National Park encompasses five remarkable islands and their ocean environment, preserving and protecting a wealth of natural and cultural resources. 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.

From the National Park Service.

Entrance fees

This park has no entrance fee.

Reservations

NPS lists no entry reservation for this park as of October 26, 2026. Campgrounds and tours may still need booking.

Weather and seasons

In general, the islands have a Mediterranean climate year-round. Temperatures are relatively stable, with highs averaging in the mid-60s (°F) and lows in the low-50s. However, there are seasonal differences that visitors should take into consideration when visiting the park. In addition, visitors also should be aware that ocean and weather conditions vary considerably from day-to-day and island-to-island. For more information visit: http://www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/weather.htm

Hours

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

Getting there

While the mainland visitor center in Ventura is readily accessible by car or public transportation, the islands are only accessible by park concessionaire boats and planes or private boat. Advanced planning is highly recommended.

Campgrounds

• Anacapa Island CampgroundBook on Recreation.gov
• Del Norte Backcountry CampgroundBook on Recreation.gov
• San Miguel Island CampgroundBook on Recreation.gov
• Santa Barbara Island CampgroundBook on Recreation.gov
• Santa Rosa Island Backcountry Beach CampingBook on Recreation.gov
• Scorpion Canyon CampgroundBook on Recreation.gov
• Water Canyon CampgroundBook on Recreation.gov

Webcams

• Channel Islands Live Broadcasts (live video)
• San Miguel Island Ranger Station Webcam (live video)
• Peregrine Falcon Webcam (live video)
• Bald Eagle Webcam (Sauces Canyon Nest) (live video)
• Bald Eagle Webcam (Fraser Point Nest) (live video)
• Ocean Webcam (live video)
• Anacapa Island Webcam (live video)
• Mount Diablo Webcam (live video)

Visitor centers

• Outdoors Santa Barbara Visitor Center
• Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center
• Visitor Center Anacapa Island
• Santa Barbara Island Visitor Center
• Scorpion Ranch Visitor Center on Santa Cruz Island
• Santa Rosa Island Visitor Contact Station
• San Miguel Island Ranger and Visitor Contact Station

Alerts

• Park Closure: Parts of Santa Rosa Island Closed During Wildfire Recovery
• Information: Santa Barbara Island Dock Closed; Landings Restricted to Adjacent Rocky Ledge

As of October 26, 2026. Current alerts on nps.gov

Sources

Channel Islands National Park fees on nps.gov. Prices, park information and photos from the NPS Data API, checked October 26, 2026. Photos credited to the National Park Service.