A recent jaunt to Channel Islands National Park proved that its little-known islands off the coast of Los Angeles are full of rugged escapades and amazes. Spoiler alert: There are adorable native island foxes everywhere.
A rain-soaked tone on our picnic table read: “Attention Campers: The commotion pate our lane is appearing more hazardous now. Due to the extreme breeze gales, rainfall, and swells expected, the shuttle will not likely run tomorrow or even the next day. The last ferry off small island developing buds today at 3:30 p.m. If you are unable to catch this shuttle, find the commando to drivel up with and he should be able to supply you with extra nutrient if needed.”
Editor’s note: Such articles is part of our #NationalParksFieldTrip line, written by GearJunkie editor Kyle Nossaman as he and his wife trip national parks during a full time on the road.
My wife and I were spending a few eras in Channel Islands National Park on Santa Cruz Island, 12 miles off the California coast. We’d planned for a lovely three-day island getaway complete with speaking on the beach, kayaking in sea caves, and snorkeling alongside brightly colored fish. We suspected that hiking to cliffsides and tenting under the stars were, unfortunately, killed by Mother Nature’s plans.
That said, our short time exploring the little-known national park a few miles west of Los Angeles astounded us with its abundance of remote undertaking, untouched attractivenes, and strong powers of nature.
A National Park of Islands
Half of Channel Islands National Park is under the sprays of the Pacific Ocean. The other half is divided into five predominantly undeveloped islands. The only highway to access each of the islands is via a reserved ferrying, seaplane, or private craft. Each island has only one demonstrated campsite( reservations necessitated ), but no trash receptacles are rendered and ocean is not available on three of the 5 islands. Popular activities include hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, and even surfing.
Santa Cruz Island is the most important island and usually the cheapest to access. We decided it would be a great selection for our three-day stay in late November and reserved our ferry journey ($ 158 total for two camper tickets) and campsite ($ 30 for two nights) online.
Ferrying From City to Wilderness
At 9:00 a.m. on Day One, we boarded the Island Packers ferry to Santa Cruz Island from the Ventura, Calif ., harbour. We each carried a big knapsack with our camping paraphernalium, meat, and even our two-person packraft. We were acceded to by a local academy group of about 30 people who, like most visitors, had plans for a short day trip before returning that afternoon. Merely one other group of three beings had plans for an overnight stay.
Island Packers shuttle from Ventura Harbor to Santa Cruz Island
The 12 -mile ferry ride normally takes an hour. Along the road, we learnt ocean lions, pelicans, and the thousands of dolphins. Our command braked the barge a number of times to let the dolphins swim close to the ship and mount around in our wake. Before too long, the countries of the south California coast was faint in the distance as we stepped onto Santa Cruz Island.
Dolphins prancing right in front of the boat
A park ranger accosted the campers and received information of the regulations: Restraint clean drinking water is accessible, use the crypt bathrooms, and watch out for the devilishly cute native island fox. We tromped to our earmarked tent discern, Number 22, and set up our gear. The 31 -spot campground had only two other campers that night.
We felt like we had the whole island to ourselves.
Sea Kayaking Into Caves
With the knowledge of some flood expected the next day, we carried our Alpacka Raft FX42 packraft and Aqua-Bound Whiskey Fiberglass four-piece paddles to the nearby shore. After a quick setup, we were on the water, paddling in the mellowed curves above colorful fish.
Alpacka Raft FX42 two-person packraft and Aqua-Bound Whiskey Fiberglass four-piece paddle
We stayed close to the coastline, go looking for the island’s renowned ocean caves to explore in our ship. Eventually, we learnt a large cave where we bobbed in the spray and devour a picnic lunch. A curious sea lion met us in the inlet before start out to deeper waters.
After lunch, we continued our paddle along the towering cliffsides.
We attempted to round a reces of the island but were denied by the vehement breeze and thriving curves. We made the cue to turn around and principal back to coast. Formerly back on region, we hiked a 4-mile loop trail to a couple of cliffside forgets: Cavern Point and Potato Harbor. Potato Harbor was a gorgeous neglect of two picturesque creeks and surpassed the index of our favorite hikes on the island.
Potato Harbor
That night, we eat a freeze-dried lasagna dinner and watched small island developing foxes run around in search of mice and insects.
Off-Trail Exploration
On Day Two, we woke up early to set off on a longer 12 -mile loop hike. A commando has taught us that the members of the trail is technically merely a” social line” and that route-finding and off-trail hiking would be required. The loop-the-loop mixed the Scorpion Canyon, Montanon Ridge, and Smugglers Road routes. Once up on Montanon Ridge, 1,808 hoofs above sea level with swelling views of the island, we bushwhacked our behavior down the crest to assure Smuggler’s Cove on countries of the south area of the island.
Off-trail hiking in search of a” social path”
That’s when the cloud began to roll in. A insignificant rain structured, and we trudged our acces from Smuggler’s Cove along an old rancher’s superhighway back to clique. The 12 -mile loop made us seven hours to terminated, with the off-trail piloting and the 3,310 feet of total altitude income slow-footed our tempo a bit. The hike offered a surprisingly diverse and rocky challenge for the purposes of an island trek.
Island fox native merely to the Channel Islands Island Evacuation
Exhausted, we made a seat at our barbecue counter where the ranger’s alerting mention, quoted in full above, awaited us. We learned we could possibly become stranded on the island for daylights if we didn’t catch the last ferrying at 3:30 p.m.
Gulp. I looked at my watch. Somehow, we had completed our 12 -mile trek with an hour to spare before the ferry left the island. We sprang into action, promptly bundling up all of our drenched camping paraphernalium. A ranger, rapidity by in a four-wheeler, learnt us at clique and hastened over. He showed the storm’s increased jeopardy and the park’s decision to expel all visitors today. Earlier that day, he’d pushed along a few cases of the rancher streets in an attempt to warn us and collect us up, but he’d been unable to find us.
We didn’t have enough food to last us two additional epoches, and we didn’t looks a lot like going out a big tornado on a remote island. So we hopped in the ranger’s ATV with all of our paraphernalium and boarded the shuttle at 3:28 p.m. A mile out to ocean, we ogled back to discover Santa Cruz Island covered in a blanket of dark shadows. Forty-five minutes later, we therefore back on the mainland where surfers were catching massive curves before the most dangerous growths flattened in.
Storm shadows shielding Santa Cruz Island during our evacuation
Ultimately, the whirlwind proved to be less intense than foreseen. Mother Nature got us with her bluff.
Flee Reality, Experience a Wild Island
In total, we wasted 29 hours on Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Park. It was a whirlwind, but we leave behind no sadness having hiked 16 miles, tented in privacy, and packrafted in a few sea caves. The island is beautiful, offering a view of what southern California likely looked like before its urbanization.
If you’re looking for a remote island knowledge, Channel Islands National Park should be on your schedule. And if you live in Los Angeles, consider leaving the concrete jungle for a weekend in the true wilderness. With five unique islands, there’s a lot to explore. Just be sure to keep an eye on the brave!
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