Channel Islands National Park - Anacapa Island from the water

Since part of our February 2015 wildlife viewing cruise was rained out, the captain gave us a tour of the northern side of Anacapa Island in Channel Islands National Park. Located just 14 miles from Ventura, the 700 acre Anacapa Island is five miles long and ¼ mile wide. The Anacapa lighthouse was turned on in 1932 and was the last lighthouse built on the west coast. Island Packers provides boat transportation to East Anacapa at least one day per week throughout the year. During summer, trips are scheduled six days per week. In addition, Island Packers schedules trips to Frenchys Cove on West Anacapa during the winter as tides permit. Other than taking a short hike through a small gap to a tidal pool on the south shore, visitors must remain at Frenchys Cove. Frenchy LeDreau lived here from 1928 to 1956. Visitors to East Anacapa have a two mile trail system to explore after climbing over 150 stairs from the dock to the top of the bluff. 

Approaching Anacapa Island with rain in the background

The iconic Arch Rock and lighthouse of East Anacapa Island

The preserved Coast Guard buildings of East Anacapa Island

Forty foot high Arch Rock

Two hundred foot high bluff towers over another boat

Gap between East and Middle Anacapa Island

A closer view of the gap

Dozens of cormorants and sea gulls fish from this islet

Sea caves continue to form

The bluffs on Middle Anacapa are also about 200 feet high

Sea gulls populate this islet

Sea caves on Middle Anacapa

A large arch on Middle Anacapa

More sea caves

A small islet fills most of the gap between Middle and West Anacapa

Frenchys Cove

Sea caves on West Anacapa

Santa Cruz Island

There is no entrance fee at Channel Islands National Park. However, the islands are only accessible by private boat or by park concessionaire boats or planes. Island Packers (http://www.islandpackers.com) has scheduled trips to four of the five islands. San Miguel Island was closed to the public in 2014 due to concerns about unexploded ordinance. The island was used as a bombing range by the U.S. Navy from the 1940s until 1975. Channel Islands Aviation (http://www.flycia.com/) only has scheduled flights from Camarillo to Santa Rosa Island.

The park website is http://www.nps.gov/chis/index.htm.