Day Trip To Visit Channel Islands National Park, California (it’s Magic!)

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If the crowds of California are getting a bit much, then it’s high time you took a day trip to the Channel Islands National Park.

These are the adventures I live for. Adventures that test my comfort zone in the middle of extraordinary natural beauty (without the crowds).

Kayaking around the cliff faces of Santa Cruz Island in the Channel Islands National Park, California, made me realize we haven’t had such a unique and special natural adventure like this since leaving Australia to live in the U.S.

I’m ready for more of it. And when you visit Channel Islands National Park it will be a highlight of your adventures in California.

It was our big bang final experience after an amazing 10 day road trip from San Diego, through Orange County, then up to Ventura County on a partnership with Visit California.

But how do you spend one day in The Channel Islands and how do you take a day trip there? In this guide I’ll share with you what you can do in one day and how to take a Channel Islands National Park day trip.

Where is Channel Islands National Park?

Channel Islands National Park is located off the coastline of Ventura California.

Ventura County is located 70 miles north of Los Angeles and 30 miles south of Santa Barbara.

Its remoteness helps to give it the title of the least visited of the National Parks in the USA, but undoubtedly it’s one of the best things to do in Ventura CA.

It’s not that remote – an 80 minute ferry ride from Ventura Harbor on the California mainland. But, enough to only capture the most adventurous of hearts.

There’s nothing over on the Channel Islands for you except beautiful beaches, cliff faces, valleys and canyons for hiking, and sea caves to explore on kayaks.

Oh wait.

There’s also snorkeling through the kelp forest, tiny island foxes waiting to grab your lunch, and this divine gum tree.

The Channel Islands National Park is made up of five islands:

• San Miguel Island
• Santa Rosa Island
• Santa Cruz Island
• Anacapa Island
• and Santa Barbara Island

We only visited Santa Cruz Island as it’s the perfect place for a one-day trip, and is the easiest island to get to.

How to Take A Channel Islands National Park Day Trip?

Not sure how to get to Channels Islands National Park?

You can visit any of the islands by the Channel Islands National…