Trip · 3-day backpacking trip
For · Families and curious backpackers
Vibe · Moderate and adventurous
Distance ·
Permits · Reserve a campsite and a round-trip ferry ticket
Drive · 1 hour drive from LA and a 2.5 hour ferry ride
Ideal dates · August 15 - December 31 (when the island is open for camping)
Pets · Not allowed on the islands
Channel Islands National Park (CINP) has five spectacular islands: Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara. Planning a backpacking a trip involves some ferry logistics, but don't let that deter you from having a once-in-a-lifetime California adventure. This trek takes you to Santa Rosa Island, which is only open for a few months out of the year. Plan ahead and enjoy unforgettable views.
Official National Park Website
Main image credit: Yvonne Leow
Operator: Island Packers
Frequency of Trips: Boat trips run April through early November, 2-4 days per week.
Travel Time from Ventura Harbor: Boat trips are 3 hours.
Landing Conditions: Visitors must climb up steps from the boat, then up a steel-rung ladder to a lower landing, and then climb up stairs to the top of the pier at Bechers Bay. When the pier is closed, landings are via skiff onto the beach.
The campground is located 1.5 miles from the ferry drop off point, along a relatively flat trail.
Each campsite comes with a:
Tucked away in a canyon to protect visitors from strong northwest winds, Water Canyon Campground offers exceptional island views, access to spectacular hiking opportunities and a nearby white sand beach. Remains of an ancient species like the pygmy mammoth have been uncovered on Santa Rosa Island. These miniature mammoths, reaching just four to six feet tall, roamed the island's grasslands and forests during the Pleistocene Age.
Check-in: Noon · Check-out: Noon
Nightly Rate: $34
Channel Islands National Park was established in 1980. For over a century before, Santa Rosa Island was occupied by sheep and cattle ranchers.
Santa Rosa was home to the Island Chumash tribe. In fact, the oldest human remains ever discovered in North America, dating back to 13,000 years ago, was found on Santa Rosa Island.
Torrey pines grow naturally in two places on Earth: one area is in San Diego and the other is on Santa Rosa Island.
You won't be saving money, but you'll save space and weight with these camp sandals.
Clothes
Sleepover! This is a tent you can stand up in and have plenty of space for air mattresses, doggos, and more.
Shared Gear
A reliable, popular, and relatively affordable dual-burner camping stove that is fairly heavy, but performs well.
Kitchen
It's pricey, but the New York Times' Wirecutter recommended this attachment as a way for wheelchair users to navigate uneven terrain.
Essential Items
Instead of transporting stuff on your lap, use this storage bag to easily store items underneath your wheelchair.
Essential Items
Never dig around your pack to find some hand sanitizer. Instead, hang this one on the outside of your pack.
Personal Stuff
If you're an experienced backpacker, this is the lightest full-size, full-featured, frameless pack made.
Essential Items
Add a little magic to your experience by hanging these twinkling lights around your tent every night.
Shared Gear
Sometimes you just want a camp chair that gets the job done. Nothing glamorous or fancy. Well, this is it.
Shared Gear
The more you backpack the lighter your shelter becomes, and the lighter it is, the more expensive it can be.
Shared Gear
Camp underneath the stars and watch glorious sunrises in Joshua Tree National Park, the second largest national park in California.