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Channel Islands National Park is a national park protecting five of the eight Channel Islands in California. The islands are off the Pacific coast of California. Covering a total area of 249,354 acres (100,910 ha), they comprise San Miguel (9,325 acres), Santa Rosa (52,794 acres), Anacapa (699 acres), Santa Barbara (639 acres) and Santa Cruz (60,645 acres).
The Channel Islands National Park is rich in natural and cultural resources. The wildlife of the islands include many endemic animal species, namely the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), the Spotted Skunk, the Channel Islands Fox and the Island fence lizard. All together, there are one hundred and forty-five species of plants and animals unique to Channel Islands found nowhere else in the wild on earth.
Channel Islands National Park, California
Author: Urban, National Park Service Photo (public domain)
In addition to the endemic species, the Channel Islands National Park is home to the California sea lion, Island Scrub Jay, American kestrel, horned lark, barn owl, Island night lizard, and California brown pelican. The sea off the islands is rich in microscopic planktons attracting the endangered blue whale.
Evidence of human habitation in the Channel Islands National Park goes back 10,000 years. The ancient Native American sites excavated include Chumash village sites on the islands.
Visiting Channel Islands National Park, California
You should go to the Channel Islands using the official boat or plane concessionnaire. Contact Island Packers (805) 642-1393, www.islandpackers.com for boat trips and Channel Islands Aviation (805) 987-1301, www.flycia.com for plane trips. The islands have a visitor center on mainland California at Ventura (805) 658-5730, opened 8:30 am to 5:00 pm daily, and at Santa Barbara (805) 884-1475, http://outdoorsb.noaa.gov/, opened 10:00 am to 5:00 pm daily. Both centers close on Thanksgiving and Christmas. The park, however, is open all year round.There are no entrance fees to visit the Channel Islands National Park, however camping fees of $15.00 per night applies for overnight visitors.
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