Spectacular Channel Islands Day Trip: How to Explore Anacapa Island

Channel Islands National Park is located off the coast of Ventura, CA. Take an amazing Channel Islands day trip to Anacapa Island as part of your road trip through Central California.

Okay, okay, Ventura is a bit more south than central, but adhering to our 16-day California itinerary, we made it our mission to visit, and think you should too. Learn more about the ferry ride to the island and the activities you can do when you arrive. Have a picnic lunch, hike the entire island, and even brave the cold water and go snorkeling!

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Need to Know Info

• To visit Channel Islands National Park, Reservations on Island Packers Cruises are needed. Reserve 2 one-way tickets as a round-trip option. We recommend making these reservations early! If you are heading on a Channel Islands day trip, be aware that your tour may be canceled due to rough seas. More on that later because it happened to us!
• During nesting season, it will be loud, smelly, and somewhat disgusting. Bird droppings will be present everywhere, and you may come across dead birds.

Weather and Safety in Channel Islands National Park

• Cell phone coverage on Anacapa Island is okay. Service with our carrier was good in spots.
• Water: It’s recommended to carry at least 1 liter of water for every 5 miles you are hiking. Ditch those water bottles and carry a water bladder!
  • There is NO WATER on the island, so you must carry yours in. As we said, get a water bladder!
• Food: There are no restaurants, food, or services on the island. You must bring your own!
• Restrooms: There are restrooms located on Anacapa Island, but no running water.
• There is little to no shade on Anacapa Island. If you visit in the summer, be aware of heat-related illnesses.
• Make sure you bring and apply plenty of sunscreen. If you plan on swimming, make sure it’s reef-safe.
• If you get hurt on the island, there are no medical services nearby. Try not to break any bones!
• Pay very close attention to Island Packer’s departure times. They WILL leave you on the island to sleep with the seagulls if you’re late to the boat.

Animal Safety in Channel Islands National Park

Anacapa Island is home to many species of birds, such as the pelican and seagull. A visit during the summer is the peak nesting season for Western Gulls and their babies. From April through mid-August, you might encounter angry birds, babies, bird carcasses, and plenty of excrement.

The gulls will likely harass you, but you are not allowed to harass them. Maybe you’re asking, “What about those cute foxes?!” Sadly, there are no Channel Island Foxes present on Anacapa Island. However, during your boat ride, you may spot marine wildlife such as common dolphins and blue whales!

Cruise Through The Santa Barbara Channel

Start your Channel Islands day trip on the water with Island Packers. Be sure to check your reservations for the correct departure time from the Island Packers docks in Ventura. You’ll receive a ticket to board and one to return, so keep those in a safe spot. Unless you want to spend the night with the seagulls? 😉

Once the boat is boarded, it’s cruising time! The trip from the mainland to Anacapa Island is about 1.5 hours. During this time, you can hang out inside, up in the open-air seating area, or take a rest outside down below. There are restrooms on board and food/drinks for purchase. Island Packers staff will be around to help you with anything you need.

As you cross the Santa Barbara Channel, the captain may stop to see marine wildlife. On our crossing, we saw common dolphins and a few blue whales. Amazing sights to see!

➡️ Read next: Sequoia National Park Itinerary: Your Ultimate Guide to Day One

Arrival at Anacapa Island

You have arrived! Once the boat is docked, you will exit the boat and climb up the stairs to the island. There are no beaches on Anacapa Island. First, climb the metal ladder from the boat up to the docks.

This is a 4-6 rung ladder, and staff will assist to ensure you get up safely. After that, staff will introduce the island to everyone who has disembarked from the boat. Then, climb the 157 stairs to the top of the island.

🌊 Have some extra time in Ventura? Check out the options from Viator!

Go Hiking

A Channel Islands day trip is not complete without a hike around the entire island. However, before you hit the trails, visit the restrooms near the visitor center. The visitor center is closed upon arrival, and staff will open it up later in the day.

Restrooms are located around the back and to the right when facing it head-on. There are picnic tables located here to eat lunch, but beware! They’ll likely be covered in seagull poop!

Next, hike to Cathedral Cove to start your hike. Anacapa Island is fairly small but has the perfect amount of trails to spend the day. In all, there are about 2 miles of trails around Anacapa Island.

Cathedral Cove Trail – 0.4 miles, easy

Take this trail to visit Cathedral Cove, one of the top overlooks on the island. Expansive views of the island and the surrounding ocean are nothing short of breathtaking! Here, you will likely encounter plenty of Western Gulls, and they will likely start dive-bombing you. Cathedral Cove is located about 0.3 miles from the trailhead. Take in the views and continue to Inspiration Point.

Inspiration Point – 0.7 miles, easy

First, note that there is a restroom stop here before you take the Inspiration Point Trail. Head out on the trail to reach the best overlook on Anacapa Island. This is a lollipop loop that will take you right back to the starting point.

We recommend taking the trail to the right at the junction. When you reach Inspiration Point, eat lunch and take in the views! Continue your hike to reach the trailhead and restrooms.

🛎️ Don’t forget to book your stay in Ventura. Check out some of the best accommodations here on Expedia.

Pinniped Point – 0.3 miles, easy

Next, take the Pinniped Point trail to reach another amazing overlook. The views of the lighthouse here are amazing, and you might even spot sea lions below if you look closely. After taking in all the views, cross the Coast Guard Rainshed to head back toward the visitor center. The rainshed was once used to funnel rainwater for use on the island.

Lighthouse Trail – 0.4 miles, easy

Finally, head out on the Lighthouse Trail near the visitor center. This is a quick 0.4-mile round-trip out-and-back trail that will lead you to the last permanent lighthouse built on the West Coast. It was constructed in 1932 and is still in use today.

However, getting up close is limited due to the potential for hearing damage from the foghorn. Finally, head back down to the Anacapa Island Visitor Center.

Anacapa Island Visitor Center

Learn about the history of Anacapa Island in the visitor center. Displays include information on the natural and cultural resources of the island and the original Fresnel lens that was used in the lighthouse. This is also a great place to rest in the shade!

Snorkeling

If you brought your wetsuit or want to brave the chilly Pacific Ocean, head back down to the boat dock to go snorkeling! Here you will find crystal clear blue water where you can swim and snorkel through the amazing kelp forests right off the island.

Kelp forests around the Channel Islands are home to many species and are an important part of the ocean ecosystem here. According to the National Park Service, “One-third of southern California’s kelp forests are found within Channel Islands National Park and Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.”

“Kelp forests at the Channel Islands experience a mixing of both warm water currents from the south and cold water currents from the north, creating a highly productive system and supporting an incredible abundance and diversity of marine life.”

Where to Stay

Enjoy some time in the beautiful coastal city of Ventura. Check out some of the best accommodations below and book your stay today.

• Cliff House Inn on the Ocean – free breakfast, pool, and great views from the patio and pool, overlooking the ocean. Watch the sunset in paradise on this location’s private beach. This is our top recommendation. Check it out on Expedia now.
• Comfort Inn & Suites Ventura Beach – centrally located between the Ventura Harbor Village and downtown. Top-rated breakfast and a nice walking distance to explore the area. Book a room on Expedia or Booking.com.
• Ventura Beach Marriott – heated pool and a signature restaurant. This location also offers an airport shuttle and modern amenities. Reserve your stay on Expedia or Booking.com.

Final Thoughts

We absolutely enjoyed our Channel Islands day trip! That being said, we did not get to visit Santa Cruz Island due to rough seas the day before visiting Anacapa Island. We would have loved to spend 2 days visiting the Channel Islands National Park, but had to make other plans due to the cancellation. The good thing is that our trip was refunded, and there were also options to rebook another trip.

You never know what the weather will do, so it’s hard to plan ahead for a possible cancellation. Instead of visiting Santa Cruz, we headed to the nearby hills of Ojai for a quick hike and then relaxed on the beach in Malibu, CA. Overall, it was a good time, but we would have much rather seen those cute Channel Island Foxes!

Finally, after your visit to Anacapa Island, drive 3.5 hours to Three Rivers in preparation for your visit to Sequoia National Park.

🛏️ Book your stay with free breakfast at the Cliff House Inn on the Ocean. You can’t go wrong with an evening sunset.