Channel Islands National Park: Five Islands off Southern California

Off the coast of Southern California — one of the most populated areas in the world — lies Channel Islands National Park, five islands that can be reached only by boat. The crossing is worth it: the islands feel like an escape from the city, and their isolation gives both visitors and wildlife a rare sense of solitude.

The five islands

A kelp forest at Channel Islands National Park (NPS).

A human story thousands of years old

Archeological sites on the islands shed light on how the earliest Americans migrated along the coast and lived by the sea. The native Chumash people were among the most advanced societies of their time. They drew much of their food from the ocean and made tools and trade goods from shells and stone. The arrival of the Spanish was tragic for them: the Chumash were exposed to new diseases such as smallpox and forced from their island homes into missions on the mainland.

Over the years, settlers came to the islands for many reasons. Eventually the islands were protected, becoming a place for research and recreation that draws visitors from around the world.

Visiting — and protecting — the islands

Stepping ashore can feel like entering another world, where you can be alone and see the land much as it once was. Protecting the islands' natural and cultural history matters, and so does keeping out invasive species. Before your trip, take the park's biosecurity precautions:

• inspect and clean your pack;
• brush and spray your hiking boots;
• check your gear for stowaways.

Sources

• National Park Service: "An Overview of Channel Islands National Park," by Abigail Stone Lauer, National Park Service Workforce Management Fellow, in partnership with Northwest Youth Corps.