Overview: The Cardwell Point Trail in Channel Islands National Park offers a breathtaking coastal hiking experience with sweeping ocean views, rugged cliffs, and diverse wildlife. This scenic trail provides an opportunity to explore the natural beauty of Santa Rosa Island, with its unique blend of rolling grasslands, sea caves, and marine wildlife. Hikers can enjoy panoramic vistas of the Pacific, spot seals and seabirds along the shoreline, and take in the island’s untouched wilderness.
3 to 4 hours
Spring (March to May), Summer (June to September) and Fall (October to November)
Out-and-Back
Overview: The Torrey Pines Trail in Channel Islands National Park offers a unique coastal hiking experience, featuring breathtaking ocean views, rugged cliffs, and rare plant species. This trail provides a scenic journey through the island’s diverse ecosystems, with opportunities to see the rare Torrey pine, one of the rarest pine species in the world. Hikers can enjoy the stunning contrast of dramatic sea cliffs, rolling hills, and the deep blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. The trail is also an excellent spot for wildlife sightings, including seabirds, island foxes, and migrating whales during certain seasons.
1 hours
Spring (March to May), Summer and Fall and Winter
Loop
Overview: The Lobo Canyon Trail is a hidden gem on Santa Rosa Island in Channel Islands National Park, offering a unique blend of coastal canyon landscapes, dramatic rock formations, and diverse wildlife. This scenic hike takes you through a rugged canyon carved by erosion over thousands of years, leading to breathtaking ocean views along the island’s northern coastline. Hikers will experience the solitude of this remote island while encountering native plants, seabirds, and the occasional island fox. The trail’s distinctive sandstone formations and wind-sculpted cliffs make it one of the most fascinating hikes in the Channel Islands.
Overview: The East Anacapa Island Trail is a stunning coastal hike in Channel Islands National Park, offering breathtaking ocean views, dramatic sea cliffs, and unique island landscapes. This short but rewarding trail takes visitors across Anacapa Island’s rugged terrain, leading to the iconic Inspiration Point. Along the way, hikers can observe diverse seabird colonies, including the largest breeding population of western gulls, and take in panoramic vistas of the Pacific Ocean and neighboring Channel Islands. The trail showcases the island’s windswept beauty, vibrant wildflowers in spring, and fascinating geological formations shaped by the sea.
Overview: The Montañon Ridge Loop is a challenging yet rewarding hike on Santa Cruz Island, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the rugged coastline, deep canyons, and the Pacific Ocean. As one of the highest points on the island, Montañon Peak provides sweeping vistas of the surrounding Channel Islands and, on clear days, even the California mainland. The trail takes hikers through diverse landscapes, including coastal bluffs, chaparral-covered hillsides, and scenic ridgelines. Wildlife sightings are common, with island foxes, bald eagles, and unique plant species adding to the adventure.
5 to 7 hours
Spring (March to May) and Fall (September to November)
Loop