Camping

Camping is available year-round on all five islands in Channel Islands National Park. Limited backcountry camping is available on Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands.

Reservations

Reservations are required for all park campgrounds. Reservations can be made up to six months in advance on recreation.gov.

If you are taking public boat transportation on Island Packers, find dates on which both boat tickets and a campsite are available. Booking early will increase your options.

What to Expect

All campgrounds are located away from the boat landing areas. Visitors must carry all their gear to the campgrounds. No on-island transportation is provided.

Campgrounds are rustic, and users must camp within designated areas. All campgrounds are equipped with picnic tables and toilets. Not all toilets flush. Water is not available on most islands and must be brought with you. Drinking water is available at Scorpion Canyon campground on Santa Cruz Island and at Water Canyon campground on Santa Rosa Island. No trash collection is available. Campers must pack out their own trash.

Campgrounds on San Miguel and Santa Rosa Islands have wind breaks for each campsite.

Campfires are not allowed. Use only chemical-fuel stoves for cooking.

Island mice have tested positive for hantavirus. Take basic precautions: do not feed any wild animals; keep food and drink in rodent-proof containers; and prevent entry of mice into your tent by keeping it zipped up at all times.

Campers must store all food and trash in animal-proof containers. Food storage boxes are provided at campsites.

Foxes and ravens are capable of opening zippers. Secure zippers on tents and bags with safety pins, twist ties, paper clips, or small carabiners.

 

Island	Campground	Distance from Pier/Wharf	Notes	# Sites
Anacapa	Anacapa Island Campground	½ mile, including 157 stairs	Vault toilets. No drinking water. Gull nesting season is April to August.	7
Santa Cruz	Scorpion Canyon Campground	½ mile	Vault toilets. Drinking water available. Group campsites available.	25, plus 6 group
Santa Cruz	Prisoners Harbor Campground		Opening soon.
Santa Rosa	Water Canyon Campground	1 ½ miles	Flush toilets. Drinking water available. Very windy.	15
San Miguel	San Miguel Island Campground	1 mile on a steep, narrow trail	Vault toilets. No drinking water. Extremely windy.	9
Santa Barbara	Santa Barbara Island Campground	¼ mile on a steep trail	Vault toilets. No drinking water. Extremely windy.	10

 

Weather
Campers should be prepared for a variety of weather conditions, especially on the outer islands. Thirty-knot winds are not uncommon on Santa Rosa and San Miguel Islands. Sturdy, low-profile tents, stakes, and line for securing tents to ground, table, or wind shelters are recommended.

Fog can occur on the islands during any season producing cool, damp conditions.

All of the campgrounds, except eastern Santa Cruz, are located away from trees and shade. Overexposure to the wind and sun can be a serious problem.

Visitors are advised to bring supplies for an extra day in case boats are unable to pick up campers due to sea conditions.

For the most current weather forecast, please visit Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary's Internet Weather Kiosk.

 

Suggested Camping Gear
Campers must be prepared for the primitive campground facilities and weather conditions. Supplies and gear are not available on the islands. Gear must be transported up ladders at most landing areas, and carried some distance to the campgrounds.

Packing your gear in backpacks, duffle bags, and containers with handles makes transportation easier. The boat concessionaire requires that items weigh no more than 45 pounds each.

On some islands, visitors may get wet during loading and off-loading, so waterproof your gear. An extra pair of shoes packed in waterproof material is recommended.

Campers should plan to layer clothing, as weather conditions tend to change from cool and damp in the mornings to bright, warm, and windy during the afternoons. Clothing that protects against wind is advisable year-round. Hiking boots are recommended for most island trails.

Additional "needed" gear includes:

• hat/visor/cap
• sunglasses
• windbreaker/light jacket
• shirts and pants that can be layered
• normal clothing needs
• food
• sturdy tent
• campstove/cooking gear
• water (1 gallon per person, per day)
• sunscreen
• flashlight
• sleeping bag
• matches
• first aid kit

"Suggested" gear includes:

• bathing suit
• gloves
• poncho/rain jacket
• sneakers/light footwear
• towel
• seasick pills
• garbage bags
• camera/film
• binoculars
• toiletries
• sleeping pads

The following items may not be brought to the park:

• Live or Potted Plants
• Soil
• Cut Flowers
• Firewood or any untreated, unfinished wood (including hiking sticks)
• Corrugated boxes
• Tools or equipment with attached soil
• Motorized vehicles
• Bicycles
• Single-use plastic grocery bags