Photo Gallery (U.S. National Park Service)

*The copyright status of these images may vary. Check the copyright status on the image detail pages before you download them.

The abundance of krill, a tiny shrimp like creature, often lures the world’s largest animal, the endangered blue whale, into the western Santa Barbara Channel to feed during May through November.

Blue Whale

One of the nine historic, satellite ranches, the 1864 adobe Christy Ranch is the oldest standing building on the island.

Christy Ranch

583 x 727
0.3 MB

The Central Valley’s dry, rocky, south-facing slope gives rise to the island’s highest peak (Picacho del Diablo, 2434 feet), and contrasts sharply with the cooler, moist, chaparral-and-oak covered north-facing slope.

Central Valley

The endemic Santa Cruz Island ironwood populations, found only on Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Clemente Islands, are remnants of once widespread mainland populations which occurred 6 to 19 million years ago.

Ironwood

The Island scrub jay, found only on Santa Cruz Island, is an example of “gigantism,” whereby some island animals evolve to a larger form after years of isolation. This bird is darker blue and one-third larger than its mainland counterpart.

Island Jay

controlled burn

Controlled Burn

1215 x 1515
1.1 MB

These controlled burns, along with the use of herbicides and monitoring by The Nature Conservancy, have helped biologists determine the best methods to control the dramatic spread of the non-native fennel plant and restore native vegetation.

Fennel Eradication

Varied topography , geologic complexity, and ample freshwater support an array of flora—over 650 plant species. Forty-three, including the northern island bush poppy, are found only on the Channel Islands; eight exist only on Santa Cruz Island.

Bush Poppy

Private boaters may enjoy the sheltered cove and sandy beach at Willows Anchorage, one of many throughout the island.

Willows Anchorage

To encourage the recovery of native plants, The Nature Conservancy removed cattle and sheep from its western 90% of the island by 1988. In 1996, a fence separated the eastern 10% where feral sheep still overgrazed and caused serious erosion. The sheep were finally removed in 1999.

Overgrazing

A beautiful anchorage, mixed white sand and cobblestone beach, historic olive orchard, and adobe ranch buildings all welcome visitors at Smuggler’s Cove.

Smugglers Cove

The sand and cobblestone beach at Scorpion Anchorage is one of the most popular in the park. Access to some of the best kayaking in the park is from this beach.

Scorpion Anchorage

At the turn of the century, Scorpion Ranch was the major satellite ranch on the east end that was used to create an efficient, almost entirely self-contained island ranching and agricultural operation.

Scorpion Ranch

In addition to touring the historic adobe buildings, visitors to Scorpion Ranch also may hike out to Cavern Point for a spectacular view of the rugged northwest coast of the island.

Cavern Point

Relics from the Pleistocene Age, the Bishop pines’ southernmost location in California occurs on Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands. Removal of feral sheep has led to their recovery near Pelican Bay.

Pelican Bay

Devoted to the protection and management of ecologically significant land, The Nature Conservancy manages the western 76% of Santa Cruz Island. Their island headquarters is located in the island’s central valley.

The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy's historic central valley is home to a chapel and other main ranch structures dating from the late 1800’s.

Historic Chapel

Numerous reliable streams, such as in Canada de la Siesta, flow year-round on the island, creating magnificent waterfalls, pools and oases for riparian plants and wildlife.

Canada de la Siesta

sea cave

Painted Cave

1215 x 1515
0.9 MB

Approximately 2,000 Chumash lived on Santa Cruz Island at the time of the first European exploration in 1542. Their extensive trade system with the mainland and manufacturing of shell-bead money helped them survive with limited resources.

Chumash Paddling Tomol

Back to top | View All