Santa Barbara Island
Once visitors have scaled the rugged cliffs using the steep trail from the Landing Cove, they will be rewarded with a campground perched on the bluffs with magnificent coastal views. Santa Barbara lies much further south than the other four northern Channel Islands and is the smallest, measuring just one square mile. The islands' native vegetation is recovering slowly with the help of the National Park Service's restoration efforts. This recovery, along with the removal of nonnative predators, has aided in the reestablishment of nesting land birds and seabirds.
More like this: reservable in California · tent only in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Tent-only | 20 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
10 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Pets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Island | 4 / – | No | No |
| 002 | Island | 4 / – | No | No |
| 003 | Island | 4 / – | No | No |
| 004 | Island | 4 / – | No | No |
| 006 | Island | 4 / – | No | No |
| 007 | Island | 4 / – | No | No |
| 008 | Island | 4 / – | No | No |
| 009 | Island | 4 / – | No | No |
| 005A | Island | 4 / – | No | No |
| 005B | Island | 4 / – | No | No |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
Santa Barbara Island Campground offers 10 campsites (4 persons per site). Camping is primitive and campers must bring their own food, equipment and water. Picnic table, food storage box and pit toilet are provided. Distance from landing to campground is a quarter-mile and includes a 200-foot climb. Access to the island is by Island Packers Cruises or by private boat. Due to the Island Packer boat schedule, minimum stay is generally three days.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Boat transportation can be arranged with Island Packers from Ventura Harbor. To park headquarters in Ventura, California: Highway 101, exit Victoria or Seaward to Ventura Harbor.
| Nearest town | Ventura, California |
| Coordinates | 33.4798° N, 119.0299° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireBryson
44 mi from the campground · 200 acres · 0% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 39.6 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Barbeques Galore ↗ | 47.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | Cruise America RV Rental and Sales ↗ | 51.7 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Video of Santa Barbara Island Campground — Channel Islands National Park, CA from Matthew
Worth a stop
The Landing Cove near the campground is an ideal place for swimming, diving, snorkeling and kayaking, but there are no lifeguards on the island. The island is also home to just over five miles of trails that meander over gentle slopes and low mountain tops to dramatic overlooks and magnificent coastal views. All hikers must stay on the trails for visitor safety and to protect fragile vegetation and nesting seabirds. No off-trail hiking is allowed. Portions of trails are subject to closure when pelicans are nesting from January through August.
- 0.1 miSanta Barbara Island Visitor Center ↗Visitor center
Other campgrounds nearby
Natural features
Steep cliffs on this small island rise above rocky shores and give way to a grassy mesa flanked with twin peaks. The highest point, Signal Peak, is 635 feet in elevation.
Recreation
With five miles of hiking trails, ocean access nearby the campground and generally good weather, Santa Barbara Island offers a variety of recreational activities, including hiking, swimming, snorkeling, diving, kayaking and wildlife/wildflower viewing. Since Santa Barbara Island is a cliff island, access to the water is only at the Landing Cove via a dock. There are no other accessible beaches unless you have a watercraft. There are no services on the island, so all gear has to be brought to the island.
Guidebooks for Channel Islands National Park and California
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Santa Barbara Island?
Sites at Santa Barbara Island are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Santa Barbara Island?
Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Santa Barbara Island have?
21 sites, including 20 tent-only sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to Santa Barbara Island?
Santa Barbara Island is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Santa Barbara Island?
With five miles of hiking trails, ocean access nearby the campground and generally good weather, Santa Barbara Island offers a variety of recreational activities, including hiking, swimming, snorkeling, diving, kayaking and wildlife/wildflower viewing. The Recreation section on this page has the res
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Santa Barbara Island?
Ventura, California. The Landing Cove near the campground is an ideal place for swimming, diving, snorkeling and kayaking, but there are no lifeguards on the island.
Source: Getting there
What if Santa Barbara Island is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Anacapa Island (41.7 mi), Circle X Ranch Group Campground (43.8 mi), and Santa Cruz Island Scorpion (49.8 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby
Which national park is Santa Barbara Island in?
Santa Barbara Island is a Channel Islands National Park campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.
Source: Channel Islands National Park