In A Nutshell

Getting Around

The islands are only accessible by park concessionaire boats and planes or private boat. Advanced planning is highly recommended.

There is no transportation available on the islands. All areas must be accessed on foot or by private boat or kayak.

Help Prevent Non-Native Pests

Non-native, invasive species threaten endangered animals and plants on the Channel Islands and are costly to control. Learn how you can help prevent the introduction and spread of non-native species before they become a problem.

Islands on the Edge:
The Threat of Non-Native Plants and Animals
Plants and animals living on islands are especially vulnerable to extinction due to the physical boundaries, limited populations, and lack of genetic variability. One threat to these island species are non-native, invasive species. Non-native, invasive species are also called introduced species or exotic species and refers to plants and animals that originate elsewhere and are brought into a new area, where they may dominate the local species or in some way negatively impact the environment for native species.

For example, many non-native, invasive weed species are plants that grow or spread aggressively, taking over important wildlife habitat, devastating shelter and forage, and reducing the diversity and quality of native habitat. These weeds often do not hold and protect the soil the way native plants do, so erosion increases and causes sedimentation of streams, harming fish populations and water quality.

The primary visitor landing points on the park islands are often where we first find non-native, invasive species. Nearly half of the endangered plants and animals in the United States have been negatively affected by non-native, invasive species. In addition, these species cause an estimated $138 billion in economic damage each year in the United States.

How You Can Help
If you plan to visit the Channel Islands, you probably care a great deal about protecting them from harm. Ironically, those who enjoy visiting the islands can also be responsible for spreading non-native, invasive species. You can help prevent the introduction and spread of these non-native plants and animals, which is far more effective than costly eradication programs.

• Clean and Inspect Clothing, Gear, and Containers for Weeds and Other "Hitchhikers"
  Many weed seeds readily stick to clothing and camping gear. These seeds can later fall off and germinate, establishing new weed colonies. Weeds and other non-native organisms can hitch a ride in camping equipment, food containers and baggage. Visitors should clean and inspect their footwear, clothing, and gear (especially shoe treads and Velcro) for seeds and soil before boarding boats and moving between campsites and islands. Socks and cuffs of pants should be given particular attention. Sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and tents should be cleaned and inspected for soil, invertebrates, and seeds before leaving the mainland. If you are already on the island, please use the nearby boot brushes—simply run each foot though the brush several times to remove weed seeds and other "stowaways" caught in shoe treads and laces.
  
  
• While Hiking
  Trails can be pathways for a lot more than just people. Weeds often spread along trails and then to adjacent un-infested areas. You can help prevent this from happening by always staying on designated trails, avoid weed-infested areas, and by not picking or transporting plants when hiking on the islands. Pack out all trash Just because a bit of trash—apple cores, orange seeds, etc.—is organic, doesn't mean it can be left behind. Please be sure to pack out all trash. While most domestic fruit and vegetable species are not invasive, some can germinate and become pests.
  
  
• Campfires
  Campfires are prohibited on the islands, and common sense will tell you that they are dangerous and potentially harmful in other ways. In addition to the threat of wildfire, firewood brought from the mainland can harbor organisms that can be very destructive. This includes the fungal-like disease "Sudden Oak Death" that kills several species of native trees. You can help prevent the spread of this disease and other harmful organisms by not transporting firewood under any circumstances.
  
  
• Domestic Animals
  Although most people know that landing of pets on the islands is prohibited, they probably never imagine the danger domestic animals can pose to wildlife. In 1999, canine distemper killed almost all of the island foxes on the eastern portion of Catalina Island. Island foxes are highly sensitive to disease, and pets and their droppings can spread pathogens and cause other problems for wildlife. Even vaccinated and apparently healthy animals can be carriers of diseases that are potentially lethal to island foxes. Although no one wants to leave a pet at home when they visit the islands, this is probably the best way of avoiding the temptation to land your pet on the islands.
  
  
• Private Boaters and Rodents
  Private boaters should be particularly diligent to ensure that no unwelcome animals are living on their boats that could be accidentally transferred to an island. Rats and mice should be eliminated on all boats through the use of traps. Proper storage of food and monitoring for rodent sign will go a long ways to ensuring that your boat does not become the accidental conveyance for rodents to the Channel Islands.

Accessibility

The mainland visitor centers are fully accessible. Due to their isolation and transportation requirements, the islands are not readily accessible for individuals in wheelchairs or those with limited mobility.

Limited wheelchair access is available on the park concessionaire boats. Please contact Island Packers at http://www.islandpackers.com/index.html or Truth Aquatics at http://www.truthaquatics.com/ for more information.

Limited wheelchair access is also available on Santa Rosa Island via air transportation. Please call the park at (805) 658-5730 for information.

Clothing and Gear

Due to the weather variation on the islands, the landings, and long treks to campgrounds, please consider the following suggestions:

• Dress in layers. Plan light clothing for warm afternoons and addd layers such as long sleeves, jackets, gloves, and hats for cool mornings and evenings. Bring short and long pants, fleece jacket or sweatshirt, windbreaker, hat, sunscreen, and waterproof outer clothing. In addition, visitors should wear sturdy hiking shoes with non-slip soles.
  
  
• Pack as light as possible. Concessionaires limit each bag of gear to 45 pounds. Pack food and gear in easily carried duffels, backpacks, or coolers with handles.
  
  
• Since there is no pier at San Miguel and landing is by skiff, bags should be waterproof and visitors should consider reefwalkers or old tennis shoes for the landing.
  
  
• All food containers should be mouse-proof.
  
  
• Plan meals carefully, keep them simple, and repackage your food at home first to reduce space, weight, and litter.
  
  
• Bring extra food in case your return transportation is delayed.
  
  
• There is no water available on the island except in the Scorpion Ranch campground on Santa Cruz Island and in the Water Canyon campground on Santa Rosa Island, where some visitors find it has an unpleasant taste. Bring one gallon of water per person per day in containers no larger than 2.5 gallons each.
  
  
• Clean any seeds or insects from gear from gear and boots to protect fragile island ecosystems from introduced species. Overnight campers should shake out their tents, sleeping bags, and packs to clean them of seeds and soil, paying special attention to clinging burrs and "foxtail" grass seeds. For more information visit Help Prevent Non-Native Pests.

Island Transportation

While the mainland visitor centers in Ventura and Santa Barbara are readily accessible by car or public transportation, the islands are only accessible by park concessionaire boats and planes or private boat. Advanced planning is highly recommended.

There is no transportation available on the islands. All areas must be accessed on foot or by private boat or kayak.

Boat Transportation
Public boat transportation is available year-round to all five islands by the park concessionaires, Island Packers and Truth Aquatics. In addition, Island Packers offers whale watching trips while Truth Aquatics also offers scuba diving trips.

For departures out of Ventura and Channel Islands (Oxnard) Harbors contact:

Island Packers
1691 Spinnaker Dr.
Ventura, CA 93001
(805) 642-1393
www.islandpackers.com
Click here for driving directions to Island Packers.

For departures out of Santa Barbara Harbor contact:

Truth Aquatics at Sea Landing
301 West Cabrillo Blvd.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 963-3564
www.truthaquatics.com
Click here for driving directions to Truth Aquatics at Sea Landing.

Private boaters may land on all five islands within the park throughout the year.

Airplane Transportation
Public airplane transportation is available year-round to Santa Rosa Island by park concessionaire Channel Islands Aviation. Flights depart from Camarillo airport. For departures contact:

Channel Islands Aviation
305 Durley Avenue
Camarillo, CA93010
(805) 987-1301
www.flycia.com

Private aircraft may not land within park boundaries. All aircraft must maintain a minimum 1000-foot altitude above land and sea surfaces within the park.

Hantavirus

Hantavirus has recently been found in deer mouse populations at Channel Islands National Park. This mouse-carried virus also has been found in many locations on the mainland. This is a potentially fatal disease, and some basic precautions should be taken.

• Avoid contact with rodents.
  Rodents are hosts for a variety of diseases and parasites, including ticks and fleas, which may carry plague and rabies. Hantavirus is transmitted through the body fluids of the deer mouse, and can become aerosolized when large masses of feces and dried urine are disturbed. People hiking and camping on the islands are considered to be at low risk; rather, most cases of hantavirus infection have occurred when people have cleaned out or lived in buildings that have been inhabited by large numbers of rodents for many years. The precautions for avoiding infection by hantavirus are the same as those for the avoidance of any illness that may be contracted from rodents. When camping or hiking on the islands, the basic practices of cleanliness will reduce your chance of rodent contact.
  
  
• Do not feed any wild animals.
  Viruses and diseases are often passed through saliva. To reduce your chances of being bitten, avoid contact with wild animals.
  
  
• Keep food, drink, utensils, and trash in rodent-proof containers.
  On the islands, the mice are mostly active at night, but will also come out during the day while you are away from your site. It is best to keep all food related items in plastic coolers or other containers that mice cannot chew through. It is not recommended to store food within tents, backpacks, or clothing since mice have been known to chew through these items. National Park Service food storage boxes are provided at campsites.
  
  
• Prevent entry of mice into your tent.
  Mice will go everywhere in their search for food, so keep your tent screen zipped even when you are nearby. Keep your clothing and footwear inside your sealed tent especially at night.
  
  
• Symptoms of hantavirus infection:
  Infection by hantavirus causes flu-like symptoms followed by acute respiratory distress. If you experience fever, aches, and/or stomach cramps and believe you may have had contact with rodents within the last 30 days, contact your physician immediately and inform your physician that you have had contact with rodents and possibly hantavirus.

Goods & Services

There are no goods or services available on the islands. Visitors must bring all their own food, water, and other supplies. Public phones are not available.

For goods and services in Ventura, Oxnard, and Santa Barbara contact:

• Ventura Visitor and Convention Bureau
  
  
• Oxnard Visitor and Convention Bureau
  
  
• Santa Barbara Visitor and Convention Bureau

Leave No Trace

The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and inspiring responsible outdoor recreation through education, research and partnerships. Leave No Trace builds awareness, appreciation and respect for our wildlands.

Please visit Leave No Trace to learn more about steps you can take to help protect your park.

Pets

In order to protect island wildlife, pets are not allowed in the park. Please leave your pets at home.

Some of the diseases and parasites that now threaten the fox may have been carried to the islands by animals from the mainland. While a domestic dog might have immunity from certain parasites and diseases, it may still carry them. Due to their insular existence, island foxes have no such built-up immunity to many of these ailments and are quite vulnerable to them. So please help protect the island fox and other island animals by leaving pets at home.

Public Transportation

The mainland visitor centers and park concessionaire offices are all accessbile via public transportation.

Airports

• Los Angeles International Airport
• Burbank (Bob Hope) Airport
• Santa Barbara Airport
• Camarillo and Oxnard Airports

Trains

• Amtrak
• Metrolink

Buses

• Greyhound
• South Coast Area Transit
• Camarillo Area Transit
• Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District
• Coastal Express

Our Staff & Offices

Our staff may be contacted at:

Mailing Address
Park Superintendent
Channel Islands National Park
1901 Spinnaker Dr.
Ventura, CA 93001

Phone
(805) 658-5730

(805) 658-5799