Stretching more than 96 square miles, Santa Cruz Island is California's largest island. Two mountain ranges surround a central valley and over a thousand species of plants and animals thrive, including 12 indigenous to the Island.

 
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Expert Review of Santa Cruz Island

Parks and Outdoors Review of Santa Cruz Island

Away Travel Expert: Ann Marie Brown
expert favorite Parks Expert Favorite
ParksExpert Rating 5.0 out of 5 Recommended for:
Birding,Camping,Whale Watching
Parks and OutdoorsExpert Tips & Helpful Hints
  • Located relatively close to the mainland, Santa Cruz Island is the second most heavily visited of all the Channel Islands. Sea kayaking is the main activity here, but birders come here in droves to catch a glimpse of the endemic Santa Cruz Island scrub jay, a bird found no where else in the world. A hike to Scorpion Canyon delivers the best chance of spotting the jay.
  • If you are camping on the island and have more time to spare than the day-trippers, be sure to take the seven-mile round-trip hike to Smuggler's Cove, where there is an inviting cobble beach.
  • From the boat landing at Scorpion Anchorage, a short, 1.2-mile round-trip hike will lead you to Cavern Point, a great spot to scan the sea for migrating gray whales from December to April.

Address:
Channel Islands National Park
Ventura, California 93001

Visitor Information


Telephone Number: 805-658-5730
Fax: 805-658-5799
Website: http://www.nps.gov/chis
The details, dates, and prices mentioned here were accurate at the time of publication.

Review by Away Copyright © 2010 Away.com all rights reserved.
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