santa rosa island

Thoroughly recommend this trip. Primitive yes! But well worth it if you come prepared. Island Packers were fantastic! Boat ride in was absolutely wonderful. We wish we had brought a folded up cart......we had to do three trips back and forth to the pier and campground to get our supplies sorted. That walk to the campground is very, very long and dusty! Water Canyon campground lovely and they have terrific amenities such as flushing toilets and clean, large bathrooms! The showers were unavailable until the drought is over :( but the flushing toilets did just the trick. Be prepared for windy weather. Bring extra pegs and ties for your tent. The windbreaks around the tent were very useful.... Would recommend the Los Lobos Canyon walk with the naturalist from the Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary. Dianne was awesome and very knowledgeable. Did not make it to Skunk Point ( all the surfers went there) or the Torrey Pines. We will be back for sure!!

Santa Rosa is 15 miles by 10 miles. You get there by ferry or plane. Once on the island there is no public transportation so be prepared to walk and hike or bring a kayak. There is nothing available on the island so you must bring what you need - and take it all back with you. After years of ranching and hunting - the island is returning to its natural state. There are plants you won't see other places. The quiet is great. The wind is mighty. The canyons are great. Having 1500 feet in elevation and pretty beaches makes for a varied landscape and fun hiking. Plan carefully and you will have a wonderful day. See my review of Channel Islands Aviation. I found this to be an ideal trip!

Used Island Packers to get there and saw whales on way there and back, including a view of the Painted Cave on Santa Cruz. The boat staff was very knowledgeable about the terrain and sights. Read the hiking map before you get on the island (available on the NPS site, http://www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/hiking-santa-rosa-island.htm) to plan your time if you are there for a day trip. It's realistic to walk to Torrey Pines to get acclimated to the island and the winds, and then take the Cherry Canyon trail back to dock as an excursion (but note that the trail head is hidden behind a large map sign that leads to campground).

My husband and I spent an incomparable 3 days camping on Santa Rosa Island, among the Channel Island off Ventura, CA. We traveled with Island Packers, concessionaire for the Channel Islands National Park. The captain and his crew and the Park Naturalist, Lisa Anderson,were totally dedicated to the passengers' safety and enjoyment. On the way out, we paused to watch whales, to take close ups of pelicans and seals, and to drop off day trippers at various islands. The sea was choppy and the wind strong, but we had expected that since since all of us were warned when we made reservations and before we boarded.When we reached Santa Rosa, we unloaded into rubber dinghies at Water Canyon Beach. Getting down with all our gear was tricky, but the crew helped every step of the way. When we got to shore, we had to climb out and walk through the surf, but again, we had been warned and we were helped whenever we needed it. Once on land, we were on our own; still, it wasn't complicated to figure things out.The 1/4 mile hike from the beach to Water Canyon campground was the most difficult part. The climb from the water to the camp site was very steep and carrying all the gear was arduous for 60+-year-olds. Again, we knew what to expect and just made our way. Two young men very nicely helped with the heaviest item. The campground is gorgeous, with endless views of the hills and sea. We made sure to get our 2-man tent well tethered within the windbreak because we knew that the wind would really start to blow as soon as the sun started to go down. We also squeezed the picnic table as far in as possible so that we would have enough shelter to boil water for soup and coffee. That came in handy later when we were joined by our neighbors for a game of cards.The rangers at the island are well informed and attentive; among them, Lisa Anderson is an outstanding Naturalist and guide. She laid out the possibilities for our stay and scheduled hikes to the far side of the island as well as to the more accessible and warmer side. We hiked both routes and were amazed at the depth of Lisa's knowledge and her kindness in making sure we got to see everything. What we were interested in was what formed her presentations. The hikes are on a tight schedule, and at times require sure-footed hikers, but they are not rigorous. Viewing the Pacific from the far side of Santa Rosa was the highlight of the stay.On a tight schedule, and through a rough sea, the Island Packers boat met us on the third day. Again, we had to walk through the surf, but the crew handled all of the gear and made sure we all arrived safely on board. On the way back, we had a wonderful adventure. We stopped to pick up a few passengers on Santa Cruz Island, and then we began an unforgettable tour. The captain knows every inch of the channel Islands and he had a hundred fascinating stories to tell. We had to be careful because of the waves, but we paused to enter Painted Cave on Santa Cruz Island and to leisurely progress along the bays of the island. Then the captain announced that he had been informed by another boat that there was a dolphin feeding frenzy going on on the west side of the island. Hang on! We raced out to see the frenzy, then we roared along in the middle of hundreds upon hundreds of dolphins in the water and birds in the air. They leaped and swept and dove and screamed. and we slid along with them. As we turned toward Ventura, all of a sudden it was wintry. It was wet. It was wonderful.

This island can now be reached via plane through Channel Islands Aviation. Its a beautiful, quick 25 minute flight from Camarillo Airport. The island is remote but there are lots of trails, pristine beaches and restrooms. Over the course of 4 hours I was able to visit 2 beaches, see a Torrey Pine forrest and walk on trails with incredible views. We saw several leopard sharks in a bay, pelican and even a bald eagle. You owe it to yourself to take a trip to this island.

Very remote National Park. Beaches were beautiful! We hit it on a beautiful day. It was great! Don't forget to bring your lunch. There is nothing on the island. There is a nice bathroom with running water at the Ranch house though. Great trip!

My husband and I went out to Santa Rosa on Island Packers from Ventura. We chose a day trip because of the night time wind (day wind is bad too but doesn't spoil the trip). We had a great boat ride over, spent 5 hours exploring, and cruised along santa Cruz on the way home. While on the island we went straight to the beach for lunch (20 min walk) and were delighted to see bright white sand and blue water-so beautiful! Then we walked to the campground where we took the 3 mile trail called Cherry Trail which lead back to the pier. Once at the pier we climbed down the stairs (low tide) and played on the beach tide pooling for an hour. We both enjoyed the experience on a remote island! Wear layers for boat and wind.

You will think that you are in some far off country as you wander the undisturbed beaches. Bring a wind breaker

The remoteness of this island and the nature walk. Want to see how the indians really lived? The guide will take you early in the a.m. the next morning you arrive. Even though I call this remote, there is water and nice bathrooms that flush here. This is the all time great camping spot for couples, no screaming kids, peace, and rugged landscape at the same time.

This is a great place for hiking. From almost every trail, there is a view of the ocean. The trails are clean and well marked...they are steep, but not too strenuous. In the campgrounds, the kit foxes are everywhere. We plan to go back soon

Visited Santa Rosa Island on a charter flight with Channel Islands Aviation. Our pilot and tour guide was Mark Oberman, who has been flying around these islands since before I was born.He drove us around the ranch area and pier, and--after giving us some options--dropped us off at the Torrey Pines trail for a short hike up to the ridge and back to the runway via Black Rock.In addition to getting to see the historical buildings, flowers and wildlife on Santa Rosa Island, we got a good overview of Santa Cruz Island from above (Anacapa Island on the other hand was hidden in clouds).

Camping on Santa Rosa Island is definitely NOT for everyone; however, if you want the real deal camping experience, you must go! Camp here only if you appreciate quiet, windswept views and at night want to see the most mindboggling view of the milky way. In the day, hike to Cherry or Lobo Canyon and bring lots of water. For nighttime, bring a comfortable lounge chair, and a really good book. Before you leave, make sure to pack out every single speck of garbage. Oh, and bring plenty of chocolate. Peanut M and M's taste especially delightful here for some reason. This is a fantastic trip--not many places like this left in the U.S.