Santa Rosa Island Day Trip: Channel Island National Park

• Must book the ticket online from Island Packers
• The cost was around $85 when I went.
• Takes 3 hours each way on the boat to get there.

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On the way back, I decided to take the coastal trail, which splits off the main road near the middle of the airstrip.

With about an hour left before I needed to be back for the boat, I left the beach.

This trail leaves from near the bathrooms and follows the NPS road till it breaks off on a small single-track trail.

Getting There
Water Canyon Beach


Here is a small recap of the trail, and you can read my full post on this trail here.

I went on a bad day, and we had 7-10 foot waves. I saw at least 6 people throw up when I was there, so bring your Dramamine if you get seasick. You can see a clip of the waves in the above Instagram video.
The boat ride to Santa Rosa is not for the faint of heart. It takes about 2.5 to 3 hours to get over to the island, and the water can be really choppy.
If you have more time, you can go down to the beach below the pier and hang out in the water, or you can just sit at the end of the pier and wait for the boat to come in.
Here is the map of the island if you want to see what hikes are available. I headed out on the Cherry Canyon Trail though.
After that, you will walk along the fence to where the bathrooms are, and that is where you can start your journey.


Santa Rosa Island
If you are taking a day trip, you probably have about 4 hours to explore the island before getting back to the boat. If you have the time to camp, that is probably better as it gives you more time on the island, but here is what I did with the time I had.

The first stop for me was to walk to the end of the pier and see the Santa Rosa Island sign.

This is one of the best views I have seen in Channel Islands National Park and I soaked it in.
It is about 1.5 miles from the trailhead to the split for the beach.
The trail then goes through a canyon with many different types of plants all around you.
I highly recommend this trail as it goes along the bluffs and has amazing views every 15 feet or so. I took a lot of time soaking in all the views.

The boat takes you right up to the pier, and from there, you will climb steps off the boat to get onto the pier itself.
After you round Santa Cruz Island, you will see Santa Rosa in front of you.

This was the highlight of the trip as it was a stunning beach with pristine sand and views, and there were less than ten people there with me.
The Boat Ride

From here, you can explore the one-room schoolhouse and ranch from when the island was used for farming.

You can see some remnants of the ranching that took place on the island, like old fencing along the trail.

All in all, I loved my time on this island, and it definitely made me want to come back for more. Every time I visit the Channel Islands, I fall in love with this unique part of California. If you haven’t been, then make sure to add it to your list.
Here is a video I made on my trip.
Video
Eventually, the coastal trail takes you back to where the original trail connects with the pier.
I sat here for a while, ate my lunch, and put my feet in the water. I wish I would have camped so that I could spend more time at the beach.

Historic Ranch Buildings


Details

It then heads up till it eventually gives you a fantastic view of the shoreline and Santa Cruz Island in the distance.
The trail then descends past the campground towards the beach with stunning views the entire way.
After finishing the Cherry Canyon Trail, I made my way down to the beach.
The boat ride is fun though, as they stop for any wildlife, and we saw dolphins and whales. They also have a galley with food and drinks that you can partake in on the journey.

Cherry Canyon

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