5 of the Best Hikes in Channel Islands National Park

Channel Islands National Park protects an impressive 249,354 acres, but most of that protected area is actually a marine sanctuary. While the park protects five of the Channel Islands located just off the coast of Southern California, the marine sanctuary extends six nautical miles into the ocean. "Isolation over thousands of years has created unique animals, plants, and archeological resources found nowhere else on Earth and helped preserve a place where visitors can experience coastal southern California as it once was," writes the NPS.

While many visitors to the Channel Islands come specifically for the protected marine environment, even land lovers "can find spectacular hiking opportunities. . .and one established campground on each of the islands," according to NationalParks.org. In this guidebook, you'll find a selection of the top hikes in Channel Islands National Park.

Smuggler's Cove and Potato Harbor are two of the very best hikes in the national park, and both provide beautiful trails leading to isolated beaches for a unique experience of Coastal California as it once was before it got overrun by development.

To tour two of the smallest and more isolated islands, try either Anacapa Island or Santa Barbara Island.

Dive deep into the routes in this guidebook to discover all the incredible hiking opportunities that the Channel Islands have to offer!