Trip · 3-day camping trip
For · Friends and new campers
Vibe · Moderate and fun
Reservations · Yes, reserve a site at Scorpion Campground and book a ferry ride
Drive · 1 hour drive and 1 hour ferry ride from LA
Ideal dates · June to October
Pets · Not allowed on the Channel Islands
Channel Islands National Park (CINP) has five spectacular islands: Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara. Visiting involves some ferry logistics, but don't let that deter you from having a once-in-a-lifetime California adventure. Kayak inside sea caves, watch a sweeping ocean sunset, and spot the infamous Channel Island fox in the wild.
Official National Park Website
Main image credit: Recreation.gov
Each campsite comes with a:
There are 25 campsites and 6 group campsites (for up to 15 people) at Scorpion Canyon. From Scorpion Anchorage, it's a flat 0.5 mile hike to reach the campground. AdorableChannel Islands foxes like to show up around camp, but please don't feed them! There are restrooms and drinking water at camp, but no sinks. Bring your own H20 for washing dishes and filling up water bottles. Campfires aren't allowed (cuz' who wants to start a wildfire on an island?), but that's a reason to enjoy the serenity and starry skies of island life.
Nightly rate: $40
CINP features five islands, but there are actually eight channel islands off the coast of California. Santa Cruz Island is the largest of them all.
For thousands of years, the northern Channel Islands were home to native Chumash communities.
The Channel Island fox lives on six out of eight Channel Islands, and can't be found anywhere else on Earth! They're the largest of the park's native mammals, but one of the smallest canid species in the world. Adorbz.
This was GCI's first rocker and it remains their most popular. It's easy to open and close, and comes with a handle to carry around.
Shared Gear
A dreamy, colorful sweater to sport around camp and on chillier day hikes.
Clothes
Light as a feather and versatile enough to use for running, camping, and other nighttime activities.
Essential Items
Imagine a sleeping pad, bag, and blanket all in one. It takes some getting used to, but people love it.
Essential Items
It's not the lightest cot available, but it's comfortable, easy to set up, and break down.
Essential Items
Sturdy, reliable, well-designed, and more expensive than most camp chairs, but it'll last for awhile.
Shared Gear
They're expensive, but you can lean on these bad boys for river crossings and navigating all kinds of terrain.
Essential Items
This mineral-based sunscreen is good for the envrionment and your skin. It's water resistant too.
Personal Stuff
When a campground is short of sinks, bring your own. Clean your dirty dishes in this expandable bin.
Kitchen
This backpacking stove weighs a couple of ounces and has a built-in igniter. It stands out in windy weather.
Kitchen
Camp underneath the stars and watch glorious sunrises in Joshua Tree National Park, the second largest national park in California.