East Anacapa Island Loop
Ventura, California
Details
Distance
2.31 miles
Elevation Gain
269 ft
Route Type
Loop
Description
Added by Leigh Maneri
East Anacapa Island Loop in Channel Islands National Park is just over two miles of easy hiking trails that allow you to fully take in Southern California's most captivating landscape and the abundance of wildlife within.
Leaving from either Ventura or Oxnard via Island Packers, this full-day hike is in the middle of the Santa Barbara Channel on a small island, about one hour from Los Angeles by car and one additional hour by boat. Without a beach on which to anchor, your boat will pull into Landing Cove and idle while passengers disembark. Climb 157 stairs up a cliffside to the surface of east Anacapa while the boat leaves you behind. You, and those who arrived with you, are now the only humans on the island, but certainly not the only life.
Walk to the tiny Visitor's Center which displays a behemoth Fresnel lens, once situated atop the lighthouse that still stands on the east side of the island — an impressive piece of technology circa 1932. Take a brief walk up the eastward trail to observe the lighthouse.
Backtrack southwest and stop at Cathedral Cove to admire the steady flow of gulls and pelicans as they trace the island edge over this dramatic and steep drop-off. If visiting during spring, admire gull nests, eggs and/or chicks that line the trails and every space in between. Continue on to Inspiration Point, an epic perspective of the middle and west Anacapa Islands, not to mention Santa Cruz, and San Miguel beyond. Capture this iconic photograph of Channel Islands National Park and lay out a blanket for a picnic lunch.
Take the north route back and climb the hill behind the campsites to Pinniped Point for one last humbling panorama before returning to Landing Cove to climb back aboard. Catch a glimpse of Arch Rock as you head back east and keep your eyes out for pelagic birds, dolphins, sea lions, and whales. It's not uncommon for shuttle boats to take whale-watching detours for humpback, fin, or blue whale sightings.
CAMPING
If you're planning to stay overnight, you can make campground reservations on Recreation.gov.
Download the Outbound mobile app
Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.
Get the appFeatures
East Anacapa Island Loop Reviews
Have you done this adventure? Be the first to leave a review!
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
Nearby
Dive East Fish Camp
Dive East Cat Rock
Smuggler's Cove
Potato Harbor via North Bluff Trail
Scorpion Ranch Campground
Potato Harbor Trail
Community
© 2024 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy