Santa Barbara Island

$15.00/night

1901 Spinnaker Drive
Ventura, CA 93001

Overview

Once visitors have scaled the rugged cliffs using the steep trail from the Landing Cove, they will be rewarded with a campground perched on the bluffs with magnificent coastal views.

Santa Barbara lies much further south than the other four northern Channel Islands and is the smallest, measuring just one square mile. The islands' native vegetation is recovering slowly with the help of the National Park Service's restoration efforts. This recovery, along with the removal of nonnative predators, has aided in the reestablishment of nesting land birds and seabirds. The island is one of the most important seabird nesting sites within the Channel Islands, with 11 nesting species, including western gulls, California brown pelicans, three species of cormorants, three species of storm-petrels, and one of the world's largest colonies of Scripps's murrelets. The rocky shores of Santa Barbara Island also provide resting and breeding areas for California sea lions, harbor seals and northern elephant seals.

Recreation

With five miles of hiking trails, ocean access nearby the campground and generally good weather, Santa Barbara Island offers a variety of recreational activities, including hiking, swimming, snorkeling, diving, kayaking and wildlife/wildflower viewing. Since Santa Barbara Island is a cliff island, access to the water is only at the Landing Cove via a dock. There are no other accessible beaches unless you have a watercraft. There are no services on the island, so all gear has to be brought to the island. For more information about recreational activities in the park, visit https://www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/index.htm.

Facilities

Santa Barbara Island Campground offers 10 campsites (4 persons per site). Camping is primitive and campers must bring their own food, equipment and water. Picnic table, food storage box and pit toilet are provided. Distance from landing to campground is a quarter-mile and includes a 200-foot climb. Access to the island is by Island Packers Cruises or by private boat. Due to the Island Packer boat schedule, minimum stay is generally three days.

Natural Features

Steep cliffs on this small island rise above rocky shores and give way to a grassy mesa flanked with twin peaks. The highest point, Signal Peak, is 635 feet in elevation.

Nearby Attractions

The Landing Cove near the campground is an ideal place for swimming, diving, snorkeling and kayaking, but there are no lifeguards on the island.

The island is also home to just over five miles of trails that meander over gentle slopes and low mountain tops to dramatic overlooks and magnificent coastal views. All hikers must stay on the trails for visitor safety and to protect fragile vegetation and nesting seabirds. No off-trail hiking is allowed. Portions of trails are subject to closure when pelicans are nesting from January through August.

Camp site features

Across 20 camp sites:

Largest party: 4 people
Equipment: Tent

Directions

Boat transportation can be arranged with Island Packers from Ventura Harbor. To park headquarters in Ventura, California: Highway 101, exit Victoria or Seaward to Ventura Harbor.

Stay Limit

Check in from 12 AM, check out by 12 AM.

Reviews

1 review

4 stars

Seamus C

Loop:Santa Barbara Island Area

Site:

Reviewed a year ago

We were the only visitors on the Island, no Ranger either, so had it to ourselves, that was a unique experience in itself. We very much enjoyed the solitude of the island and wildness of it, the facilities for camping, including outhouses were quite nice, no people to mess them up. Birds, Sea Lions, Seals, wildlife galore, it was wild! Hiking was barren but great, the trail that you are meant to stay on is hard to track in some placed but managed. Now for the drawbacks: 1. Getting ashore - There is no dock or even a beach to go ashore, especially at low tide, you have to climb up on the rocks covered in seaweed. We used our skiff to get people ashore, jumping off the front on to the rocks, the last person anchored the skiff just outside of the so-called pier area and used a paddleboard to get shore that we hoisted up and stowed above the high-water mark. 2. Once ashore you then have to climb up quite a few steep steps, not a big deal, except your path is impeded by some very large sea lions, including a couple of massive bulls. This took some time, as their only way to get passed you is down the narrow stairs you are climbing, so you need to climb up the embankment to allow them to pass. We were traveling very light, so none of the above was a huge deal, but certainly something you need to be prepared for. Fact is, it made for a lot of fun and part of the adventure! Enjoy but be prepared as there is very little info to do it for you.

Availability

See the Camp Sites section below to find detailed booking availability.

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Season dates

Peak season

Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026

Reservable online

Peak season

Jan 1, 2028 – Dec 31, 2028

Reservable online

Camp Sites

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