One of America's Most Pristine National Parks Is Only Accessible by Boat-and It's Called the 'Galapagos of North America'

"Channel Islands National Park is just off the coast of Southern California, sitting within the 1,400-square-mile Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. The five islands of Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara comprise the protected land. Shaped by thousands of years of isolation, the islands host over 2,000 plant and animal species, around 150 of them endemic to the region. Nicknamed the "Galápagos of North America," it offers divers, campers, and kayakers a serene, exceptionally vibrant ecosystem to explore-but there's a catch."

"Although it has no shortage of appeal, Channel Islands National Park is among the least visited in the U.S. Far from the crowds and congestion of the mainland, the islands can only be reached by boat. Most visitors depart from either Oxnard or Ventura, laid-back beach towns in the heart of an agricultural mecca. The closest island, Anacapa, takes only an hour to get to by chartered boat, and yet the park still only sees around 300,000 visitors a year."

"Those who do take the seldom-chartered waters are immersed in a remote world bursting with adventures. Kayakers explore hundreds of sea caves, including massive, cathedral-like chambers and breathtaking turquoise water. Divers and snorkelers weave through forests of giant kelp towers, encountering famously playful sea lions, neon fish, and even historic shipwrecks. On land, day hikers and rugged overnight campers take in colorful endemic birds, island foxes, and a striking landscape."

Channel Islands National Park comprises five islands—Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara—within the 1,400-square-mile Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary off Southern California. The islands host over 2,000 plant and animal species, about 150 of them endemic, shaped by thousands of years of isolation. Access is only by boat from Oxnard or Ventura, keeping visitation low at roughly 300,000 people annually. Visitors kayak through sea caves, dive among giant kelp forests and shipwrecks, and observe sea lions, neon fish, island foxes, and migratory whales drawn by nutrient-rich waters. The park offers remote, pristine marine and terrestrial ecosystems for recreation and wildlife viewing.

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