A trip to Anacapa Island, one of the five islands that make up Channel Islands National Park, is a must-visit when you’re in Oxnard, California. Anacapa Island is the closest and most visited of the Channel Islands. Anacapa is an island 11 miles from the mouth of Oxnard, with a retreat from the island Channel Harbor.
These California islands emerged from the ocean millions of years ago, but their first signs of human habitation were when the Chumash Indians arrived several thousand years ago. They were explored by Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo in the fall of 1542, but their islands were given the name of the channel by Captain George Vancouver in 1793. Since then, the archipelago has been used by the military and for medical purposes. In 1980 they were designated as a National Park while Jimmy Carter was president and today they are known as the “Northern Galapagos Islands”. because many species of plants and animals are endemic to the region; that is, they can only be found here.
Anacapa is a little more or less square in size, but it is really loaded with some of Mother Nature’s life and creatures very diverse and interesting plants. It has over 250 species of plants and seabirds, with the largest number being the Brown Pelican in the USA. Seven other species of seabirds nest here, including the Western Gull, as well as 22 species of land birds. Some 90 percent of western hawks are born in Southern California in Anacapa. This island is also the land of migration of many other birds. Meet seals and sea lions on its rocky shores.
Island Packers will take you to Anacapa. It is an hour almost everywhere. For a couple of minutes on our way to this National Park crossed, it felt like in a. roller coaster because a large cargo ship passed in front of us, producing large waves that really carried the ship. I was lucky enough to have the first boat with a very knowledgeable and familiar National Park volunteer named Mike Sandford, when he asked us to not only to give us a tour, but to camp for the weekend. Well, he is the owner of the metal-roofing company, but he has been volunteering with his wife for the National Park Service for some time.
They got us into a great safety tip because it was mating season. Western Gavia. They can be driven and sometimes run into people like a kamikaze plane. One way to protect yourself is to keep your fist high, so they aim for your fist rather than your head (but they miss almost every time)! When walking marked trails, you will always be within feet of mother pigeons sitting on their eggs. They will not attack you if you stand at the foot of the road, but they will incessantly complain to you in a difficult noise.
Another thing we have been warned about is that the deer mice do not pick up the droppings when they carry the hantavirus. You never know, a dung fanatic might be lurking around in each of the road groups, so Mike wanted to cover all the safety bases in this National Park!
Be prepared to climb 154 steps when you get off the boat and then hike a few miles once you’ve climbed those stairs. Visitors normally have about 2.5 hours to see the island before heading back to the docking area for the cruise ship.
However, the climb and hike are more than worth it when you will see such plant life as Alkalai Heath, Cheesewood, Cliff-aster, and Gumweed. The most dominant plant on the island bright orange-red perennial Ice Plant. It is from South Africa, and was introduced by the Coast Guard to help with erosion control. The introduction worked too well, as the Ice Plant invaded the island so much that the National Park Service pulled out the high schools. However, when you walk through Anacapa, you won’t have to worry about their shortage. The dominant colors on the island also include green and yellow. There are many of these two colors from the leaves of Coreopsis trees and sunflowers.
This island is divided into three parts. Guests will basically find themselves on the eastern side of Anacapa, but hiking west, they will stumble upon a view from the high cliffs that open to the beach that separates East Anacapa from Middle Anacapa. This view is found in Inspiration, and it also provides a glimpse of Western Anacapa, which is farther into space. The National Park Service provides a free Anacapa Island Map & Orientation; Lead to the use of exploration. However, for 50 cents, you can take the guide home with you.
Solar energy supply helps the island. Every twelve seconds, you’ll hear a foggy roar from the lighthouse. In place of the lighthouse for almost a century. At first the commotion was very irritating, but then the beauty of this place made me generally tune out the huge noise. The island of Anacapa also has a temple built, but I am not going to mention what it was used for: We have to go to this amazing place to find out about the unusual “function of the church”!
Other Channel Islands
Here is a bit of a rundown on the other islands in this National Park that can be visited, which stretches over 40 miles, from east to west. The availability of visits varies depending on the time of year. Please check the pages below for information on outdoor opportunities for each island:
The Channel Islands are over 40,000 and include Santa Cruz, the largest and closest to Anacapa. This is 22 miles long, and 2-6 miles wide. Santa Cruz The island contains one of the world’s largest sea caves called Cavea Picta. Santa Cruz’ Mount Diablo over 2400 feet above sea level. Seals and sea lions can be seen here, as well as island scrub jays.
Santa Rosa Island is 15 miles long and ten miles wide. You will find hills, canyons, and sand dunes here. Here the spotted Percula thrives, as well as the elusive Torrey pitch. Munchkin Dudleya is an endemic plant species found only here. Visitors can learn more about Chumash history and care on this island.
San Miguel, the last of a group of four islands, is eight miles long and four miles wide. Because it is far away, San Miguel Island receives the worst weather, but it has got plenty of sea. lions and seals. Sheep used to be raised here from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s. San Miguel was also used in military bombing exercises. Juan RodrÃguez Cabrillo landed here in 1542, so a monument honoring this explorer is located here.
Santa Barbara is separated from the other islands, about 40 miles southeast of Anacapa, and offers fewer tourists that year. The Xanthi murrelet is a seabird that makes its home in the rocky caves of Santa Barbara. Seaweed forests and island “live-forever” plants thrive here.
Two of the other Channel Islands, San Clemente and San Nicolas, are not part of the National Park. a> because they are usurped by warriors; consequently, they are the public domain. Santa Catalina makes the 8th Channel Island, and is a well-known tourist destination, on the coast of Los Angeles. but especially in private affairs.
More about visiting the Channel Islands:
Hiking, camping, snorkeling, and kayaking activities are also available here. Check out the websites below for details. When visiting Anacapa Island, it is wise to pack long sleeves and pants (and bring insect repellent ) because you will find mosquitoes escape and re-board the ship, because of the huge seaweeds around the harbor, which attract these pests! Don’t let those flies stop you from going, because it’s only a matter of time to be bothered by them. However, the memories collected from a visit to Anacapa will last a lifetime!
Island Packers will take you to Anacapa and other islands. During the year, some are more open than others, with Anacapa and Santa Cruz being the most accessible to visit. 3600 S. Harbor Blvd., Oxnard, CA. www.islandpackers.com 805-642-1393. Admission charge Turon.
Roy A. Barnes’ feature article on Oxnard can be found at: www.associatedcontent.com/article/38593/
oxnard_california_more_than_big_strawberries.html
Report:
- Channel Islands National Park: www.nps.gov/chis Fly to Santa Rosa Island: www.flycia.com Oxnard CVB: www.visitoxnard.com
