Anacapa Island window.onload=new function(){wgUserName='';sTrailName='Anacapa Island';bTrailFinished='';} [?]

Anacapa Island
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Difficulty	Easy
Distance	3 miles (4.8 kilometers)
Time Required	1-3 hours
Trail Use
Trail Type	Loop
Elevation Gain	200 feet (60 meters)
High Point
Low Point
Best Months	April - July
Nearest City	Oxnard, CA

Overview

Anacapa Island is a fantastic day excursion into the Channel Islands National Park. After taking a boat to the island, you can stroll around the loop and enjoy unforgettable views of the California coast as well as beautiful flowers and birds on the island itself.

Directions To Trailhead

The dock, Landing Cove, at East Anacapa Island is about 12 miles from the docks near Oxnard where you will need to hop on a boat for a roadtrip; it takes about an hour each way.

Once you get to Landing Cove, there are about 150 stairs up 200 feet to the visitor center and beginning of the trail loop.

The NPS recommends Island Packers (http://www.islandpackers.com) which charges around $56 for adults roundtrip and $39 for kids ages 3-12.

Trail Description

After disembarking from your boat, you will go up several flights of stairs - this is really the only serious elevation gain. Once at the top the loop is pretty straightforward, easy, and enjoyable.

Going counter-clockwise, will take you along the northern edge of the island and first to Cathedral Cove (the main picture of this trail article) about 0.6 miles from the visitor center. Continuing along west and straight will take you to the overlook of the rest of the Anacapa Islands, Inspiration Point (1.5 miles from the visitor center).

View from Inspiration Point

Continuing back along the loop across the southern side of the island will take you back to the path you first hit, and then the bottom of the first loop. From here over the side you will be able to see Pinniped Point, where sea lions laze in the sun much of the year. At the fork there is also a bathroom and camp site.

Stairs up to Pinniped Point

Finally, you can go back to the visitor center by following the rest of the trail. A small side trail will take you to the old lighthouse (visible easily from most of the island).

Old lighthouse on the eastern point of the Island

Conditions And Hazards

Avoid the cliff edges (especially with children) - they are marked by railroad ties but there is some erosion and better to stay at a safe distance.

There is no potable water on the island, so bring plenty!

There is some poison oak on the island (identifiable by clusters of 3 shiny leaflets).

Fees, Permits, And Restrictions

You will need to get to Anacapa Island on a ferry or hired boat.

Amenities

At the island's visitor center there is an outhouse style bathroom and picnic tables.

There is no potable water so you will need to bring plenty.

You can do some swimming as well as scuba diving right next to Landing Cove, but the water can be very cold so you need to bring a wet suit.

Miscellaneous

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Photo Gallery

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Map

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Trailhead (34.0157, -119.3601)

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