16 Best Sights in Channel Islands National Park, California

Taking in quite a bit of Santa Cruz, this moderate to strenuous 3-mile trail one-way to Pelican Cove is one of the best hikes in the park. You must be accompanied by an Island Packers naturalist or secure a permit (visit www.nature.org/cruzpermit; allow 10 to 15 business days to process and return your application), as the hike takes you through Nature Conservancy property. Moderate.

This moderate 2-mile hike takes you to the bluffs northwest of Scorpion harbor on Santa Cruz, where there are magnificent coastal views and pods of migrating gray whales from December through March. Moderate.

Want a cool sneak preview of the islands and the colorful sea life below? Experience them virtually through the Channel Islands Live Program, which takes you on interactive tours of the park. In the Live Dive Program, divers armed with video cameras explore the undersea world of the kelp forest off Anacapa Island; images are transmitted to monitors located on the dock at Landing Cove, in the mainland visitor center, and online. The Live Hike Program takes you on a similar interactive virtual tour of Anacapa Island. Live webcams also connect you 24/7 with panoramic views of Anacapa Island, bald eagle and peregrine falcon nests, Santa Cruz Island (from Mount Diablo, the island's highest peak) and underwater life in a kelp forest.

This easy walk takes you along a 2-mile-long white sand beach on San Miguel. The eastern section is occasionally cut off by high tides. An access permit is required. Easy.

This strenuous 12-mile hike along beautiful white-sand beaches yields the opportunity to see rare Torrey pines. Some beaches are closed between March and September, so you have to remain on the road for portions of this hike. Difficult.

This moderate-to-strenuous, 2½-mile, round-trip walk takes you across Santa Barbara to a point where you can view magnificent elephant seals from steep cliffs. Moderate.

This easy ½-mile walk on Santa Cruz Island takes you to a historic ranch where you can visit an interpretive center in an 1800s adobe and see remnants of a cattle ranch. Easy.

This 1½-mile hike along flat terrain takes in most of East Anacapa. There are great views from Inspiration Point and Cathedral Cove. Easy.

This short but strenuous 2-mile hike leads up a spectacular canyon filled with waterfalls and lush native plants. At the end of a steep climb to the top of a peak, views of the historic Lester Ranch and the Cabrillo Monument await. If you plan to hike beyond the Lester Ranch, you'll need a hiking permit in addition to an island-access permit; call or visit the park website for details. Difficult.

The small office in the Santa Barbara Harbor provides maps and other information about Channel Islands National Park and Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary; the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum is housed in the same building. Call ahead to verify hours.

Picnic tables are available on all the islands except San Miguel. You can also picnic on some of the beaches of Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel; be aware that high winds are always a possibility on Santa Rosa and San Miguel.

Rangers conduct 15-mile hikes across San Miguel to Point Bennett, where more than 30,000 pinnipeds (three different species) can be seen. An access permit is required. Difficult.

A branch of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, the Sea Center specializes in Santa Barbara Channel marine life and conservation. It's a fascinating, hands-on marine science laboratory that lets you participate in experiments, projects, and exhibits. The two-story glass walls open to stunning ocean, mountain, and city views.

Explore the area's marine habitat without getting your feet wet. Rangers at the Channel Islands Visitor Center demonstrate how animals and plants adapt to the harsh conditions found in tidal pools of the Channel Islands. The talks generally take place at 11 am and 3 pm on weekends and most holidays.

This moderate 5-mile loop climbs up to Santa Rosa's grove of rare Torrey pines and offers stellar views of Becher's Bay and the channel. Moderate.

Starting at Santa Rosa Campground, this 2-mile walk along a white-sand beach features some exceptional beachcombing. Frequent strong winds can turn this easy hike into a fairly strenuous excursion, though. You can extend your walk by following animal paths to Water Canyon, which is full of native vegetation. Easy.