San Miguel Island Campground
The Quick Take
San Miguel Island Campground is the most remote campground in Channel Islands National Park, and that is saying something for a park that is entirely boat-access only. With fewer than a dozen primitive sites perched above a steep canyon, this is camping stripped to its essentials: wind shelters instead of walls, pit toilets instead of plumbing, and absolutely no water on-site. The one-mile hike from the boat landing gains about four hundred feet of elevation, so you are hauling every drop of water and every meal on your back uphill. The reward is genuine isolation on an island most visitors to Channel Islands never see, with some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in California and practically no one else around. This campground is for experienced backcountry campers who want the bragging rights and the solitude to match.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 9 sites are reservable.
Book at Channel Islands LodgesWhat You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
RVs allowed. No electrical hookups.
Accessibility
Due to San Miguel Island's isolation, steep cliffs, and boat transportation requirements, the San Miguel Island Campground is not accessible for individuals in wheelchairs or those with limited mobility. No Roads
Pro Tips
Boat service to San Miguel is extremely limited and often runs through Santa Rosa Island first, making it a multi-day commitment. Book your Island Packers concession boat well in advance and build weather-delay flexibility into your travel plans — rough seas cancel trips regularly.
The island is famous for its relentless wind. Your tent stakes need to be bombproof — bring sand or snow stakes and extra guylines. The provided wind shelters help, but do not expect them to block everything. Test your shelter setup at home before committing to this trip.
There is zero potable water on San Miguel. Plan for a minimum of one gallon per person per day, plus cooking water, and carry it all from the boat landing. Collapsible water containers with backpack straps are far easier to haul up that canyon than rigid jugs.
Photos
Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.comGetting There
Directions
San Miguel Island Campground is only accessible by boat. Visit our island transportation webpage for more information: http://www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/island-transportation.htm The hike to the campground is 1 mile (steep, uphill) from the boat landing.
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