Santa Barbara Island Campground
The Quick Take
Santa Barbara Island Campground is the most remote and least visited camping option in Channel Islands National Park, and that is entirely the point. Getting here requires a multi-hour boat crossing to the smallest island in the park, followed by a short but brutally steep quarter-mile climb from the landing cove to the campsite perched on the island's plateau. With only a handful of sites, no water, and no shade to speak of, this is stripped-down camping at its most elemental. What you trade in comfort you gain in exclusivity -- on any given night, you may share the entire island with fewer people than you would find in a single campground loop at Scorpion. The wind can be relentless and the sun unforgiving, but the night skies are staggering and the solitude is real. This campground belongs to experienced backpackers who treat logistics as part of the adventure, not an obstacle to it.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 10 sites are reservable.
Book at Channel Islands LodgesWhat You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
RVs allowed. No electrical hookups.
Accessibility
Due to Santa Barbara Island's isolation, steep cliffs, and boat transportation requirements, the Santa Barbara Island Campground is not accessible for individuals in wheelchairs or those with limited mobility. No Roads
Pro Tips
Island Packers runs limited trips to Santa Barbara Island, mostly between April and October. Book your boat and campsite simultaneously -- if the boat fills up or gets canceled due to seas, your camping reservation is useless. Build a buffer day into your return in case swells delay pickup.
There is zero potable water on the island, so carry every drop you will need -- plan for at least one gallon per person per day, plus extra for cooking. A collapsible water container with a spigot makes camp life significantly easier than wrestling with bottles after that steep haul up.
The island is a critical seabird nesting habitat, especially for Xantus's murrelets. Stay on marked trails after dark -- birds nest in burrows right along the paths. Bring a red-light headlamp to minimize disturbance, and watch your step literally everywhere.
Photos
Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.comGetting There
Directions
Santa Barbara 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 .25 miles (steep, uphill) from the boat landing.
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