National Park · California, United States
Channel Islands National Park
Channel Islands National Park is a national park in California, United States, covering 249,561 acres (100,994 ha), established in 1980; it recorded 227,186 visits in 2025.
National Park · California, United States
No freely licensed photograph of this park is in our library yet — rather than borrow a picture of somewhere else, this profile leads with its verified facts.
Park facts
| Park type | National Park |
|---|---|
| Location | California, United States |
| Area | 249,561 acres (100,994 ha) |
| Established | 1980 |
| Annual visits (2025) | 227,186 |
| Highest point | El Montañon — 551 m (1,808 ft) |
| Coordinates | 34.0100° N, 119.4200° W |
| Managed by | National Park Service |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
About Channel Islands National Park
Channel Islands National Park is a national park of the United States, which consists of five of the eight Channel Islands off the coast of California. Although the islands are close to the shore of the densely populated state, they have been relatively undeveloped. The park covers 249,561 acres (1,009.94 km2; 389.939 mi2), of which 79,019 acres (319.78 km2; 123.467 mi2) are federal land. Santa Cruz Island, the largest of the eight, is divided between The Nature Conservancy and the National Park Service.
Description from the park's Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA), linked in the sources below.
Planning your visit
Best time to visit
Year-round, with the calmest seas roughly July to October
What to do
Getting there
| Nearest town | Ventura, California |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Santa Barbara Municipal Airport |
Where to stay
| Campgrounds | Yes |
|---|
Like Channel Islands National Park? Visit Channel Islands National Park’s official park page for hours and current conditions before you travel.
Airports near this park
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) · Los Angeles, United States · 58.2 miles away
- Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport (BUR) · Burbank, United States · 62.2 miles away
- Long Beach International Airport (LGB) · Long Beach, United States · 74.0 miles away
Parks nearby
More parks in California
Frequently asked questions
Where is Channel Islands National Park?
Channel Islands National Park is in California, United States (34.0100° N, 119.4200° W).
When was Channel Islands National Park established?
Channel Islands National Park was established in 1980, per the source listed at the foot of this page.
How big is Channel Islands National Park?
Channel Islands National Park covers 249,561 acres (100,994 ha).
How many people visit Channel Islands National Park each year?
It recorded 227,186 recreation visits in 2025, the latest published figure.
What is the highest point in Channel Islands National Park?
The highest point is El Montañon, at 551 metres (1,808 ft).
When is the best time to visit Channel Islands National Park?
Year-round, with the calmest seas roughly July to October.
Does Channel Islands National Park have campgrounds?
Yes — Channel Islands National Park has campgrounds.
How do I get to Channel Islands National Park?
The nearest town is Ventura, California. The nearest airport is Santa Barbara Municipal Airport.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_United_States_National_Park_System_official_units — Wikipedia list of National Park System official units — unit name, state, official designation.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_areas_in_the_United_States_National_Park_System — Wikipedia list of National Park System areas — year established and gross area.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_parks_of_the_United_States — Wikipedia list of US national parks — coordinates, established date, area, recreation visitors (2025), description.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_Islands_National_Park — Wikipedia article — description (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.nps.gov/chis/ — Official park page.