Last updated on September 1st, 2024 at 02:15 am
Visiting the U.S. National Parks with your kids is an incredible educational opportunity. It provides children with a chance to connect with nature, engage in conversations about conservation, watch and wonder about wildlife, learn historical and cultural lessons, and so much more.
Planning family vacations around National Parks is becoming increasingly popular, and many families, like ours, have made it their goal to visit all of the US National Parks. At the time of this article, there are 63 National Parks in the United States.
California hosts more National Parks than any other state, with nine beautiful parks to explore. Today’s focus is on one of my favorites in California—Channel Islands National Park. The National Park Service estimates that about 300,000 people visit Channel Islands National Park each year. This is significantly less than Yosemite National Park in the eastern part of the state, which welcomes just shy of 4 million visitors annually. Why is that?
I think visiting Channel Islands National Park may be intimidating to some people due to its proximity to Los Angeles and the fact that it’s only accessible by ferry. While this may sound a bit daunting, it’s actually really easy to visit the park—and it’s completely kid-friendly!
Table of Contents
This article will cover everything you need to know about visiting Channel Islands National Park with kids!
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When to visit Channel Islands National Park
Channel Islands National Park is comprised of five separate islands. This article focuses on a day trip to the park, and the most popular island to visit is Santa Cruz.
The best time to visit Channel Islands National Park with kids is between May and October when the weather is best. However, the ferries run year-round, and there’s never a bad time to visit the islands. We visited Santa Cruz in February, and it was fantastic!
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How to Get to Channel Islands National Park
The only way to access the islands is by ferry. Island Packers ferry service is connected with the National Park Service and is the best way to access the islands. Tickets do sell out in peak season, so make sure to book in advance. Simply visit their website and book online. The main harbor for departure is Ventura, California, where there is also a visitor center.
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Can Kids Take the Ferry to Santa Cruz?
There is no minimum age for the ferry ride, making the park very accessible for families with young kids. Our kids were 4 and 1 when we visited. The ferry ride typically takes about an hour each way. The route is susceptible to rough water, so be prepared for seasickness. Come prepared with Dramamine and have a light breakfast. My poor husband had it rough on the way to the island because the water was extra choppy that morning. On the bright side, the boat supplies puke bags if needed! Sigh. This is the less glamorous part of visiting the island, but I promise it’s worth it!
Side note: There are bathrooms on board if you’re worried about your kiddos needing a toilet break during the ride.
Aside from the potential seasickness, the ferry ride is actually a neat part of the experience! The crew are experts at spotting wildlife. You are almost guaranteed to see dolphins swimming alongside the ferry. If you’re lucky, you may get to see whales as well! We hit the lottery and got to see a few whales splash their tails in the water. Our 4-year-old loved seeing the dolphins and whales; it was such a special experience. The ferry ride had a similar effect to a car ride on the baby—he slept the entire time.
How to Spend a Day at Channel Islands National Park With Kids
You will be dropped off at Scorpion Cove on Santa Cruz Island, and the ferry will depart. There is something so relaxing about how remote and quiet it is out on the island. There are no amenities aside from a few primitive bathrooms, so all snacks and water need to be packed in (and out!). You will select a departure time from the island when you book your ticket, so as long as you’re back to Scorpion Cove at your selected time, you are free to explore!
There is an outfitter that offers kayaking tours on the island. These must be booked ahead of time, and they do not allow children under 5, so we didn’t kayak during our visit. I hear it’s fantastic if you have older children, though! There are also options for overnight camping. I think camping with kids would be a great option here, as long as you have some basic camping and outdoor skills.
Time to hike! I recommend the Scorpion Cove to Potato Harbor trail for your first day trip to Santa Cruz. According to AllTrails, it is 5.2 miles with 633 feet of elevation gain and is rated as moderate. In retrospect, I’m surprised the trail is that long- it went by so fast! After the initial ascent (which is tough), the trail opens up to beautiful rolling green hills surrounded by the Pacific Ocean. You might even spot some Channel Island foxes, a species of fox that only lives on the Channel Islands. Santa Cruz is magnificent!
Our 4-year-old did great with the hike, so I encourage you to give this one a go even with little kids. As always, we carried the baby on our back with our favorite hiking carrier, and it made hiking with the baby a breeze. (Link to my favorite carrier here! It’s an investment, but it’s so worth it. We’ve used the same carrier for both kids).
Even if you don’t make it to the end, you’re treated to fantastic views the whole way. There’s a nice overlook at the end; we brought a small blanket and lunch and had a relaxing picnic surrounded by so much beauty! There was even a photographer at the end offering to take family photos and email them for free (this was just our experience, not guaranteed).
After you hike back, it’s time to relax on the beach until the ferry returns. There’s a nice rock beach right by the dock, as well as a Channel Islands National Park sign for photos. We opted for 4 hours on the island, and that was the perfect amount of time. We had a great time at this park and will return for another visit someday!
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Planning a Trip to Channel Islands National Park?
I hope this article encourages you to plan a trip to Channel Islands National Park with kids! It is entirely possible to have an enjoyable visit to this park with little ones.
If you’re planning a trip to Channel Islands National Park, use me as your travel advisor! I know all the details to plan your perfect trip and can get you some fantastic deals on hotels and VIP perks!
Do you have specific questions about visiting Channel Islands National Park? Leave a comment below!
Have you been to Channel Islands National Park? Is it also one of your favorite parks? We had so much fun with the kids there!
Want more National Park inspiration? Check out 8 Most Beautiful National Parks in the US!
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