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Home , Anacapa Island, Santa Barbara Island

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Channel Islands National Park

Santa Barbara Island Trail Guide timhaufphotography.com Trail 1 Arch Point Trail Stops 1 Signal Peak Trail Stops Arch Point

.25 miles North Shag Rock 4

Webster Point 5 Elephant 3 Seal Cove 7 Landing Cove North 2 Peak 1 2 1 6 3

4

5 Sea Lion Signal 7 Rookery Peak 6

Cat Canyon timhaufphotography.com Webster Point

How To Use This Trail Guide This trail guide provides 7 interpretive learn about the rich natural and cultural stops along the 4 mile loop to Arch history of . Point and Elephant Seal Cove or the 3 mile loop to Signal Peak. The stops and In addition, at the end of this guide, on information are the same for either trail. pages 16–17, is a listing of island facts and information on places to go and things to Please see the adjacent map for specific do on Santa Barbara Island. stop locations for both trails. Arch Point stops are indicated with black circles, For a more detailed hiking map, please while Signal Peak stops have white see the “Hiking Santa Barbara Island” circles. bulletin available at the orientation sign near the visitor center. Also, please note that many of the topics covered are applicable to any island location. No matter what trail you choose to hike, take this guide along to

National Park Service 1 il Sto ra p T Nowhere Else on Earth 1 Location: Orientation Sign near the Visitor Center

Close to the mainland, yet worlds apart, coastal mainland has seen extensive Santa Barbara Island, along with the development, the Channel Islands remain other Channel Islands, is home to plants undeveloped. The islands’ separation and animals that are found nowhere else from the mainland by up to 60 miles of on Earth. As on the Galápagos Islands an often turbulent ocean has limited and of South America, the isolation of the directed human use and occupation for Channel Islands has allowed evolution thousands of years. And this limited use to proceed independently, fostering the continues today, giving us a chance to development of nearly 150 plants and see coastal southern as it once animals endemic, or unique, to these was. islands. Santa Barbara Island is home to 14 of these species and some, like the So step back in time and experience rare Santa Barbara Island live-forever, are Santa Barbara Island’s isolation as you found only on this island. walk to Arch Point or up to Signal Peak. It’s like nowhere else on Earth. Isolation has also played a major role in shaping human activities on the islands. While the timhaufphotography.com

2 Santa Barbara Island Trail Guide il Sto ra p T Preserving the Past 2 Location: Trail Junction with Arch Point Trail

An island ranch is a study in self-reliance. With no stores, phones…everything has to be fashioned from whatever is on hand; it’s the art of making do. Gretel Ehrlich, Cowboy Island: Farewell to a Ranching Legacy

While the isolated island offered ranchers several advantages over the mainland, including no predators and the world’s best fence (the ocean), it created special challenges as well. Supplying such a remote outpost was probably the most considerable of these. The transportation of supplies and stock on and off the island was always an adventure—the distance to the mainland, rough seas, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and high expense made it very difficult. Alvin Hyder family on Santa Barbara Island. However, ranchers adapted to the challenges of island life through self- sheep from , horses, reliance and, as one ranch foreman mules, pigs, goats, rabbits, chickens, wrote, “learning to make do with what ducks, geese and turkeys. [they] had.” Not all of these enterprises succeeded. No one was better suited to this island “Too much guano in the ground… life than Alvin Hyder, who lived on Santa burned [the potatoes].” High winds Barbara Island along with his extended wreaked havoc on the chickens and family from 1914 to 1922. According to geese: “We watched more gosh darn Alvin’s son, Buster, “The ol’ man got chickens and turkeys and our stuff blow up with a lantern and went to bed with out in that ocean—blow ‘em clear out.” a lantern. Eight hours was just getting’ One terrible year, the Hyders even lost started. He worked all the time. He was their entire hay harvest: “We sold our hay a hard-working man who never knew to this guy [in San Pedro], and he went when to stop.” bankrupt. We lost all of our feed and all our work…we got skunked.” In order to produce income and be as self-sufficient as possible, the Hyders Raising sheep for wool and meat developed a diverse operation: they eventually became the mainstay of the raised various crops (barley, corn, and Hyder operations. But even this had potatoes), maintained a vegetable garden, its challenges. One of the biggest was and imported different animals, including transporting the sheep and supplies to

National Park Service 3 Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Remaining Hyder Ranch buildings as of 1946. Cleve Hyder family home. the top of the island. To accomplish this challenge. Since the island had no difficult task, the Hyders constructed springs or flowing water, the Hyders a wooden track with a sled that ran constructed a system of reservoirs. between the Landing Cove and the They built two large concrete cisterns house. A horse pulled the sled up the at the house and brought water from track, and people lowered it by hand. The the mainland on Nora II in twenty-five horse, named Dan, listened for a signal 50-gallon barrels. This water was then from below to start hauling, and stopped pumped to the house reservoir. They also when the load was exactly at the barn. collected water from the building roofs and constructed two water catchment To supplement the family income, basins on the island for the livestock and Alvin ran rum during Prohibition crops. To ensure water quality, Buster had along the Southern California coast the job of removing dead mice from the and transported animals and supplies drinking water supply every day. to and from other islands aboard his boat, Nora. The family also fished and Despite these actions, water remained collected sea gull eggs which were boiled a precious resource as Buster recalled, because they were so oily. Occasionally, “You had to limit your drinking water. It hunger and lack of supplies would drive had to last a year. Then it got stagnant. family members to eating mice and Many times when it was raining I’d drink brushing their teeth with green coreopsis water out of horse tracks. No kiddin’. branches, a practice Buster describes Boy, it was hard to drink it. But when below: you don’t have anything else, you have to drink it.” When [the coreopsis] were green I used to break them off and scrub my Besides the lack of fresh water, the teeth with them. No kiddin’. We had Hyders also lacked natural resources for no toothbrushes…and no toothpaste. construction materials. With no trees on So I used to clean my teeth with the the island, all supplies for facilities had things. It’s just like eatin’ an apple, to be brought from the mainland. The and it keeps your teeth slick and clean. Hyders built a two-room wooden ranch Maybe that’s why I got all my teeth still. house above the Landing Cove for the families of both Alvin and his brother, The lack of fresh water also posed a Clarence, to share. A barn, stable, and

4 Santa Barbara Island Trail Guide a chicken coop were located nearby. Alvin’s other brother, Cleve, and his wife built their own small house half way up from the Landing Cove. At one time around 1915 some 15 people lived on this little island.

With all of these difficulties and setbacks, it may come as no surprise that the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Landing cove with tramway and Quonset huts. Hyders finally decided to leave the island in 1922, after years of hard work and Reynolds remembered his 1942 duty time frustration. They tore down the buildings at the station as “very hang loose . . . not for lumber and removed their animals a lot of regimentation, we stood our four with the exception of the rabbits and a on and eight off . . . it was a small island, mule. The Hyders were the only family there wasn’t a lot to do on it.” The men to permanently reside on this isolated worked two weeks on the island and then island. received one week of leave. They kept chickens and rabbits in pens, and fished After the Hyders, only government and tended lobster pots: “[we] always activity occurred on the island. From had hot buttered lobster.” Even though 1942 through 1946, the island served the Navy had constructed a water storage as a military coastal lookout station, tank and pumped water up from the which consisted of a lookout tower, dock, water was still scarce and the men radio antenna, roads, boat landing with were unable to keep a garden. A weekly tramway, and barracks. A staff of seven boat brought supplies and transferred men on 24-hour duty kept a lookout for men on and off the island. “It was a good all passing vessels and submarines. Two life,” Reynolds recalled, “an enjoyable unmanned navigational light towers were experience.” also constructed, one of which is still operational and can be seen near Arch Even today, the isolation of this island Point. still affects visitors and the National Park Service. Public boat trips for park visitors As you might expect, military life was a are limited to only a few days each little different on an isolated island. Cal month during the summer and visitors must bring (and carry up to the top of the island) all their own food and water. Park staff must import food and water as well, and have established a solar power system for energy. Like so many who visited and resided here before, we must learn to make do with what we have.

Radio antenna (left) and lookout tower, 1942.

National Park Service 5 il Sto ra p T Window into Their World 3 Location: Halfway to Arch Point or halfway to the Saddle between North and Signal Peaks

Throughout your hike today, you may discover tiny fragments of broken shells glittering in the soil or piles of shells falling out from the cliff edge. How did these shells get there? It must be the ocean at work—or is it?

Archeologists identify these sites as “middens,” debris piles containing remnants of past societies—the Tongva, the Chumash, and their ancestors. The island’s 30 or so midden sites suggest that occupation dates back at least 4,000 years, and probably even more than that. However, due to the lack of a steady supply of fresh water and the few terrestrial resources, permanent settlements were never established on timhaufphotography.com Santa Barbara Island. The island was Island midden site. instead used on a seasonal basis and as a stopover between Santa Catalina and San piece together a picture of the ancient Nicolas Islands. island life of these peoples. The Tongva and Chumash were skilled craftspeople These midden sites offer us a window and seafarers, with a vast knowledge of into the Tongva and Chumash world. By the world around them and how to use examining these sites, archeologists can it for their survival. The predominance of shells and fish bones within the Taking from or disturbing middens reveals that they subsisted archeological sites or artifacts is a primarily on fish, shellfish, and other violation of state and federal law. marine organisms. They often plied the The archeological sites around the in search of this Channel Islands are a testament to the rich variety of marine food, traveling in importance of the Chumash and other tomols (canoes) made of redwood or American Indians. Archeological sites are pine planks caulked with tar from natural sacred to Chumash peoples today, are seeps. protected by federal law, and are a vital nonrenewable scientific resource. Please These middens also reveal that other help us in protecting and preserving this items not available in this isolated rich part of California’s heritage. island environment had to be traded for

6 Santa Barbara Island Trail Guide with villages on the mainland or other Ancient Ocean Pathways Lead the islands. One of the principal products Chumash Home manufactured and traded by the islanders were shell beads, which were used as currency of trade in the Tongva and Chumash areas and throughout California.

To produce these beads, chert microdrills were used to bore holes in pieces of olivella snail shells. Chert, a hard, durable

silica rock, was found in considerable Peter Howorth quantities on Santa Cruz Island. Because Eastern Santa Cruz Island had chert of In 1976, the Chumash Brotherhood the proper type and quality needed for of the Tomol built and paddled the tool construction, this location became tomol, Helek (Peregrine Falcon), from the center for manufacturing chert to Santa Rosa Island, microdrills. One particular site contains and finally to Santa Cruz Island. This historic ocean voyage, the first since the evidence of the highest density of mid-1800s, brought the Chumash back microdrill production in North America. to their island home and sustained their traditional way life. Santa Barbara Island and the other Channel Islands were not isolated Then in 1997, a group of Chumash built enough to protect the island Tongva and the traditional style tomol, ‘Elye’wun Chumash from the diseases the Spanish (Swordfish), the first to be owned by explorers and missionaries brought the Chumash in 150 years, and paddled with them as they began colonizing her from the mainland to Santa Cruz California in the late 1700s. By the early Island in 2001, completing the island 1800s, the island Tongva and Chumash circle begun by Helek. had been devastated by measles and Members of the Chumash community other introduced epidemics, as well as continue to celebrate their heritage and by drought and the disruption of their culture through annual tomol crossings trade-based economy. The last of the to Santa Cruz Island. These journeys islanders would leave their traditional are an affirmation of tradition, which island home by the mid-1800s. contemporary Chumash regard as a gift to their ancestors and children. Although much of the islander’s history and way of life has been lost, enough Centuries ago, the tomol was remains to remind us of this unique used to connect different island part of Santa Barbara Island’s past. Chumash groups with each other These midden sites, along with today’s and the mainland. Today, it links past descendants of the island Tongva and generations of Chumash with the present-day Chumash community. Chumash, remind us how important and sacred these isolated islands are.

National Park Service 7 il Sto ra p T Return of the Natives 4 Location: Arch Point or saddle between North and Signal Peaks

eliminating most of the native vegetation and creating open, disturbed, and eroded soils that allowed nonnative plants to flourish. Once established, these hardier nonnatives outcompeted the natives for limited soil and moisture, due to their longer germination and growth cycles and ability to withstand grazing and browsing by livestock.

The NPS is working to restore the island’s native vegetation, and special focus is being placed on the 14 plants endemic to the islands—those found nowhere else in the world. Four of these occur only on Santa Barbara Island: the Santa Barbara Island live-

Ellie Yun Hui Tu Ellie Yun forever, buckwheat, cream cups, and island chicory. To ensure the survival of Santa Barbara Island live-forever these unique species and encourage the recovery of the island’s native vegetation, As you walk the island, you may notice all non-native animals have been the fields of grains and grasses that removed and the effort to plant native dominate the landscape. This was not species and control nonnative weeds is always the case. What was once an underway. island covered with coastal sage and bluff scrub, maritime cactus scrub, and The recovery of native plants has so native grasslands, has given way to far been remarkable. Many are now nonnative, European grazing grasses spreading beyond the buried seed banks and an assortment of weeds, including and steep canyon walls and cliffs, where iceplants, oats, bromes, foxtails, thistles, they remained protected from grazing, and mustard. Today, about a third of the and are reestablishing themselves slowly plant species found on Santa Barbara throughout the island. Island are nonnative. This reestablishment of native plants has During the early 1900s, native vegetation also aided in the recovery of endemic was cut, burned, and plowed for deer mice, night lizards, and nesting land farming. In addition, sheep, goats, and birds by providing important habitat. rabbits severely overgrazed the island, Today, there are 14 land birds that

8 Santa Barbara Island Trail Guide timhaufphotography.com Charles Drost The recovery of native island vegetation. The endemic island night lizard. nest annually on the island. Three of However, ecological restoration has these—the horned lark, orange-crowned helped populations of the endemic island warbler, and house finch—are endemic night lizard recover to the point that it subspecies found only on Santa Barbara was removed from the Federal List of Island. Threatened and Endangered Wildlife in 2014. This species only occurs on Santa Unfortunately, the island’s recovery Barbara, San Nicolas, and San Clemente did not come soon enough for the Islands. endemic Santa Barbara Island , one of the smallest forms of You can help with this recovery of island song sparrow and differentiated from natives by cleaning your boots and other its mainland relative by its very gray possessions, such as backpacks, before back. The destruction of this sparrow’s you visit. This ensures that you don’t sagebrush and coreopsis nesting habitat accidentally introduce nonnative species and the presence of feral cats led to the to the island. Together we can guarantee extinction of this species in the 1960s. It the return of native plants and animals is now lost forever. throughout Santa Barbara Island.

National Park Service 9 il Sto ra p T Geographical Isolation 5 Location: Lookout halfway between Arch Point and North Peak or lookout below Signal Peak

As you near the ridgeline with the island’s two highest points, 635-foot Signal Peak and 562-foot North Peak, take a moment to look across the island. You may notice the broad, elevated coastal plain stretching in front of you, one of six on the island. These plains are remnants of what geologists call “marine terraces”— ancient shorelines carved flat by wave timhaufphotography.com action and exposed through changes in Erosional forces at work on Webster Point. sea level and tectonic uplift of the land. A future marine terrace (called a wave-cut by the ramming of Baja California into platform) is being created today by wave southern California, resulted in the erosion at the base of the sea cliffs. folding and faulting of marine sediments and volcanic rocks (deposited between The Channel Islands’ first shoreline 15–30 million years ago) and the eventual was created around five million years uplift of the islands. These compressional ago, when compressional forces, caused forces are still ongoing, making this area

Aerial view showing Santa Barbara Island’s marine terraces.

10 Santa Barbara Island Trail Guide Although never connected to the mainland by a land bridge, the four northern islands were once part of the Pleistocene “super island” known as Santarosae, nearly four times as large as the combined areas of the modern Channel Islands. The dark-shaded area on the map depicts the ancient coast of Santarosae and California around 20,000 years ago when sea level was approximately 350 feet lower than it is today. As the ice sheets and glaciers melted and the sea level rose, only the highest parts of Santarosae remained as modern islands. (Adapted from a map by geologist Tom Rockwell) geologically active today—Santa Barbara For decades, however, scientists assumed Island, as well as the other Channel that the northern islands (Anacapa, Islands, continues to be uplifted. Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel Islands) were connected to the mainland Ever since these compressional forces by a land bridge, but as bathymetric caused the islands to emerge from the information (or topography) of the sea sea, the Channel Islands have been floor improved, it revealed that even separated from the mainland. And unlike during periods of lowest sea levels the four northern islands, which were (about 17,000 years ago), the islands still once joined as a single, “super island” remained isolated by at least four miles of known as Santarosae, Santa Barbara ocean. It is this continuous geographical Island has never been connected to isolation that has shaped island life. another neighboring island.

National Park Service 11 il Sto ra p T An Ideal Isolated Home 6 Location: Trail Junction to Webster Point near North Peak or Signal Peak timhaufphotography.com View of Webster Point from Signal Peak.

The ever-present western gulls and Islands, and all of their associated islets graceful pelicans can often be sighted and offshore rocks comprise one of the soaring throughout the island, especially largest breeding centers on the west along the steep, rugged volcanic cliffs. coast for seabirds and shorebirds. Their These cliffs, their numerous caves, isolation and freedom from predators and the rest of Santa Barbara Island’s and human disturbance, as well as the coastline and neighboring islets are home abundance of food in the cold, nutrient- to 13 different species of nesting seabirds rich ocean waters surrounding them, and shorebirds. Ashy storm-petrels, make them an ideal place for marine Brandt’s cormorants, Cassin’s auklets, birds to breed and rear their young. pigeon guillemots, black oystercatchers, and one of the world’s largest colonies of However, the island’s isolation was not Scripps’s murrelets all make their home able to protect some species of seabirds here. from human impacts. The destruction of native vegetation, importing of Santa Barbara Island, the other Channel non-native species, gathering of eggs,

12 Santa Barbara Island Trail Guide timhaufphotography.com Yamagiwa Andrew

California brown pelicans Scripps’s murrelet chick disturbance of rookeries, and the spread monitoring and restoration programs, of pesticides in the marine environment the park and its partners are working have all been detrimental. to conserve critical nesting habitat and to protect the integrity of the island During the 1960s, the pesticide DDT and marine ecosystems that support 90 nearly caused the extinction of the percent of southern California’s seabird California brown pelican as a breeding populations. species on the west coast of the United States. In 1970, only 552 nesting attempts On Santa Barbara Island, these efforts were made on (the largest have focused on restoring seabird nesting colony on the West coast of the United habitat, removing feral cats and non- States) and just one chick survived. On native vegetation, revegetating with native October 13, 1970, the brown pelican was plants, installing nest boxes, and closing listed as an endangered species. areas to protect nesting seabirds.

Cassin’s auklets were once so abundant The most notable results of these efforts on Santa Barbara Island that in 1863 it have been the successful recovery of was recorded that “they had undermined the California brown pelican and its almost every part of the soft, earthy removal from the endangered species list surface with their burrows.” Between in 2009, and Santa Barbara Island once 1897 and 1908, cats were introduced to more supporting the largest number of the island, and by 1911, it was reported breeding seabirds on any of the Channel that the breeding colony had been Islands. entirely abandoned. To make matters even worse, the cats devastated the island’s large Scripps’s murrelet colony as well—biologists found only one egg.

Today, these species are gradually recovering now that their isolated island home is protected within Channel Islands National Park. Through

National Park Service 13 il Sto ra p T An Ocean Park and Sanctuary 7 Location: Elephant Seal Cove or Sea Lion Rookery

From this vantage point, one has the from foraging nudibranchs, to grazing opportunity to gaze upon another part of snails, to fish seeking refuge, to whales the park: the marine environment. One feasting on plankton. Kelp is a type of nautical mile of water around each island algae that, under ideal conditions (cold, is part of Channel Islands National Park, nutrient-rich water), is one of the fastest and the six nautical miles around each growing organisms on Earth—it can island form Channel Islands National grow two feet per day. Marine Sanctuary. While urban and industrial development Within this ocean realm, one often sees has altered much of the southern or hears California sea lions, northern California coastal mainland, the isolated elephant seals, or harbor seals. The islands contain the most undisturbed island’s isolated shoreline offers these stretches of coastline in this region, pinnipeds an ideal combination of safety providing some of the best conditions for from predators and freedom from human kelp forests and their inhabitants. disturbance, making the island an ideal place to rest, breed, and pup. Kelp forests don’t just benefit marine species—they benefit us as well. Not But even Santa Barbara Island’s isolation only do we eat some of the animals could not always protect these and other that depend upon the kelp forest, but sea mammals from human predation. As everyday products like ice cream, salad early as the late 1700’s, fur hunters were dressing, and even toothpaste also use exploiting sea otters, fur seals, elephant a little bit of seaweed as well. Kelp is seals, and sea lions for their fur, hides harvested for a natural ingredient called and oil. Sea mammal hunting ended in algin, which is used as a suspending, the early 1900’s and laws like the Marine stabilizing, emulsifying, gel-producing, Mammal Protection Act now protect and film-forming additive in more than these species. Today, elephant seals, sea 70 commercial products. In addition, lions, and harbor seals regularly breed marine plants and algae such as kelp along the island’s shoreline. In this provide Earth with 80 percent of its isolated environment, their protected oxygen. populations are recovering from centuries of slaughter. Unfortunately, the Despite these benefits, human activities sea otter has not yet returned. have placed the kelp forest and its inhabitants in jeopardy. Pollution and These pinnipeds, along with over 800 over-harvesting of marine species have other marine species, also depend on altered the kelp forest ecosystem, and the extensive kelp forests found in these kelp forests in southern California today waters for food, shelter, and protection— cover less than half the area they covered

14 Santa Barbara Island Trail Guide John Iwerks and Glenna Hartmann Kelp forest, Santa Barbara Island at the turn of the 20th century. Park Protection In 1938, Santa Barbara Island was However, with the establishment proclaimed a national monument to of marine protected areas (MPAs), protect, preserve, and teach us about improved pollution controls, fishing the island’s fragile resources and unique regulations, and increased research past. This distinction was reaffirmed and and public education, some of these strengthened in 1980, when the island problems have been corrected. was included in the newly established Channel Islands National Park. By Within the park and sanctuary, this understanding these resources and the network of MPAs provides a refuge role isolation plays on these islands, the for sea life, as well as opportunities for National Park Service can preserve them recreation, education, and science. In for future generations to study and enjoy. 11 marine reserves (including one on Santa Barbara Island’s southeastern side), The National Park Service needs your recreational fishing and commercial help as well. We encourage you to harvesting are prohibited; limited fishing explore and learn more about Santa and harvesting are allowed in two marine Barbara Island and the rest of the conservation areas. The MPAs total 318 Channel Islands—but don’t stop there. square miles, the largest such network In recognizing the importance of these off the continental United States and an islands, take your awareness to the action important part of a larger, worldwide level. Make every effort to preserve the effort to conserve natural, historic, and plants, animals, and artifacts found not cultural marine resources. only within this park, but throughout the world as well.

National Park Service 15 Places to Go and Things to Do on Santa Barbara Island

One-day trips and overnight camping Hiking are options when visiting Santa Barbara Once visitors have scaled the Island. However, this island is more rugged cliffs using the steep trail challenging to get to due to the limited from the Landing Cove, they will find transportation schedule. As with all the just over five miles of trails that meander Channel Islands, visiting Santa Barbara over gentle slopes and low mountain tops Island is an exercise in preparation and to dramatic overlooks and magnificent self-reliance. Since there are no services coastal views. All hikers must stay on on the islands, there are no remedies for the trails for visitor safety and to protect poor planning once you have arrived. fragile vegetation and nesting seabirds. No off- trail hiking is allowed. Portions of Goods and Services trails are subject to closure when pelicans There are no goods, services, or are nesting from January through August. accommodations (lodging) For hike destinations, please refer to the available on the island. Visitors must hiking map and guide available at the bring all their own food and supplies. orientation sign near the visitor center. Public phones are not available. Camping Water Primitive camping is available There is no water available on (10 sites; $15 per night per site; the island. Visitors must bring all reservations required). Picnic table, food their water with them. storage box, and pit toilet are provided. No water is available. Distance from Picnicking landing to campground is a quarter-mile Picnic tables are available at the and includes a 200-foot climb. Due to the visitor center. boat schedule, minimum stay is generally three days. Visitor Center A small visitor center is located Watersports on the island. Features include Santa Barbara Island is an ideal displays on the natural and cultural re- place for swimming, diving, sources of the island. snorkeling, and kayaking, but there are no lifeguards on the island. Access to Interpretive Programs the water is only at the Landing Cove Rangers and naturalists offer via a dock. There are no other accessible guided hikes on most days beaches unless you have a watercraft. throughout the year. Hikes generally Excellent watersports can be experienced begin 30 minutes after the concession at the Landing Cove. The underwater boats arrive on the island. A variety of visibility is usually very good and the guided hikes are also offered during water is teeming with life. Kayaking north weekends that Island Packers drops off towards Arch Point or south towards campers. the Sea Lion Rookery provides great wildlife viewing, sea caves, and arches. Experienced kayakers can circumnavigate the island’s five-mile coastline.

16 Santa Barbara Island Trail Guide Fishing No fishing is allowed within the Island Facts Santa Barbara Island Marine • In 1602, explorer Sebastian Vizcaino Reserve. Fishing is allowed outside of named Santa Barbara Island in honor of this area. To fish in Channel Islands the saint whose day is December 4th. National Park, possession of a valid California state fishing license with an • Located in Santa Barbara . ocean enhancement stamp is required • Fifty-four miles from Ventura; 38 miles and all California Department of Fish and from the nearest mainland (San Pedro); Wildlife regulations apply. 24 miles from Santa Catalina Island. • The smallest of the Channel Islands at Wildlife/Wildflower Viewing approximately 1.5 miles wide by one There is excellent wildlife mile long; one square mile; 639 acres. viewing on Santa Barbara • Average rainfall—12 inches. Island. A variety of seabirds can be seen throughout the year, including brown • Tallest peak—Signal Peak, 634 ft. pelicans, cormorants, pigeon guillemots, • Home to 14 endemic plant species and western gulls (gull nesting and chicks and subspecies that occur only on the can be observed from the end of April Channel Islands. Forms of buckwheat, through July). Seals and sea lions may also dudleya, cream cups, and chicory are be viewed from Landing Cove and from found only on Santa Barbara Island. the Sea Lion Rookery and Elephant Seal • Fourteen land birds nest annually on the Cove overlooks. island. Three of these—the horned lark, Santa Barbara Island is a great place to orange-crowned warbler, and house see the recovery of native vegetation with finch—are endemic subspecies found incredible wildflower displays. During a only on Santa Barbara Island. normal year of rainfall, wildflowers are • The endemic island night lizard occurs best viewed in late winter and spring. The only on Santa Barbara, San Nicolas, and brilliant yellow coreopsis flowers usually San Clemente Islands. peak between late January and March. • Eleven seabirds nest annually on the In addition, some plants like gumplant, island. buckwheat, poppies, and verbena • The island’s cliffs offer perfect nesting continue to bloom during the summer. habitat for one of the world’s largest Tidepools are not accessible from breeding colonies of Scripps’s murrelets, Santa Barbara Island. However, at a rare seabirds. very low tide some intertidal plants and • California sea lions, harbor seals, and animals are visible from the dock or on northern elephant seals rest, breed, and the small shelf in front of the dock. pup on the island.

• The Santa Barbara Island Marine Reserve provides a refuge for sea life, as well as opportunities for recreation and science. • Absence of freshwater led the Tongva and Chumash to use the island on a seasonal basis and as a stopover between Santa Catalina and San Nicolas Islands.

National Park Service 17 National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Channel Islands National Park 1901 Spinnaker Drive Ventura, CA 93001

805.658.5730 nps.gov/chis

2018, 2nd edition Written and designed by Derek Lohuis

Printed on 100%recycled paper.

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