Channel Islands National Park - Part One
One Saturday morning in late March, we woke up early in Ventura, California, ate a giant breakfast at Pete’s Breakfast House, and drove to Ventura Harbor to catch a ferry to the Channel Islands. The freezing ride to Santa Cruz Island took a little more than an hour but once we arrived, the island's views were breathtaking. Roughly 20 miles from a city of nearly 4 million people, the landscape and atmosphere of Channel Islands National Park starkly contrasted the mainland we had just left. The island was lush and green from recent rains, everything brightened by the early afternoon sun on the surrounding ocean. The park and habitat are well preserved and except for the small visitor center at the Island's main entrance, our hikes across it felt like were in the backcountry. We filled up our water bottles, and started a trek up Smuggler’s Road to get to Smuggler’s Beach, a small beach about 3.5 miles on the other side of the Island. Every turn on along the trail offered a new sight, from succulents growing along the ridges, rows of tall grasses, bright colored flowers popping up, and giant beautiful ravens floating on the wind right above us. The ferry ride back to the mainland came all too quickly, and we knew it was an adventure we had to repeat when we had more time to spare.
The view from the ferry as we approach Santa Cruz Island.
A view of Scorpion Cove and mainland California from our hike.
So green! So blue!
Succulents!
Mr. Fox!
Our ferry ride back after a beautiful day.