Thursday, 9/29 - Channel Islands National Park



We got up early and caught the ferry to Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Park, the largest of the five islands in the park.  While we waited/registered we noticed a whiteboard with the counts of how many different species of fish/whales/dolphins had been seen over the last month.  Some of the numbers were hard to believe - I think they recorded 20,000 Common Dolphin sightings in one day.  

The ferry left in the fog (the marine effect) so we didn't see too much until we got near the island when the captain announced that there was a very large pod of dolphins to the starboard side.  He slowed down and drove around and through the middle of the pod.  They were everywhere.  (We tried to get pictures but the only ones that show up are when the dolphin was completely out of the water.  You could see hundreds more just below the surface.)




Then we made our first stop, at the Scorpion Anchorage.  This was the most popular stop with a campground, an old restored ranch and a favorite sea kayaking site.  So, it took a while to off load the people and all of their gear (including some kayaks).


We then went on for another 20 minutes or so to our stop at Prisoners Harbor.  This has been the main anchorage for the islands for over 3,000 years.  It has the name of Prisoners Harbor because of an event in the 19th century.  A Mexican ship loaded with prisoners was denied access to San Diego and Santa Barbara so the captain decided to dump the prisoners onto the Channel Islands.  (It was the policy of the Mexican government at the time to send all violent prisoners away to "Alta California").  No one is sure what became of them.....

It is a beautiful beach with old eucalyptus trees and the remnants of an old ranch.  It (and the road leading from it) mark the boundary between the National Park property and private property, now controlled by the Nature Conservancy (about 3/4 of the island).  Interestingly, the National Park Property seemed to have very few trees (little shade) while the Nature Conservancy side seemed to have lots of trees (at least on the part we could see/hike).  Evidently, the owner of the ranch on the Nature Conservancy side was very interested in conservation and efforts were started in the 50's to reclaim the land and turn it back into its natural state.

The island was heavily used in the 19th and 20th centuries for farming and ranching, which really got rid of a lot of the natural flora and fauna.  The NPS and Nature Conservancy are working together to try to get rid of the last of the feral pigs and sheep, but it will take a while.

We planned to take a hike on the Nature Conservancy side to Pelican Bay (after we signed waivers....).  We had a map of the hike which was only a couple of miles each way, but it was along the coast with a few sharp ups and downs from the ridge to a valley and back until it got to the water.  So, we hiked as far as we felt comfortable - the trail got very iffy where a tree had fallen.  It was a very pretty trail but pretty hot in the sunshine - shade was nice..



We then had a lunch at the picnic area and visited a restored wetland.  


Virginia and I tried a hike up the Navy Road to an overlook, but it was too hot (and difficult) for me.  Virg went on, but never did find the overlook.


We caught the ferry back, had a few beers on the ferry (to re-hydrate) and then had dinner at a Mexican restaurant in the Harbor Village.


Link to next post:  9/30 - Highway 1 and Hearst Castle


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