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Santa Cruz Island
Santa Cruz Island (60,645 acres), the largest of the Channel Islands, is 19 miles from Ventura. It is an island of great scenic beauty with diverse land forms--two rugged mountain ranges, deep canyons, a wide central valley, year-round springs and streams, giant sea caves, 77 miles of craggy coastline cliffs, pristine tidepools and expansive beaches.
The western 90% of the island is owned and operated by The Nature Conservancy, with a Cooperative Agreement between the National Park Service for conducting some activities together. The eastern 10% is owned by the National Park Service and is open to public visitation.
What to see: Over 650 species of plants and trees are on the island, growing in marshes, grasslands, chaparral, and pine forests. Eight of the plants are endemic--found nowhere else. The island fox is also found on Santa Cruz, as well as over 140 land bird species, marine mammals, and tidepool critters. The largest and deepest known sea cave in the world, Painted Cave, is on Santa Cruz. Evidence of human occupation can be seen in Chumash Indian sites up through Spanish exploration and ranching days.
What to do: Favorite activities include: hiking, camping, photography, picnicking, snorkeling, swimming, diving, wildlife watching, and exploring tidepools.
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