California / Santa Barbara County / Channel Islands National Park

San Miguel Island

Open — Open for reservations through Recreation.gov. Advance reservations required. Visitors must arrange their own boat or air transportation before booking. A permit and liability waiver are required due to the island's former use as a naval bombing range.

About

San Miguel Island Campground sits on the westernmost of the Channel Islands, offering one of the most remote and rugged camping experiences in Channel Islands National Park. Perched on a plateau at 500 feet elevation, the campground is accessible only by boat or small aircraft, requiring a steep one-mile uphill hike from Cuyler Harbor or a shorter quarter-mile walk from the airstrip. The island's extreme weather creates a harsh but profoundly beautiful environment. Winds of 30 knots are common year-round, and campers must come prepared with sturdy, low-profile tents and gear suitable for cool, damp fog and constant wind exposure. Despite the challenging conditions, the campground rewards visitors with incredible views and access to unique natural and cultural resources including the caliche forest, fossil pygmy mammoth bones, and historic Cabrillo monument. Wildlife viewing is exceptional, with the island hosting thousands of pinnipeds along 27 miles of isolated coastline and 13 nesting seabird species. The guided 16-mile roundtrip hike to Point Bennett offers views of over 30,000 seals and sea lions representing up to five different species. Endemic island foxes and deer mice inhabit the recovering landscape where native plants like giant coreopsis, lupine, and buckwheat are recolonizing after a century of sheep ranching. The island's isolation and former use as a naval bombing range add to its unique character, though unexploded ordnance remains a concern requiring visitors to stay strictly on designated trails.

Directions

Accessible only by boat or small aircraft. Boat transportation available through Island Packers from Ventura Harbor. Air transportation available through Channel Islands Aviation from Camarillo Airport. From Ventura: Take Highway 101, exit Victoria or Seaward to Ventura Harbor. Campground is a steep 1-mile uphill hike from Cuyler Harbor landing or quarter-mile from airstrip.

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