Channel Islands National Park
May 14, 2014
Variously ranched or used as Navy bombing ranges, five spits of land that never were part of mainland California are windows to its distant past. The vestiges of civilization have been dismantled during the past few decades, and native plants and animals have rebounded. More than 140 species can be found only here.
Hiking some trails of “The American Galapagos” can only be done when accompanied by a ranger due to ongoing restoration efforts. The Nature Conservancy’s portion of Santa Cruz Island is only accessible a few times a year through the boat concessionaire Island Packers.