Channel Islands National Park
Day 3 - Exploring the Wild Beauty of Santa Cruz
A Day on Santa Cruz and Beyond
We sailed again to Channel Islands National Park, this time to Santa Cruz, the park’s largest island. This time, the fog and rough waves made it difficult to spot any ocean wildlife, but we were still in for a great day.
About 1.5 hours after leaving the harbor in Ventura, California, we started our hike on the Pelican Bay Trail. This 4.6-mile round trip, a mix of dirt and rock, is considered strenuous, but we found it manageable since only one of the five canyons was steep. When the fog had partly lifted, we were rewarded with magnificent views from the coastal bluff. With rugged mountains, green canyons, grass-covered hills, and pristine beaches, it was easy to imagine what Southern California looked like a century ago.
While descending into one of the canyons, we encountered a rare island scrub-jay. This deep blue-colored, endangered bird lives only on Santa Cruz Island! It wasn’t shy at all, continuing its activities even as we approached.
Beneath the Cliffs Into the Painted Cave
Our adventure continued on the ferry as the captain skillfully maneuvered into Painted Cave, one of the world’s largest sea caves. It was immediately clear how the cave got its name from the beautiful colors on its walls.
When the ferry took us back to Ventura, we looked back at the Channel Islands, saying farewell and feeling blessed for the chance we had gotten to experience the wild beauty of this magnificent national park.