Anacapa Island
7Heads up2 park alerts · 5 fires, nearest 28 mi
- Right now
- OpenThe agency lists it open
- A night
- $15From, per site
- Sites
- 167 on recreation.gov
- Season
- Year-roundOpen year-round
The place
the agency’s own description · what’s there · 17 notices
In the agency’s own words
Once visitors have scaled the rugged cliffs using the stairwell from the Landing Cove, they will be rewarded with a campground perched on the bluffs with magnificent coastal views. Anacapa Island, the closest Channel Island to the mainland of California, is comprised of three islets (appropriately named East, Middle, and West Anacapa Islands). Waves have eroded the volcanic island, creating towering sea cliffs, sea caves, and natural bridges, such as forty-foot-high Arch Rock -- a symbol of Anacapa and Channel Islands National Park. Keep reading
Exploring East Anacapa's two-mile trail system allows visitors to experience the island's native vegetation, wildlife, and cultural history. The islands' native vegetation is recovering slowly with the help of the National Park Service's restoration efforts. This recovery, along with the removal of nonnative predators, has aided in the reestablishment of nesting land birds and seabirds. The island is one of the most important seabird nesting sites within the Channel Islands. While the steep cliffs of West Anacapa are home to the largest breeding colony of endangered California brown pelicans, all the islets of Anacapa host the largest breeding colony of western gulls in the world. The rocky shores of Anacapa are perfect resting and breeding areas for California sea lions and harbor seals. Anacapa's rich kelp forests (ideal for kayaking, snorkeling, and diving) and tidepool areas provide visitors with the opportunity to meet some of the resident ocean animals up close. Anacapa Island has a rich human history as well. Shell midden sites indicate where Chumash people camped on the islands thousands of years ago. In addition, visitors can view the 1932 light station. The original lead-crystal Fresnel lens, which served as a beacon to ships until an automated light replaced it in 1990, is on exhibit in the East Anacapa Visitor Center.
Recreation
With two miles of hiking trails, ocean access nearby the campground, and generally good weather, Anacapa Island offers a variety of recreational activities, including hiking, swimming, snorkeling, diving, kayaking and wildlife/wildflower viewing. In summer, rangers lead an underwater video program. The program includes live video footage of sea life which is projected for visitors to see. It's a great way to stay dry while viewing colorful sea creatures. Since Anacapa Island is a cliff island, access to the water is only at the Landing Cove via a dock. There are no other accessible beaches unless you have a watercraft. There are no services on the island, so all gear has to be brought to the island. For more information about recreational activities in the park, visit https://www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/index.htm.
Facilities
A half mile hike, including 154 steps, is needed to get from the Landing Cove to the seven-site (4-6 persons per site) campground. Camping is primitive and campers must bring their own food, equipment and water. Picnic table, food storage box, and pit toilet are provided.
Natural Features
Waves have eroded the 5-mile volcanic island, creating steep, towering sea cliffs, sea caves and natural bridges. Much of the year, the island vegetation looks brown, but the winter rain brings brightly-colored terrain. The altitude is low and ranges from sea level to 250 feet.
Nearby Attractions
The Landing Cove near the campground is an ideal place for swimming, diving, snorkeling and kayaking, but there are no lifeguards on the island. The island is also home to just over two miles of trails that meander to dramatic overlooks and magnificent coastal views. All hikers must stay on the trails for visitor safety and to protect fragile vegetation and nesting seabirds. No off- trail hiking is allowed.
What the agency tells you
Anacapa Island may only be reached by boat. Visitors are required to arrange boat transportation to the island before reserving a campsite. Contact the park's authorized concessioner Island Packers or use your own private boat.
Camping reservations are required prior to arriving on the island. There are NO walk-ups at this facility.
One party or group may reserve a maximum of 2 individual sites per visit. There are 7 individual campsites. Max 4-6 people per site.
Everything else this campground posts · 14
Upon arrival, meet ranger at beach, landing dock or campground. However, park staff is not always available on the island. Please have confirmation letter, receipt, or campsite number with you.
Hike-in Distance to Site: 1/4 mile to 1/2 mile. Visitors must carry all their own gear.
Primitive camping. Tent camping only, no electricity/water/sewer site hook-ups at this campground. Bring low profile tents and extra food for weather delays. No shelter or shade. Picnic table, food storage box, vault toilet provided. Must bring your own water. No stores or services.
Quiet time is enforced at 10:00 p.m. Check-in and check-out times are at 11:00 a.m.
Proper food and trash storage is required. Food/Trash storage lockers are provided at each site. Recommend hard-sided container (i.e., action packer) to further protect food/garbage from animals.
Visitors are required to pack out what they pack in, including garbage.
No campfires or charcoal fires. Only enclosed gas camp stoves are allowed.
Smoking is only allowed on the concrete area by the crane at the top of the stairs.
Avoid contact with deer mice. Hantavirus has been found in island deer mice. For more information visit: https://www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/hantavirus.htm.
To help prevent the introduction of nonnative species the following items may not be brought to the park: pets; live or potted plants; soil; cut flowers; firewood or any untreated, unfinished wood (including hiking sticks); corrugated boxes; tools or equipment with attached soil; motorized vehicles; bicycles; and single-use plastic grocery bags.
No fishing in marine reserves. California fishing license and ocean enhancement sticker required to fish outside marine reserves.
Kayakers: ocean conditions can rapidly change, requiring expert abilities. Ocean kayaking is an inherently dangerous activity. Always check weather and do not kayak beyond your experience level.
Since Anacapa Island is a cliff island, access to the water is only at the Landing Cove via a dock. There are no other accessible beaches unless you have a watercraft.
No off- trail hiking is allowed. Portions of trails are subject to closure when Western gulls are nesting from April through August.
Tents and rigs
- Sites
- 16 · 14 tent-only
- Hookups
- None
- Accessible sites
- None listed
- Pets
- Not allowed
- Campfires
- Not allowed
Facilities
- Toilets
- Vault Toilets - year round
- Drinking water
- None, bring your own
Around the campground
- On the water
- Beach, Coast
- Beachcombing
- Birding
- Boating
- Fishing
- Guided Interpretive Walks
- Hiking
- Historic site
- Information Site
- Ranger programs
- Picnicking
- Ranger Station
- Sailing
- Scuba Diving
- Sea Kayaking
3 of 7 sites open on Sat, Oct 17read 14:46 UTC
recreation.gov lists 7 of the 16 campsites the agency files here. The rest aren’t on its booking system, so a reservation won’t get you one.
OpenBooked
Watch for a cancellation
Full? Watch it.
One email when a night opens, plus More Than Just Parks dispatches. Unsubscribe any time.
We read recreation.gov once an hour, at 40 minutes past, and write the first time a site in your window is free for the nights you asked for.
Scanners that check every few minutes exist, and most of them charge. This one is free, it reads the same calendar, and it won’t always be first.
We make nothing when you book. The link goes straight to the government.
Every line of the receipt · 12
What you actually pay
Derived by CAMPANAC: the agency’s published rate for this season, $15 a night, plus one $8 recreation.gov reservation fee for the booking. A weekend here means Friday and Saturday night, booked once. Optional charges (an extra vehicle, a second tent, a dump-station fee) are listed separately and aren’t in this total.
Who keeps the booking fee
The agency’s own policy text says the reservation fee and the cancellation processing fee are “retained by the reservation service contractor”, and that a campground concessionaire will decline to refund them because “they did not receive these fees”. Recreation.gov is run under contract by Booz Allen Hamilton. What share of your booking fee the contractor keeps isn’t published in any federal dataset we can read, so we print no number for it. Our reporting on the contract →
How we know this receipt · 5
recreation.gov availability, read 14:46 UTC · rules read Sep 9, 2026 · rates Sep 10, 2026 · How we know all this
The sites
16 sites · which ones have room · the site map
The sites, ranked
from 7 mapped sitesAll 16 sites
Toilet distances are OpenStreetMap’s, measured for 7 of the 16 sites listed. A site with no reading is unknown, never far.
The price is derived by CAMPANAC, not published per site: the per-night rate this campground publishes for each site’s own site type. 14 of the 16 sites listed carry one, and a site whose type has no published rate sits out of the price rather than being called free.
| ANACAPA ISLAND | TENT NONELECT A | type not stated | ||||
| ANACAPA ISLAND | TENT NONELECT B | type not stated | ||||
| ANACAPA ISLAND AREA | 001 | tent only nonelectric | 33 ft | 10.4 mi | 85 ft | $15 |
| ANACAPA ISLAND AREA | 001 old | tent only nonelectric | $15 | |||
| ANACAPA ISLAND AREA | 002 | tent only nonelectric | 43 ft | 10.4 mi | 79 ft | $15 |
| ANACAPA ISLAND AREA | 002 old | tent only nonelectric | $15 | |||
| ANACAPA ISLAND AREA | 003 | tent only nonelectric | 33 ft | 10.4 mi | 107 ft | $15 |
| ANACAPA ISLAND AREA | 003 old | tent only nonelectric | $15 | |||
| ANACAPA ISLAND AREA | 004 | tent only nonelectric | 43 ft | 10.4 mi | 120 ft | $15 |
| ANACAPA ISLAND AREA | 004 old | tent only nonelectric | $15 | |||
| ANACAPA ISLAND AREA | 005 | tent only nonelectric | 42 ft | 10.4 mi | 139 ft | $15 |
| ANACAPA ISLAND AREA | 005 old | tent only nonelectric | $15 | |||
| ANACAPA ISLAND AREA | 006 | tent only nonelectric | 73 ft | 10.4 mi | 223 ft | $15 |
| ANACAPA ISLAND AREA | 006 old | tent only nonelectric | $15 | |||
| ANACAPA ISLAND AREA | 007 | tent only nonelectric | 73 ft | 10.4 mi | 210 ft | $15 |
| ANACAPA ISLAND AREA | 007 old | tent only nonelectric | $15 |
Getting there
the map and the coordinate · the agency’s directions · the phone number
Where it is
Scorpion Canyon CampgroundChannel Islands National Park · 11 mi
Santa Cruz Island ScorpionChannel Islands National Park · 11 mi
Santa Cruz Island Del Norte BackcountryChannel Islands National Park · 17 miPrisoners Harbor CampgroundChannel Islands National Park · 18 mi
Santa Cruz Island Prisoners HarborChannel Islands National Park · 18 mi
Circle X Ranch Group CampgroundSanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area · 26 miBoat transportation can be arranged with Island Packers from Ventura or Channel Islands (Oxnard) Harbors.
To park headquarters in Ventura, California: Highway 101, exit Victoria or Seaward to Ventura Harbor.
The weather
the next four days · the thirty-year normal
Next four days, and the thirty-year normal
Forecast
NWS forecast for Oxnard, CA
Typical weather
Typical October night 55°F, day 74°F.
Daily high and lowDays with 0.10 in or more
A normal is the 1991-2020 average for the month, not a forecast: about half of all Augusts are colder than the August line. The seven-day forecast above answers the other question.
The land, and who answers for it
who answers for it
Who answers for this land
Anacapa Island is in California’s 24th congressional district. Its representative, Salud Carbajal (D), votes on the laws that decide what happens to this land. Public-lands grade so far: A. See every public-lands vote →