unique and isolating | CHANNEL ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK | NP #11 of 63

The most unique experience we have had in a National Park so far. Join us in our island backpacking adventure to Santa Cruz Island! Plan your own trip below:
📖 Learn about the park: www.nps.gov/chis/index.htm
⛴️ Book your ferry: islandpackers.com/trips/santa...
🪪 Get your backcountry permit: www.recreation.gov/camping/ga...
🏕️ Camp at Del Norte: www.recreation.gov/camping/ca...
🥾 Hike from Prisoners Harbor to Scorpion Cove: www.alltrails.com/trail/us/ca...
🚣🏽‍♀️ Sea Kayaking or SCUBA: www.islandkayaking.com/?gad_s...
After spending the night in Los Angeles, we drove 30 minutes to Ventura Harbor. We booked a ferry through Island Packers for $84/ea. (the only way to get out there commercially). The process was seamless, and the staff were incredible! One hour, a humpback whale, and several dolphins later - we arrived to Prisoner's Harbor on Santa Cruz Island. It felt very strange being so far out into the ocean with limited services. If something bad were to happen, it's on you to figure it out!
Following our arrival, we started hiking for our Del Norte Backcountry Campsite. It was about 4 miles along our 15 mile total route. Permits are required to spend the night in the backcountry ($15), and it must be in one of the four designated sites. Totally worth spending the night! We got a good night's sleep in our hammocks and started the long trek early, since we had to be at Scorpion Cove by 4pm. The hike was beautiful, and didn't offer too much of a challenge. I believe our pace was around 2.5 miles/hour. We arrived to Scorpion Cove early and waited on the beach until the ferry arrived. There was a small visitor center, sea kayaking, and scuba diving available on this side of the island. Overall, I 100% recommend checking this place out - even for a day trip! Only 30 miles off the coast of the largest city in the US, Los Angeles, yet feels completely remote and isolated from people.
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As always, THANK YOU to the incredible team that allows me to share the experience with you. ​⁠​⁠‪@kyrarahn‬ is the creator of the video compilation and storytelling - weaving together the experience so you can travel there yourself. ​⁠​⁠‪@Spurlinthemusic‬ is the producer of the 100% original music that accompanies every video.
#backpacking #channelislands #nationalpark #santacruzisland #hiking #hike #camping #travel #delnorte #prisonersharbor #scorpioncove #delnortetrail #delnortebackcountry #islandfoxes #humpbackwhale #dolphins #islandpackers #ikeshikes #earnyourviews #nationalpark #channelislandsnationalpark #nps

[@drewlackman]

Awesome video! I had never heard of Channel Islands National Park until watching your video and now I am defiantly going to plan a trip there. Thanks for the awesome content

[@ikes_hikes]

Happy to hear it! Thank you for the kind words. I’ll see you out there!

[@parkerprecht2195]

That fox just wanted to say hi then he got so nervous that he pooped 🥹

[@ikes_hikes]

Right 😂😂

[@eliparker6641]

Ain't nothin better than a Yosemite Taco

[@ikes_hikes]

You got that right!

[@lavanyaa8955]

Hi Ike, May i ask which month you visited? Is it November 2023?

[@ikes_hikes]

Hello! The travel dates were September 19th and 20th, 2023. Beautiful time of year to go!