San Miguel Island

Bring 1 gallon of water per day! There is no shade. Even if it is misty or overcast, you will feel the sun. The naturalists took us on so many wonderful hike and telling about the history of the island. So many pinnipeds! Who knew that this was one of the largest rookeries in the world! Such a memorable trip.

Everything was extremely amazing. San Miguel Island is incredibly beautiful, and while the infrastructure on the island is minimal (as expected for such a remote, protected spot), that only added to the experience. Our volunteers, Joel and Grace, were fantastic — very professional and did everything they could to make us feel comfortable throughout the trip. The hikes were amazing, and everything was clean and well-maintained.

I would absolutely recommend this trip to anyone. A huge thank you to the volunteers and the park service for their great work in preserving this special place.

Really incredible experience for the 4th of July! We were greeted by volunteer rangers Joel and Pam, and accompanied by them on their guided hikes around the island due to the unexploded ordinance. They also hosted a movie night at the ranger station for campers with popcorn! I saw foxes, fox pups, mice, elephant seals, and lots and lots of sea lions. No shortage of wildlife on the island. The water is cold compared to the mainland, but still possible to jump in for a quick shower if needed. Absolutely no one else on the beach for the 4th which was excellent if you don’t enjoy crowds for busy holiday weekends. Only 14 people on the whole island made for a truly relaxing vacation. Also, you only have to backpack in less than a mile all your stuff for a 4 day long stay. I brought a cooler with extra Gatorade and coke, amongst other things. I would suggest bringing a small umbrella if you wish to have shade, as there are few trees on the island. Then, enjoy as many day hikes as you wish led by the rangers. You can choose to set them out, or hike as many as you like to walk the ‘San Miguel Marathon.’ If you are looking for a place for relaxation, solitude, and a break from the hustle and bustle of the mainland, San Miguel feels rugged and out-there, and you will come back to the traffic of LA reeling. And, as a solo traveler, there are ample opportunities to meet other campers as all the hikes are guided in a group. Have fun, and happy trails!

Amazing, capable and knowledgeable all-volunteer staff !

So peaceful and uniquely beautiful.
Amazing campsite. Great long hikes.

So peaceful and uniquely beautiful.
Amazing campsite. Great long hikes.

We had campsite 3 and while the metal fox box didn't latch perfectly, it was latched enough that it didn't come off except when humans pulled it. We were pretty worried about it since it closed loosely and wouldn't recommend this particular campsite because of it (though the ranger mentioned some of the other campsites had problem too), but if you do end up getting this campsite it was fine. We did get a lot of ants in the wooden fox box, so would recommend putting items in plastic/some sort of second covering.

We had campsite 3 and while the metal fox box didn't latch perfectly, it was latched enough that it didn't come off except when humans pulled it. We were pretty worried about it since it closed loosely and wouldn't recommend this particular campsite because of it (though the ranger mentioned some of the other campsites had problem too), but if you do end up getting this campsite it was fine. We did get a lot of ants in the wooden fox box, so would recommend putting items in plastic/some sort of second covering.

One of the best experiences I have been fortunate enough to have! This is the perfect place for a camping trip to get away from it all and take in some beautiful nature. When we went, there were 5 people in total on the island. For the longer hikes you do have to go with the ranger, but instead of this being limiting, it makes it so you have someone with great knowledge with you as you explore the island! Make sure you pack lightly to carry your stuff to camp and I recommend sunglasses because the wind can get pretty intense. We were lucky enough to have Kate as our ranger and seeing point Bennet was a once in a lifetime experience!

One of the best experiences I have been fortunate enough to have! This is the perfect place for a camping trip to get away from it all and take in some beautiful nature. When we went, there were 5 people in total on the island. For the longer hikes you do have to go with the ranger, but instead of this being limiting, it makes it so you have someone with great knowledge with you as you explore the island! Make sure you pack lightly to carry your stuff to camp and I recommend sunglasses because the wind can get pretty intense. We were lucky enough to have Kate as our ranger and seeing point Bennet was a once in a lifetime experience!