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bryan c
VerifiedOctober 21, 2020 Stayed at: 014, Loop: Sites 001-015
Great site, great staff, great adventure!
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About Santa Rosa Island
Tucked away in a canyon to protect visitors from strong northwest winds, Water Canyon Campground offers exceptional island views, access to spectacular hiking opportunities and a nearby white sand beach.Located 40 nautical miles from the Channel Islands National Park visitor center in Ventura, Santa Rosa is the second largest island in California at approximately 53,000 acres in size. The island landforms support a diverse array of plant and animal species including six plant species found nowhere on earth but Santa Rosa Island. The island also hosts over 100 bird and three land mammal species, including the endemic island fox.
Available sites
15 total sitesActivities & Attractions
Nearby
Birding
Year-round
Hiking
Year-round
Kayaking
Spring
Summer
Fall
Swimming
Summer
Year-round
Birding
Nearby
Hiking
Nearby
Spring
Kayaking
Nearby
Summer
Kayaking
Nearby
Swimming
Nearby
Fall
Kayaking
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Seasonal information
2026
(Current year)
2026 Season availability
Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
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Jun
Jul
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Open year round
This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.
365 Days
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
General Store
Pet friendly
Picnic Table
Restrooms
Water and Hygiene
- Potable Water
- Restrooms
Cooking and Fire
- Picnic Table
On Site Services
- General Store
- Fish Cleaning Station
Water Access
- Boat Ramp / Launch
Pets and Policies
- Pet friendly
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Rates, Sites & Availability
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15 Sites Available
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001, Loop: Sites 001-015
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002, Loop: Sites 001-015
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003, Loop: Sites 001-015
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004, Loop: Sites 001-015
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005, Loop: Sites 001-015
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006, Loop: Sites 001-015
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008, Loop: Sites 001-015
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012, Loop: Sites 001-015
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Site Details
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15 Sites Available
Site
Price
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001, Loop: Sites 001-015
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004, Loop: Sites 001-015
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005, Loop: Sites 001-015
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006, Loop: Sites 001-015
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007, Loop: Sites 001-015
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008, Loop: Sites 001-015
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009, Loop: Sites 001-015
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014, Loop: Sites 001-015
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015, Loop: Sites 001-015
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Reviews
242 reviews
Summary
Santa Rosa Island offers a stunning natural experience with well-maintained campgrounds, including clean restrooms and modern amenities like flush toilets and running water. Visitors rave about the breathtaking hikes, beautiful beaches, and incredible wildlife sightings, such as dolphins and blue whales. While the island can be quite windy, with some trails in need of maintenance, the overall experience is rewarding for those seeking adventure and tranquility away from technology.
Based on guest feedback
4.8
Overall rating
Based on 242 reviews
5 stars
85.5% (207)
4 stars
13.2% (32)
3 stars
0.0% (0)
2 stars
0.4% (1)
1 star
0.8% (2)
Showing 242 reviews
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Jennifer L
VerifiedNovember 3, 2020 Stayed at: 015, Loop: Sites 001-015
Great camping spot. Little more private than the rest of them. I wish I had brought a hammock, which are easy to set up on the built structures.
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Nicholas L
VerifiedNovember 9, 2020 Stayed at: 005, Loop: Sites 001-015
Epic! Very windy and dusty (at least in the Fall). Foxes will come right up to your campsite!
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Scott E
VerifiedNovember 9, 2020 Stayed at: 006, Loop: Sites 001-015
The only way this island could be better is if there was a Starbucks on every beach... haha. Rustic, scenic, tranquil and most importantly... almost no people.
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Austin M
VerifiedNovember 14, 2020 Stayed at: 010, Loop: Sites 001-015
Awesome
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Katelyn B
VerifiedNovember 16, 2020 Stayed at: 012, Loop: Sites 001-015
Such a great weekend! The wind is no joke, but the shelter in the campground definitely helped. There are real bathrooms with running water, plus an outdoor dish-washing sink in the campground. We spent Saturday hiking to Lobo Canyon which was so beautiful and tons of fun. From the campground, my phone showed we hiked over 13 mi total so plan your time accordingly. The boat ride with Island Packers was a total highlight! We saw seals, humpback whales, a pod of dolphins, and went into Painted Cave on the way back to the mainland. The crew was super knowledgeable and taught us a ton of cool facts about the islands and the wildlife. And they sell beer on the boat! Their website says they don't allow anything hanging from your bag, but we strapped our sleeping pads and tent tightly to our packs and it wasn't an issue (avoid having loose items swinging from your bags, like shoes or water bottles). I got a little bit of service (AT&T) on the trail down to the beach from the campground. People were great about wearing masks on the boat, and social distancing on the island was very easy. Highly recommend this trip for a COVID-safe nature getaway!
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Katherine H
VerifiedNovember 19, 2020 Stayed at: 011, Loop: Sites 001-015
Beautiful and secluded. A perfect escape from the world.
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sung b
VerifiedNovember 25, 2020 Stayed at: 003, Loop: Sites 001-015
I really enjoyed the hiking to East Point and Lobo Canyon. Those two involve long hiking but worth it.
* For the East Point Hike:
If you can time the low tide period with your hiking, you can walk along the sand bar which is stretched far out to the sea. But this is only allowed during the off season. It will add a couple of miles more to your already long hike. But totally worth it.
* For the Lobo Canyon Hike:
Even after you reached the shore after hiking through the canyon, do not stop there. You can still hike a couple of miles more along the coast to the west. The scenery is best along the coast.
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Wendy V
VerifiedDecember 1, 2020 Stayed at: 005, Loop: Sites 001-015
The island is beautiful. The wind breaks are really needed in the campground. It is a great place for hiking. Unlike Santa Cruz, it is not a great place for kayaking. Just getting there by Island Packers is a wonderful part of the trip.
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Ayca B
VerifiedDecember 6, 2020 Stayed at: 013, Loop: Sites 001-015
Great camground! Clean toilets, running water, great views.
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Location & Directions for Santa Rosa Island
1901 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura, CA 93001 United States
Elevation: 36 ft
Highway access
Santa Rosa Campground is accessible via US Highway 101, located approximately 20 miles to the east.
Near Channel Islands National Park
The closest entrance is: Bechers Bay Pier (Santa Rosa Island)
Approximate drive: 1.4 mi · 2 min
Policies & Rules
Arrival & departure
Check in time
11AM
Check out time
11AM
General
- Santa Rosa Island may only be reached by boat. Visitors are required to arrange transportation to the island before reserving a campsite. Contact Island Packers the park's authorized concessioner or bring 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 15 individual campsites. Max 5 people per site.
- A party or group of 46 or more may not reserve any sites through recreation.gov and must contact the park to obtain a special use permit: https://www.nps.gov/chis/learn/management/special-use-permit.htm.
- Upon arrival, meet ranger at beach, landing dock or campground. However, park staff is not always immediately available on the island. Please have confirmation letter, receipt, or campsite number with you.
- 1.5 mile from the pier to campground. 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. Partial shade from wind shelter (8' tall, 10' deep, 14' wide at front, 8' wide at back). Picnic table, food storage box, and drinking water provided. No stores or services.
- 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 beach area at Bechers Bay.
- 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. Prior to departure, visitors are required to use pest-proof packing materials, inspect and clean their gear and shoes of all soil, seeds, and insects. Learn more about biosecurity and watch the required video at Protect Your Park Through Biosecurity.
- No fishing in marine reserves. California fishing license and ocean enhancement required to fish within Channel Islands National Park.
- Watersports: Due to the strong, persistent wind, swimming, snorkeling, diving, and kayaking are limited and recommended for the experienced visitor only. 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.
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Last updated: November 4, 2026
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Explore Ventura, CA
Nearby city: Santa Barbara, CA
Approx. 36 mi away (straight-line distance)
Elevation: 36 ft
Best Season: Spring, Fall
Ventura, CA
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Managed by the National Park Service