Santa Rosa Island

Wonderful 2 nights on Santa Rosa. Facilities were clean and campsites perfect.

This is island quickly became a must visit yearly place. It's beautiful. The campsite was lovely. Flushing toilets! Running Water! Basically had better amenities than some of the motels I've stayed in. You do have to hike in with your stuff so a trolley with some beefy wheels is great. They'll tell you to take the road but don't listen to the ranger. Take the trail by the water. It's hard packed dirt so much easier to navigate. Just let everyone go in front of ya.

The beaches are incredible. The night sky is unreal. The hiking is stunning. Everything about this trip out to the island was just amazing.

Just incredible. I’m a solo female traveler and felt completely safe here. So worth it. Just go.

Santa Rosa Island is gorgeous and a must-see. The wind shelter at the campsite was useful. We put our tent partially in the shelter because of the winds and our shoes on the shelves and the packs and trash hung up on the nails. The flushing toilets and potable water were wonderful. Water Canyon Beach was like visiting a tropical island. Turquoise waters and white sand beaches. Packing in was a bit more strenuous than anticipated because we packed a bit too much. Most people we talked to said they had the same frustrating first experience. Pack lean and mean and be prepared for a beautiful experience.

Great multi day camping trip on the island. Saw some great wildlife, beaches, and hikes.

Campground has flush toilets, running sinks, fox boxes for food and trash, and wind shelters for the camps. Brought my kayak for paddling around Becher’s Bay. There are some strong currents to mind but its manageable. All in all a great spot!

Santa Rosa is amazing. Yes, it's rugged, but so long as you're prepared you are in for a treat. Ranger Dylan was awesome, gave some great advice on our plan and we had an amazing trip.

We were on the island for five days, four nights, and did five hikes from the campground: Torrey Pines, Lobo Canyon, Soledad Peak, Skunk Point, and Carrington Point. All were wonderful and each different from the others. Lobo Canyon is especially worthwhile because of its unusual rock formations and exotic flora, including the giant coreopsis (which looks eerie in its dormancy, like a rack of shrunken heads). We were very surprised to see many wildflowers in bloom, particularly in Lobo Canyon and on the single-track part of the Carrington Point trail. Along the latter there are hundreds of large lupines of a variety with a strong lilac-like scent that became our favorite. The campground is excellent, thoughtfully set up and maintained beautifully. Our fellow campers were all friendly and considerate. We were lucky with the wind, which was steady but not heavy. The NPS staff, Dylan Moe in particular, were helpful, engaging but unobtrusive. It really could not have been better.

Amazing! I was concerned about the many reviews about the wind but got lucky and was there for 3 nearly windless days (early September).
The island is beautiful, very well maintained, and the boat ride from and to the island are extraordinary. Camping there was one of my best stargazing experiences so far, and the foxes that runs around the campground are adorable.
If you get one of the first few campsites you’ll wake up to ocean views (if the fog cooperate). Water has a bit of a taste, but it’s potable and not horrible. Some people brought trolleys to help them with their gear (look for restrictions with the boat company). I backpacked and the walk from the boat to the campsite takes about 30-45 minutes, making it good for a beginner backpacker. Pack lightly and please be respectful of this beautiful land.
The water is cold and although it can get a bit warmer inland the beaches are often overcast. If you’re looking for a tropical vacation to chill by the beach this may not be your best bet. The sky cleared a bit during the afternoons, but looks unpredictable.

Tip: the canyon hike is long (12-miles round trip from the campground), and challenging, but the final destination is worth it and the way back feels easier after you dip your feet in the water and take the views. That being said, the entire island is beautiful and the sunset overlooking the ‘village’ is breathtaking.

Great trip on Island Packers. Enjoyed the campground except for 2 noisy groups. Ranger Dylan was friendly and helpful.

Great campground. Loved having running water and clean restrooms for such a remote location. The wind shelters add a nice sense of privacy. Due to the distance from the ranger, your atmosphere is slightly based upon your neighbors who decide to follow rules or not.