Channel Islands Park Foundation

08/20/2026

A glorious new way to experience Santa Cruz Island.

Beginning August 27, the new Prisoners Harbor Campground welcomes overnight campers to one of the most beautiful corners of Channel Islands National Park.

We’re proud the Channel Islands National Park Foundation could help support this project—and grateful to Toad & Co, Fund for People in Parks, and Aera Energy for helping make the new campsite a reality.

Six campsites. A short walk from the Prisoners Harbor Pier. A portal to paddling, hiking, star gazing and memory making.

Reservations are open at Recreation.gov.

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Hmm, what’s missing from this photo?

You! Your crew! And your family!

A brand-new camping experience is coming to Santa Cruz Island! 🏕️

The new Prisoners Harbor Campground at Channel Islands National Park features just six campsites, thoughtfully designed for a quieter island experience.

Spend the night beneath ancient oaks, listen to the cobblestones rolling in the surf, and wake up surrounded by one of the most spectacular landscapes in SoCal.

Prisoners Harbor offers something a little different from our other island campgrounds: the solitude of a backcountry experience, but just a very short walk from the pier.

The campground opens later this month and reservations open tomorrow (Aug. 18). The nightly rate is $15 per site. Reservations can be made at www.recreation.gov.

Photo credit: National Park Service

08/06/2026

Great read! We hope you make it out to the park to see the island foxes this summer.

Her path was deliberate. After foraging for mice and other island morsels, the lone female island fox scampered up a steep, shale bluff cloaked in bushels of lemonade berry and

07/22/2026

We’re proud to have received an innovation grant from the ! ✨

This grant enables the park to incinerate human waste right on Santa Cruz Island instead of shipping it back to mainland treatment centers.

That’s right—we’re helping Channel Islands National Park get 💩done in an innovative and green way!

The results?

A significantly smaller carbon footprint, reduced harbor transport that reduces the likelihood of invasive species hitching a ride to the islands, and support for park operations by keeping island management efficient and eco-friendly.🌿🪻It’s cleaner, smarter, and better for the wild ecosystems we love.

Thank you, National Park Foundation!
Learn more about the innovation projects by visiting the link in the comments.

06/17/2026

UPDATE: Current Conditions

On June 16, the Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team delivered funding and risk-reduction recommendations to Channel Islands National Park staff.

Based on fire-impact evaluations, these guidelines will help the park prioritize immediate stabilization efforts regarding erosion, flooding, hazard trees, and resource protection.

While critical safety and environmental projects begin this summer, full island recovery will take years.

Please visit CINPF.org or use the link in the comments to support the Resilience Fund.

We will soon meet with Park staff to identify the immediate and long-term priorities for this funding. Thank you for your generosity. We look forward to updating you on the impact of your support!

Closures
Santa Rosa Island: Closed to all-day and overnight use through at least June 30, 2026.

Water Canyon Campground:
All reservations through June 30 are canceled and refunded/notified. Bookings from July 1 through August 14, 2026, are on alert for potential future cancellations.

Backcountry Camping:
The southeastern quadrant of the island remains closed for the entire 2026 recreation season.

Image: A BAER botanist observes a burnt Torrey pine tree on 6/6/26.

06/09/2026

Santa Rosa Island UPDATE:
A team of Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) specialists will spend approximately one week on the island evaluating post-fire conditions and identifying immediate risks to public safety, infrastructure, and natural and cultural resources. They arrived on June 5th.

Something to consider is that hazardous conditions can persist for weeks or months after a wildfire and may exist both inside and outside the burned area. Some of the potential hazards include unstable soils, weakened trees, damaged infrastructure, falling rocks, erosion, and altered trail conditions.

Photos/NPS:
1. BAER crew members begin walking transects to survey for western snowy plover on 6/6/26.
2. BAER and NPS staff walk along the fire footprint on 6/6/26
3. Santa Rosa Island BAER team members on Santa Rosa Island.
4. A BAER soil scientist evaluates burn severity in a Torrey Pine stand on 6/6/26

06/08/2026

Happy World Ocean Day!

🌊

The rich, biodiverse waters surrounding our five islands are the lifeblood of this unique ecosystem. From the vibrant kelp forests to the marine life that calls them home, protecting our ocean is vital to preserving the isolation and magic of the Channel Islands.

🐋

When we protect our ocean, we protect our islands.

Photo: Scotty Gabara, NPS
Illustration: Cali Tutkowski

06/02/2026

These incredible NASA satellite images track the recent wildfire on Santa Rosa Island from May 16–24 (brown = burned, green = healthy vegetation).

Thanks to the exceptional dedication of wildland firefighting crews—including the Arroyo Grande and Ventana hotshots, Chumash crews, Santa Barbara County Fire Department, U.S. Forest Service, and NPS—the fire reached 97% containment by May 26.

Because natural fires are rare here, our unique island species aren't adapted to them, making recovery a complex, long-term effort.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who has donated to our Resilience Fund. Your generosity allows CINPF to hit the ground running in supporting the Park’s immediate recovery. As the Burn Area Emergency Response team and NPS map out the next steps, we will share exactly how your support is making an impact.

Every gift makes a difference.

Please visit the link in the comments (or go to cinpf.org) to donate, sign up for updates, or join our Channel Islands Collective. Thank you so much for your partnership! ✨

NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Story by Lindsey Doermann.

06/01/2026

06/01/2026

🦭🐡Happy World Oceans Month!🐳🐋

This month, we celebrate the marine environments that sustain our planet, including one of California's most extraordinary treasures: the waters surrounding Channel Islands National Park.
🌊
Channel Islands National Park encompasses five remarkable islands and their ocean environment, preserving and protecting a wealth of natural and cultural resources.
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The health of the islands is inseparable from the health of the sea around them. When we protect these waters, we protect the heartbeat of the entire archipelago.

What is your favorite species to spot in these waters? Let us know in the comments!

05/27/2026

The South Point Light Station remains safe and intact despite the fire on Santa Rosa Island.

Built in 1925 to handle growing maritime traffic in LA, the South Point Light Station is the only navigational aid on Santa Rosa Island. The original tower was built 430 feet above sea level with help from local Vail & Vickers cowboys and horses.

In 1937, it was replaced by a unique 7x7-foot lighthouse structure. Pieces of the building were prefabricated on the mainland, shipped over, and hauled up a steep trail by pack horses to its new 530-foot perch. Powered originally by a windmill generator and batteries, its beam could be seen 19 miles out to sea.

After being decommissioned before 1986, the historic structure sat empty for decades. The National Park Service restored the building in 2020, landing it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, it’s powered by solar energy, and the Coast Guard has officially put a modern light back in action.

Have you ever spotted the South Point Light while exploring Channel Islands National Park? If you have pictures, we’d love to see them!

(photo credit: Tim Hauf)