Channel Islands National Park is a National Park in California. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 9 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Channel Islands
We matched 9 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Channel Islands. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Natural Arches (3)
Canyons (1)
Beaches (3)
BeachBeachBeachLighthouses (1)
Caves (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Channel Islands the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 61° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 299° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 79° in summer but only 33° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:06 AM | 7:43 AM | 4:37 PM | 5:14 PM | 245° | 10h 08m |
| February | 6:45 AM | 7:20 AM | 5:10 PM | 5:44 PM | 256° | 10h 59m |
| March | 7:11 AM | 7:44 AM | 6:35 PM | 7:08 PM | 268° | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:29 AM | 7:03 AM | 6:58 PM | 7:31 PM | 283° | 13h 02m |
| May | 5:59 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:19 PM | 7:55 PM | 294° | 13h 56m |
| June | 5:49 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:36 PM | 8:13 PM | 299° | 14h 24m |
| July | 6:00 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:36 PM | 8:12 PM | 297° | 14h 12m |
| August | 6:22 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:14 PM | 7:48 PM | 288° | 13h 26m |
| September | 6:44 AM | 7:17 AM | 6:35 PM | 7:08 PM | 274° | 12h 24m |
| October | 7:05 AM | 7:39 AM | 5:53 PM | 6:27 PM | 260° | 11h 21m |
| November | 6:33 AM | 7:09 AM | 4:21 PM | 4:57 PM | 248° | 10h 24m |
| December | 6:59 AM | 7:37 AM | 4:15 PM | 4:53 PM | 242° | 9h 54m |
Computed for the park's reference point (33.9868, -119.9113); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Channel Islands, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 27° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 4:38 AM – 5:18 AM | 0.7 | 16° |
| March | 3:51 AM – 5:41 AM | 1.8 | 24° |
| April | 1:49 AM – 4:59 AM | 3.2 | 27° |
| May | 11:52 PM – 4:12 AM | 4.3 | 27° |
| June | 9:58 PM – 3:58 AM | 6.0 | 27° |
| July | 9:54 PM – 2:34 AM | 4.7 | 27° |
| August | 9:19 PM – 12:29 AM | 3.2 | 27° |
| September | 8:32 PM – 10:32 PM | 2.0 | 24° |
| October | 7:50 PM – 8:30 PM | 0.7 | 16° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
3 Estimated Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead.
Weather & best time to visit
In general, the islands have a Mediterranean climate year-round. Temperatures are relatively stable, with highs averaging in the mid-60s (°F) and lows in the low-50s. However, there are seasonal differences that visitors should take into consideration when visiting the park. In addition, visitors also should be aware that ocean and weather conditions vary considerably from day-to-day and island-to-island. For more information visit: http://www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/weather.htm
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show November as the clearest month (about 41% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (64%). September is the warmest month and April the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
While the mainland visitor center in Ventura is readily accessible by car or public transportation, the islands are only accessible by park concessionaire boats and planes or private boat. Advanced planning is highly recommended.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Boating
- Motorized Boating
- Sailing
- Boat Tour
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Group Camping
- Compass and GPS
- Orienteering
- Fishing
- Saltwater Fishing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Boat Tour
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Off-Trail Permitted Hiking
- Paddling
