If you think the only sort ofIslandswe have in California serve Warren Earl Burger and a sea wolf Mai Tai , then you ’re miss the gravy boat . There ’s an entire coastline pepper with islands just wait to be hop , most of which are close enough to the shore to visit on a twenty-four hours trip or a weekend escape . From Second Earl of Guilford to south , here ’s the equipment failure of all the Cali islands you should put on your pail list this ( and every ) summertime .
Woodley Island
How to get there : Drive over the bridge deck from Eureka , or take a individual sauceboat to the marina . Fees and permits : None – it ’s free !
Explore the island and Humboldt Bay by lease a kayak , canoe , or brook up paddleboard fromHumboats Kayak Adventures , or signalize up for one of the guide tour . Go whale - watching on the Whale & Wildlife Tour , check out Indian Island and the Eureka slide on the Humboldt Bay Kayak Eco - Tour , or go for a relaxing paddle during the Sunset Kayak Tour . Once the sun goes down , you may see the lights of Old Town Eureka lit up from across the water .
While the only restaurant on the island is theCafe Marina and Woodley ’s Bar , which serves chiefly seafood dish antenna , there are local and commercial fisherman dock their sauceboat in the marina , the largest in Humboldt Bay . Depending on the time of year , you’re able to buy fresh fish and crab right off the boats .
Inspiration Point at Anacapa Island|Tomas Tichy/Shutterstock
On the other side of Woodley , you ’ll come up the Gerald O. Hansen Wildlife Area . The nature preserve takes up most of the island , so if you ’re into birdwatching , grab your binoculars and start practicing your good bird margin call .
Indian Island
How to get there : You ca n’t , but you could get a close facial expression on one of theHumboats Kayak Adventureskayak circuit . Fees and permits : Nada , unless you decide to illegally visit the island , which is sure to land you some mulct and other hassle .
You probably could n’t imagine a full - on massacre happening in the county most known for its population of pot - growing hippies , but the 1860 Wiyot Massacre happened on Indian Island mightily there in Humboldt Bay . Although you ca n’t visit this particular island , you’re able to see it across the low channel from Woodley Island . It has a rich Native American account , and due to its checkered past and the tragedy that happened there , it ’s worth get laid what you ’re looking at from the other shoring .
The Brothers
How to get there : A 10 - bit boat ride takes you to the island from the Point San Pablo Yacht Harbor in Richmond . fee and permission : room are anywhere from $ 295-$375 a nighttime . Day usance is about $ 20 a person , and include a tour of the light place , plus the gravy holder ride to and from the island .
There are two island in the Bay call The Brothers , one of which houses an old light post turned bed & breakfast . East Brother Light Station , about 30 minutes from Downtown San Francisco , has been there for 142 eld , although multitude have only been bed & breakfast there for the last 35 year . It ’s passably exclusive , since the prim - style place only has five rooms , one of which is in the old fog signal building ( spooky ! ) . It ’s not precisely cheap to rest here either , but the cost tag admit seasonal , multi - course gourmet meals , and since the light station is a non - profit , all of the yield go toward maintaining the historical belongings .
If you ’re not the bed & breakfast type , but still need to chaffer the abstemious post for a day trip-up , Saturdays are your in . You still have to make areservation , but you ’ll get a tour of the light station , and if you contribute your own permit and poles , you may try your hand at angle from the island .
Angel Island
How to get there : The island is accessible by kayak , private boat , or ferry . Take either theBlue and Gold Ferryservice from Pier 41 in SF , or theTiburon / Angel Island Ferryfrom Downtown Tiburon . Fees and permits : encampment is about $ 30 a night , unless you set aside one of the vast group sites , which is manifestly more expensive . ticket for either ferrying are around $ 15 , which includes the state ballpark access fee to get on the island . you may buy ticket online for theBlue and Gold Ferryfrom SF , but you may only grease one’s palms ticket for theTiburon / Angel Island Ferryin individual before boarding the boat , and they only consent cash or check .
The gravid natural island in San Francisco Bay , Angel Island is a land mass full of story . Some think of it as the less - welcoming version of Ellis Island : hundreds of thousands of immigrant were treat ( and detained ) here in the early 1900s . The old immigration station and barracks have been renovated and are open for public enlistment now . The military has post up here during every major war , date back to the Civil War , and when the Nike missile al-Qaeda was inactivate in the ' 60s , the island was turn into the State Department park that it is today .
There are 13 miles of hiking and biking trails to explore , around 20 bivouac to detain at , and several beaches to sun on . The bivouac are first get , first serve up , so do n’t get all the way to the island only to be turned aside with your collapsible shelter between your legs during peak tourer season . architectural plan in advance andreservea spot in advance .
Jairo Rene Leiva/Shutterstock
While you ’re there , make the climb up the monolithic Mount Livermore . At 788 ft , it might not be Everest , but it is the high point on the island and has unbelievable position of the Bay from the top .
If you ’re just travel to for the Clarence Day , join one of the island tram or Segway tour , then catch dejeuner at theAngel Island Cafe . From weekends in June through October , the Cantinahosts the Angel Island lively medicine series on its deck . There are also plenty of places to duck soup , but if you do n’t require to haul an ice chest of drawers full of solid food out there , you may always orderbox lunchesthat’ll be waiting for you when you get off the ferry .
Treasure Island
How to get there : you could take thebusfrom SF to Treasure Island , or you could brave the driving force over the Bay Bridge yourself . You ’re also allowed to come by gravy holder at the Treasure Isle Marina . fee and permits : If you ’re driving west over the Bay Bridge from Oakland , you ’ll have to pay up a $ 4 or $ 6 bell , calculate on the day and time . If you ’re nerveless enough to get there by boat , the Edgar Guest slip are $ 1.50 / foot / night in the Treasure Isle Marina .
This man - made island off the coast of San Francisco is cognise for two thing : theTreasure Island Music Festivaland a huge monthlyflea market . Even if neither of those things are going on during your sojourn , there ’s still plenty to do in this around 400 - Akka dodging . Foodies will love the brunch stain and multiple bars for wine tastings . Folks who are looking for an outdoor experience can go fish from the mole , take a bike to ride around the island , and/or picnic at Clipper Cove . Just figure out where to findthe good cocktailson the island before you go .
Anacapa Island
How to get there : Public gravy boat transportation to the Channel Islands is provided byIsland Packers . Private boats are alsoallowedto visit all five islands , but individual planes are not . Fees and permission : Day use is $ 59 , overnight bivouacking is $ 79 , and thewildlife cruiseto Anacapa is $ 38 . tenting fees are $ 15 per night for household - manipulation website , and $ 40 per dark for group sites , on top of the $ 79 overnight transport fee .
As part of the Channel Islands , Anacapa sits closest to the mainland . While it ’s made up of three isle , only the most easterly one is open for exploring and encampment ( the other two are part of a maritime conservation area and are off terminal point ) . Since it ’s basically a floating tableland with elephantine cliffs on all incline , you ’ll have to climb a ladder from the gravy holder and walk about 157 steps up a stairway to get to the flattened top . This also stand for that there is n’t any beach access , because there is n’t a beach to access .
Although you’re able to still kayak and snorkel , you ’ll have to lug all of your gear down that ladder to the water and back up when you ’re complete . There ’s not much on this islet away from a historic lighthouse and a visitors inwardness , but its farness is part of the temptingness . There ’s 1.5 mile of trails to wander and seven reservable rude nightlong campsites . Keep in mind that “ primitive ” signify on the nose that : there is no potable body of water , no pot , and no scum keister . bring in everything you ’ll postulate for your stay , and pile out all of your wish-wash when you go away .
Flickr/bensonk42
On certain days between November and April , you’re able to visit the lunar time period pond atFrenchys Coveon the south side of the middle islet . You ’ll go from the tour boat to the shore via skiff , so prepare to get sozzled . Since this is an educational circuit , it ’s popular with the kiddos endeavor to get their learn on , so train for the possibility of expend your daytime lunar time period pool with a bunch of kids .
Santa Cruz Island
How to get there : Public boat transportation to the Channel Islands is provided byIsland Packers . individual gravy boat are alsoallowedto visit all five island , but secret planes are not . Fees and permit : Clarence Shepard Day Jr. enjoyment is $ 59 , overnight tenting is $ 79 . bivouacking fee are $ 15 per night for kinsfolk - use web site , and $ 40 per Nox for radical web site , on top of the $ 79 overnight tape transport fee .
Santa Cruz is not only the largest of the Channel Islands , it ’s the largest island in all of California . Explore the three telling mountain ranges on this 96 - hearty - sea mile piece of state . The terrain depart from sea caves , lunar time period pool , sett beaches , and low - lying wetland , to deep canon full of springs and streams . fleck whales from the island ’s high point ( 2000 ft ! ) during their migration from December through mid - February . If you want to see something you literally can not see anywhere else in the populace , then try out the eight species of plants that only exist on this island .
Hike , kayak , snorkel , and search the lunar time period pools on a twenty-four hour period trip , or encamp out overnight at one of the 35reservablecampsites at Scorpion Anchorage or Prisoners Harbor . Thirty - one of those situation are locate at Scorpion Anchorage where there are both vault throne and drinkable H2O .
Depending on how much you enjoy backpack , just capture to Prisoners Harbor will feel like a punishment . You have to walk three and a half miles uphill with all of your gear to get to the four campsites here . Since there is no potable water , you ’ll be carrying everything you ’ll need for your stay , admit plenty of crapulence water . But the benefit of quell overnight , here or back where you have lav admittance , is the chance to hike up some of the recollective track that you would n’t be able to finish if you were only there for the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. .
Santa Rosa Island
How to get there : Public boat transportation to the Channel Islands is provided byIsland Packers . you’re able to take a plane from the Camarillo Airport to Santa Rosa Island withChannel Islands Aviation . secret boats are alsoallowedto visit all five islands , but secret planes are not . fee and permits : The day use fee is $ 82 ; encampment is $ 114 .
Island Packers only takes visitors to Santa Rosa Island between April and November , but it ’s well worth planning the slip . This island is the second - largest in the Channel Islands , with beautiful white moxie beach , a canon brook that go all year , plus camping and tramp .
The boat agenda is designed to adapt two or three day camping trips , but there are daytime - tripper options useable , too . There are 15 encampment with water , flushable toilet , and shower , but remember to compact extra food in case the weather turns and Island Packers ca n’t add up back to peck you up at the schedule sentence . Backcountry camping is also an option , but only for experient packer .
Flickr/Bill Williams
you’re able to often see dolphins and whales on the drive to and from the island , and if the weather are secure , you’re able to give up to hold in out Painted Cave , one of the earthly concern ’s magnanimous ocean caves , on the boat cod back to Ventura .
Santa Barbara Island
How to get there : Public gravy holder transportation to all of the Channel Islands is supply byIsland Packers . Private boat are alsoallowedto impose all five islands , but private planes are not . fee and license : The day utilization fee is $ 82 ; camping is $ 114 .
It ’s 47 miles from the mainland to Santa Barbara Island , so between July and October there are only two boats a month that will take you on the three - hr journeying . This is another one of those cliff island , so you ’ll have to climb a ladder from the boat to actually get onto the land . Once you ’re up there , you ’ll find five miles of trails and 10 primitive camping site . There ’s no beach , but you’re able to bring your snorkel or a kayak to research the sea caves and the island ’s coastline .
San Miguel Island
How to get there : Public gravy holder transportation to the Channel Islands is allow byIsland Packers . you may take a plane from the Camarillo Airport to Santa Rosa Island withChannel Islands Aviation . Private boat are alsoallowedto visit all five island , but private planes are not . Fees and permit : The day role fee is $ 105 ; bivouacking is $ 147 .
Even though the island is loose as of mid - May , Island Packers is n’t take visitors to San Miguel correctly now . The Scorpion Anchorage pier on Santa Cruz Island was damage during a tempest , and until it ’s repaired , all of the skiff used to get ashore on San Miguel Island are being used to get mass onto the more pop Santa Cruz Island instead . Sorry , guys .
Catalina
How to get there : The Catalina Island Ferry , eggbeater , private plane , or private boat . fee and permits : The hour - long ferrying ride from San Pedro , Long Beach , or Dana Point is about $ 74 turn head trip , but it ’s free on yourbirthday . The helicopter ride is about 15 minutes , and you may catch a flying from Long Beach for $ 250 unit of ammunition trip , San Pedro for $ 300 , Santa Ana for $ 390 , and Burbank for $ 750 . Camping in Two Harbors drift from $ 22-$70 per person per night , depending on the campsite and the time of year . mathematical group sites at Brisas Del Mar and Bahia Azul campgrounds are $ 725 per nighttime .
Last , but sure as shooting not least , is the beautiful Catalina Island . Arriving on the Avalon side of the island feels like you ’ve somehow landed on a Grecian coastline . Boats are majestically moored in perfect semi - circle row in the cove , and the hillside is dotted with whitened houses and terracotta rooftop cascade toward the water .
Avalon has something for everyone : adventurous types can sign up for a dolphin junket , go ziplining , take a crank bottom boat tour , or hops in a Hummer to research the remote parts of the island ( endeavor to spot the problematical American bison that exist in the Hill ) . Afterwards , relax on the oceanfront cabana at the Descanso Beach Club , or have dinner at one of the fine dining restaurants along Crescent Ave . Very few cable car are allow on the island , but you may well take the air from one closing of Avalon to the other . cruise the town on a bike or in a golf cart rental is the agency to go .
Flickr/Franco Folini
Two Harbors , on the other side of Catalina , might as well be a world away from the posh accommodations in Avalon . This is the part of the island where you may camp , hike , bike , kayak , snorkel , and truly get away from it all . There are five bivouac to quell at , including some secludedboat - insites and collapsible shelter cabin . Campsites demand to be reserved in advance , and you need a permit to hike up , but it ’s free .
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Flickr/Paul Hamilton
Anacapa Island|Asif Islam/Shutterstock
Flickr/Craig Stanfill
Flickr/Ken Lund
Flickr/Citrix Online
Flickr/Felix’s Endless Journey
Thanakorn Kunta/Shutterstock
