Channel Islands National Park guide · 1 min read
Kayaking the Sea Caves and Kelp Forests
Santa Cruz Island is the largest island in Channel Islands National Park, stretching 22 miles long and between two and six miles wide.
It is also the most visited, and sea cave kayaking is one of the best ways to see its shoreline. Guided trips set out from Scorpion Anchorage on the island's eastern side.
Channel Islands Adventure Company runs the Discovery Sea Caves Tour, about two and a half hours long, and the four-hour Adventure Sea Caves Tour. Equipment is included: you get a kayak and paddle, plus a helmet, life vest, paddle jacket, and sleeveless wetsuit. Your guide chooses which caves to enter based on that day's sea and weather conditions, so the route can change from one outing to the next. Some caves open into wide chambers for paddling, while others are narrow with low ceilings, and in a few you may need to pull yourself along the walls by hand.
Kelp forests grow just offshore. More than 1,000 species of marine organisms live in these waters, including seals, sea lions, fish, lobsters, and spiny sea urchins. Some paddlers end up sharing the water with sea lions inside the caves. On land, Santa Cruz Island is home to the island fox and the island scrub-jay, two animals found nowhere else on Earth.
Sea kayaking in the park is classed as a high risk activity, and it has led to visitor deaths. Weather can shift quickly, sea conditions can become extreme, and the sea caves add their own hazards. Visitors can paddle solo or join a park authorized guide or outfitter. Anyone who lacks experience, training, or proper gear is advised against going out alone.
