The arch is an eighth of a mile up the trail and easy to spot. A path to Arch Rock begins alongside campsite nine. Driving into the campground, take the left split in the road. Arch Rock from White Tank CampgroundĬampers will find a trail to Arch Rock from within White Tank Campground. At 0.55 miles from the trailhead, come to a T-junction at the start of a 0.2-mile loop to Arch Rock. Set out south from the Twin Tanks.Īfter 0.15 miles of cross desert hiking, make a left on California Riding and Hiking Trail, cross Pinto Basin Road, and then make a right off of California Riding and Hiking Trail to continue hiking gradually downhill toward White Tank Campground. The original lead-crystal Fresnel lens, which served as a beacon to ships until an automated light replaced it in 1990, is on exhibit in the East Anacapa Visitor Center.To reach the new trailhead, take Pinto Basin Road 2.2 miles south of Park Boulevard or half a mile northwest of White Tank Campground to the Twin Tanks Day Use Area on the west side of the road. In addition, visitors can view the 1932 light station whose mission revival style buildings include the lighthouse, fog signal building, one of four original keeper's quarters, a water tank building, and several other service buildings.

Shell midden sites indicate where Chumash people camped on the islands thousands of years ago. And, divers can answer questions from visitors as part of this distance learning program.Īnacapa Island has a rich human history as well. Visitors can see, through the eye of the camera, what the diver is seeing-bright sea stars, spiny sea urchins, and brilliant orange Garibaldi-by watching video monitors located on the dock, in the mainland visitor center auditorium, in classrooms, or via the Internet. During the spring and summer, park rangers dive into the Landing Cove on East Anacapa with a video camera. Visitors may also catch a glimpse of the fascinating undersea world of the kelp forest without getting wet. Two overlooks (Cathedral Cove and Pinniped Point) provide excellent spots to look down on seals and sea lions in the island coves.Īnacapa's rich kelp forests (ideal for kayaking, snorkeling, and diving) and tidepool areas provide visitors with the opportunity to meet some of the resident ocean animals up close. The raucous barking of sea lions can be heard from most areas of the island. The rocky shores of Anacapa are perfect resting and breeding areas for California sea lions and harbor seals. Fluffy chicks hatch in May and June and fly away from the nest in July. Western gulls begin their nesting efforts at the end of April, sometimes making their shallow nests just inches from island trails. While the steep cliffs of West Anacapa are home to the largest breeding colony of endangered California brown pelicans, all the islets of Anacapa host the largest breeding colony of western gulls in the world. Thousands of birds use Anacapa as a nesting area because of the relative lack of predators on the island.

Seabirds are probably the most conspicuous wildlife on Anacapa Island. Vibrant red paintbrush, island morning glory, and pale buckwheat add touches of color to the island's palette. The strange tree sunflower, or coreopsis, blossoms with bright yellow bouquets that are so vivid and numerous they can sometimes be seen from the mainland. Emerging from dormancy, the native plants come alive with color. Although for much of the year the island vegetation looks brown and lifeless, the winter rains transform the landscape. Exploring East Anacapa's two-mile trail system allows visitors to experience the island's native vegetation, wildlife, and cultural history.

Arch rock santa barbara