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Santa Rosa Island
Santa Rosa Island (52,794
acres), the second largest of the Channel Islands, is 40 miles
west of Ventura. It is a diverse island of grass-covered rolling
hills, steep canyons, creeks, rocky inter-tidal areas and sandy
beaches. It is a treasure of archeological sites, some dating back
nearly 11,000 years. The former owners of the island continue to
lease Santa Rosa until the year 2011 for game hunts.
What to see: Santa Rosa has several rare plants, some of
which are found nowhere else in the world. It also is home to the
endemic island fox and the spotted skunk. The sandy beaches and
cliffs are breeding and resting areas for sea birds and seals and
sea lions. Archeological and paleontological sites are abundant on
the island. In 1994, the world's most complete skeleton of a
pygmy
mammoth, a dwarf species related to the Columbian mammoths,
was excavated on Santa Rosa. Today, paleontologists continue to
discover more sites with the remains of these Pleistocene-era
animals.
What to do: Hiking,
camping, attending naturalist-led hikes, kayaking, fishing,
SCUBA diving, snorkeling, surfing, boating and wildlife watching
are frequent activities. Groups of kayakers can circumnavigate the
island camping on selected beaches. Along with a ranger one may
explore tidepools, hike Lobo Canyon and view midden sites.
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