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Santa
Rosa Island
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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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