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 .