Channel Islands National Park - Santa Cruz Island Photo Gallery Gallery (U.S. National Park Service)

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Channel Islands National Park

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	Channel Islands National Park Santa Cruz Island Photo Gallery Gallery

Santa Cruz Island Photo Gallery

Gallery Description:

The abundance of krill, a tiny shrimp like creature, often lures the world’s largest animal, the endangered blue whale, into the western Santa Barbara Channel to feed during May through November.

Blue Whale

Photo by Brad Sillasen

Near the secluded Forney’s Cove , goldfields blanket the coastal grasslands, one of ten different plant communities (from marshes to pine forests) found on the island.

Forneys Cove

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

One of the nine historic, satellite ranches, the 1864 adobe Christy Ranch is the oldest standing building on the island.

Christy Ranch

Photo by Dianne Brooks

The Central Valley’s dry, rocky, south-facing slope gives rise to the island’s highest peak (Picacho del Diablo, 2434 feet), and contrasts sharply with the cooler, moist, chaparral-and-oak covered north-facing slope.

Central Valley

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

The endemic Santa Cruz Island ironwood populations, found only on Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Clemente Islands, are remnants of once widespread mainland populations which occurred 6 to 19 million years ago.

Ironwood

Photo by Sam Spaulding

The Island scrub jay, found only on Santa Cruz Island, is an example of “gigantism,” whereby some island animals evolve to a larger form after years of isolation. This bird is darker blue and one-third larger than its mainland counterpart.

Island Jay

Photo by Paul Collins

In an effort to restore the process of fire to the islands and enhance the habitat for native plant species, The Nature Conservancy, in cooperation with the National Park Service, has conducted several controlled burns since 1993.

Controlled Burn

Photo by National Park Service

[Download 1370 kb]

These controlled burns, along with the use of herbicides and monitoring by The Nature Conservancy, have helped biologists determine the best methods to control the dramatic spread of the non-native fennel plant and restore native vegetation.

Fennel Eradication

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

Varied topography , geologic complexity, and ample freshwater support an array of flora—over 650 plant species. Forty-three, including the northern island bush poppy, are found only on the Channel Islands; eight exist only on Santa Cruz Island.

Bush Poppy

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

Private boaters may enjoy the sheltered cove and sandy beach at Willows Anchorage, one of many throughout the island.

Willows Anchorage

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

To encourage the recovery of native plants, The Nature Conservancy removed cattle and sheep from its western 90% of the island by 1988. In 1996, a fence separated the eastern 10% where feral sheep still overgrazed and caused serious erosion. The sheep were finally removed in 1999.

Overgrazing

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

A beautiful anchorage, mixed white sand and cobblestone beach, historic olive orchard, and adobe ranch buildings all welcome visitors at Smuggler’s Cove.

Smugglers Cove

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

The sand and cobblestone beach at Scorpion Anchorage is one of the most popular in the park. Access to some of the best kayaking in the park is from this beach.

Scorpion Anchorage

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

At the turn of the century, Scorpion Ranch was the major satellite ranch on the east end that was used to create an efficient, almost entirely self-contained island ranching and agricultural operation.

Scorpion Ranch

Photo by William Dewey, wmbdewey.com

In addition to touring the historic adobe buildings, visitors to Scorpion Ranch also may hike out to Cavern Point for a spectacular view of the rugged northwest coast of the island.

Cavern Point

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

Relics from the Pleistocene Age, the Bishop pines’ southernmost location in California occurs on Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands. Removal of feral sheep has led to their recovery near Pelican Bay.

Pelican Bay

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

Devoted to the protection and management of ecologically significant land, The Nature Conservancy manages the western 76% of Santa Cruz Island. Their island headquarters is located in the island’s central valley.

The Nature Conservancy

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

The Nature Conservancy's historic central valley is home to a chapel and other main ranch structures dating from the late 1800’s.

Historic Chapel

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

Numerous reliable streams, such as in Canada de la Siesta, flow year-round on the island, creating magnificent waterfalls, pools and oases for riparian plants and wildlife.

Canada de la Siesta

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

Painted Cave, named after its colorful rock types, lichens, and algaes, is one of the largest known sea caves in the world, measuring nearly a quarter mile long and 100 feet wide, with an entrance ceiling that rises upward to 160 feet.

Painted Cave

Photo by National Park Service

[Download 1034 kb]

Approximately 2,000 Chumash lived on Santa Cruz Island at the time of the first European exploration in 1542. Their extensive trade system with the mainland and manufacturing of shell-bead money helped them survive with limited resources.

Chumash Paddling Tomol

Photo by Peter Howorth

The island’s shoreline cliffs and caves provide important nesting habitat for half the world’s population of ashy storm-petrels.

Ashy Storm Petrel

Photo by National Park Service

[Download 601 kb]

Over-harvesting of sea urchin predators, such as lobsters, sheepheads, and sea otters, has led to an urchin population increase that has destroyed kelp forests and created urchin barrens throughout the park.

Urchin Barren

Photo by Dan Richards

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			Did You Know? The Channel Islands are home to the most well-preserved archeological sites on the Pacific coast, with more than 10,000 years of continuous human occupation recorded. more...

Last Updated: August 05, 2010 at 22:10 MST