Channel Islands National Park - San Miguel Island Photo Gallery (U.S. National Park Service)

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	Channel Islands National Park San Miguel Island Photo Gallery

Most of these images are legally protected by U.S. & International copyright laws and may NOT be downloaded or used for reproduction in any manner without the explicit authorization of the respective copyright holders.

If an image is not copyrighted, you will be given the option of downloading the image. These non-copyrighted images are royalty-free and their use is not limited. However, please credit the photograper and "National Park Service" where appropriate.

San Miguel Island Photo Gallery

Gallery Description:

One of the greatest concentrations of wildlife in the world occurs on San Miguel. If you look carefully at this photo you may see as many as thirty thousand seals and sea lions hauled-out on the isolated, sandy beaches around Point Bennet.

Point Bennet

Photo by National Park Service

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Hiking seven miles across the island to Point Bennet to observe the huge colonies of seals and sea lions is one of the most engaging visitor activities within the park.

Visitors at Point Bennet

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

Elephant seals, which may reach a length of 22 feet and weigh eight thousand pounds, are one of four species of pinnipeds that breed on a regular basis on the island.

Elephant Seals

Photo by National Park Service

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Since 1968, biologists have monitored the health of the pinniped populations and studied their behavior and migrations.

Monitoring Pinnipeds

Photo by National Park Service

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Tyler Bight, pictured here, and Cuyler Harbor are the only approved overnight anchorages.

Tyler Bight

Photo by Desiree Cassell, National Park Service

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One of nearly 1000 kelp forest species, sunflower stars are the largest, heaviest, and most active of all the Pacific coast stars.

Photo by Brandon Cole

A B-24 bomber flying blind on a heading for Point Conception struck Green Mountain in 1943. Some of the wreckage is still visible.

Plan Wreck

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

Poppies, lupines, and locoweeds are just part of San Miguel's lush springtime vegetation.

Flowers

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

Thousands of years of isolation in a unique island environment has resulted in the development of the endemic island fox, a dwarf form of the mainland gray fox.

Island Fox

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

The caliche forest is a naturally occurring geologic feature consisting of prehistoric vegetation that has calcified, forming the "fossilized" landscape.

Caliche Forest

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

A ranger-guided interpretive hike out to Cardwell Point often includes spectacular views of Santa Rosa Island.

Hiking

Photo by National Park Service

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Foul weather and submerged rock and shoals have led to a large number of shipwrecks around San Miguel, such as the EX Tortuga in 1987 near Cardwell Point. The ship was eventually towed out to sea and sunk.

Shipwreck

Photo by National Park Service

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Prince Island, a 40-acre island located within Cuyler Harbor, is the densest sea bird colony in southern California, with 11 different breeding species.

Prince Island, Cuyler Harbor

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

To preserve and protect the resources within the park, six species of sea birds, including the Cassin's aucklet, are monitored throughout the year by park biologists.

Seabird Monitoring

Photo by Brad Sillasen

The National Park Service's peregrine falcon restoration program helped to reestablish breeding pairs of this endangered species on San Miguel and other park islands.

Peregrine Falcon

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Visitors land by skiff along the two mile stretch of white sand beach within Cuyler Harbor.

Landing

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

Walking up Nidever Canyon from Cuyler Harbor, one can experience the recovery of native vegetation after nearly 120 years of grazing.

Nidever Canyon

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

National Park Service personnel are stationed here year-round to lead nature hikes and provide visitor and resources protection.

Ranger Station

Photo by Derek Lohuis, National Park Service

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San Miguel’s 600 archeological sites reveal occupation by American Indians back to 10,700 years before the present. The 1995 discovery of sea grass basketry and cordage fragments are the oldest to date on the Pacific coast.

Archeological Site

Photo by National Park Service

In 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo became the first European to explore the Channel Islands. A monument honoring him was erected above Cuyler Harbor in 1937.

Cabrillo Monument

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

Perched on the bluffs above Cuyler Harbor, windbreaks within the primitive campground offer some shelter from the strong northwesterly winds.

Campground

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

Once abundant throughout the Park's tidal regions, black abalone populations declined 99% between 1985 and 1990 due to a withering foot disease.

Black Abalone

Photo by Dan Richards

The immense size of pinniped and sea bird populations that use San Miguel and its surrounding offshore rocks, such as Castle Rock, for breeding, nesting, and resting, attests to the productive food webs within these offshore waters.

Castle Rock

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

castle rock, san miguel island timhaufphotography.com

Virtual Tour
View 360° photos of San Miguel Island.
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			Did You Know? Island foxes are the smallest North American canids and occur only on the Channel Islands. The average weight for an adult male is 5-6 pounds, about the size of a house cat. more...

Last Updated: September 02, 2011 at 17:30 MST