Sign: Becher's Bay Welcome Sign

Sign: Becher's Bay Welcome Sign

Quick Facts

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Information

Welcome to Becher's Bay on Santa Rosa Island, one of five islands in Channel Islands National Park. The park was established to protect, preserve, and enhance our understanding of the islands' unique past and remarkable resources.

Get Acquainted

Santa Rosa Island's relatively low profile is broken by a high, central mountain range, rising 1,574 feet. Below, lie rolling hills, deep canyons, a coastal lagoon, sheer cliffs, and sandy beaches. These landforms support a diverse array of plants and animals, including over 500 plants species, over 200 bird species, three mammal species, three species of pinnipeds, two amphibian species, and three reptile species. Many of these species have adapted to the isolated island environment and become endemic, including the island fox and six plant species that are found nowhere else in the world.

"Driftwood"
For thousands of years, the Chumash people inhabited Santa Rosa Island. They called it Wima, meaning "driftwood," because channel currents brought ashore logs from which they built tomols, plank canoes. Explorers, fishermen, ranchers, and the military would eventually follow. In 1980, the island was designated part of Channel Islands National Park. The island waters are protected by the park, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, and the State of California.

You Have a Role to Play
Everyone who visits this national park plays an important role in safeguarding the island plants, animals, cultural sites, and artifacts. Help protect your park by taking a moment to read the information provided here and follow up with actions that preserve the islands' fragile resources. For additional information on park regulations, safety, and things to do please refer to the park newspaper, brochure, and bulletins located in the brochure box below or visit www.nps.gov/chis.

Protect Yourself and Your Park
Everything is protected.
As in all national parks, it is illegal to feed, collect, disturb, or harm park wildlife, plant life, or other natural, historical, and archeological features.

Hike only on designated trails.
It is recommended that visitors use the designated island trail system. Although hiking off trail is permitted on Santa Rosa Island, anyone leaving the designated trail system should have experience in off-trail hiking and navigation. Visitors should stay back from cliffs and should not rock climb as the cliffs and rock faces are very unstable. Please refer to the hiking guide located in the brochure box for detailed information on island hiking.

Remove your garbage.
Visitors are required to pack out what they pack in, including garbage, and to secure their food and trash from birds and animals at all times.

No pets.
Domestic house pets can carry diseases that could harm the rare island fox or other animals that are unique to the island. Service animals require a permit from the park superintendent.

No campfires or charcoal fires.
Due to extreme fire danger, no campfires or charcoal fires are permitted on the island. Use only enclosed gas campstoves for cooking.

Smoking allowed only on beaches.
Please take cigarette butts off the islands with your other trash.

Firearms are prohibited in park facilities.
Federal law prohibits firearms in federal facilities.

Certain items are prohibited on the island.
To help prevent the introduction of nonnative species the following items may not be brought to the park: live or potted plants; soil; cut flowers; firewood or any untreated, unfinished wood (including hiking sticks); corrugated boxes; tools or equipment with attached soil; motorized vehicles; bicycles; and single-use plastic grocery bags.

No landing on offshore rocks.
Landing is not permitted on offshore rocks and islets. In addition, certain beaches are closed year round and seasonally to protect wildlife. Please refer to the park newspaper in the brochure box below for more information.

No fishing within Marine Reserves.
Marine Protected Areas, including Marine Reserves and Marine Conservation Areas, are found throughout the park, marine sanctuary, and state waters. Within these areas it is unlawful to injure, damage, take, or possess any living, geological, or cultural marine resource. Limited harvest is allowed in Marine Conservation areas.

Avoid contact with deer mice.
Hantavirus has been found in island deer mice. Contact your physician if you experience flu-like symptoms after contact with deer mice or infected materials. This is a life-threatening illness.

Be aware of boat departure times.
When departing the island, visitors are responsible for meeting the boat concessioner on time. Ask the ranger or concessioner for departure times.

Emergency Procedures

In an emergency on the islands, contact a ranger or concession employee. If a phone is available, contact the National Park Dispatch Center at 559-565- 4221. This dispatch center handles all emergencies, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for Channel Islands National Park. On the water, use a marine radio to contact the US Coast Guard on VHF Channel 16.

Things to Do

Santa Rosa Island is the perfect place for a variety of activities including hiking, camping, swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, fishing, and wildlife and wildflower viewing. Please refer to the park newspaper, brochure, Santa Rosa Island Hiking Guide, and the Santa Rosa Island Backcountry Camping Guide located in the brochure box for detailed information on all of these activities. For self-guided interpretive information on Santa Rosa Island, please refer to the Santa Rosa Island Interpretive Guide located in the box adjacent to this board. For detailed information about camping in the Water Canyon campground please see the back of this sign.