Discover the Wonders: Top 15 Fun Facts About Channel Islands National Park You Didn't Know

1. Arlington Man's Ancient Ancestry

Before Ancestry.com and 23andMe made genealogy all the rage, the Channel Islands held a little secret about our collective family tree: Santa Rosa Island, located in Channel Islands National Park, is home to the oldest known human remains found in North America, dating back over 13,000 years ago. Arlington Man was discovered on the island and the site is a significant archaeological and cultural resource for the park.
Source => nps.gov

2. Furry VIPs: Exclusive Mammal Species

Step aside, Noah's Ark: The Channel Islands National Park has its own exclusive set of furry VIPs! Channel Islands National Park is home to four mammal species found nowhere else in the world: the Channel Island fox, the island spotted skunk, the Santa Cruz island deer mouse, and the San Miguel island kangaroo rat.
Source => us-parks.com

Discover the thrilling "Subway" adventure in Zion National Park where Jurassic Park meets the Polar Express – without the dinosaurs or train! Prepare for a challenging 9-mile round-trip journey through water and boulders that's worth the "ticket" for nature lovers! 🏞️💦🎢

=> Fun Facts about Zion-National-Park

3. Pelicans' Five-Star Resort

It may not be the Ritz-Carlton, but it seems these fancy birds have exclusive dibs on their very own five-star resort: Channel Islands National Park is the only place in the western United States that boasts the breeding colonies of California brown pelicans. Thanks to the park’s swanky accommodations and top-notch management, our feathered friends got the chance to say "ta-ta" to their unfortunate endangered status in 2009, all while they party in their luxury habitat.
Source => nps.gov

4. Strict "No Fido" Policy

Psst, did you hear that Channel Islands National Park has a strict "No Fido" policy? We're talking a prohibition so intense that even Blackbeard would say, "Arr! That's a pet paparazzi!" But fear ye not, service sealords and first mates: Official, vaccinated service animals can visit the park, ensuring that neither the legendary island fox nor her band of curious critters encounter any pesky, disease-carrying domestic pets. So next time you're adventuring, be sure to leave your pet parrot at home and set sail with your service animal, or better yet, go solo and get your "Ahoy!" on with the park's native wildlife and stunning vistas!
Source => nps.gov

5. Nemo and Dory's Safe Haven

If you're seeking an underwater refuge where Nemo and Dory can thrive in peace, look no further than the Channel Islands National Park: This watery wonderland boasts one of the largest networks of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in California, covering 21% of the park and sanctuary's waters, safeguarding habitats and ecosystems, maintaining sustainable fisheries, and offering recreational, educational, and spiritual experiences with minimal human impact. Just keep swimming – but leave the fishing rod at home!
Source => nps.gov

6. Eco-Friendly Power Ranger Park

You might say the Channel Islands National Park is a real "power ranger" among its National Park Service brethren: it primarily relies on 10-kW wind turbines and solar PV arrays for energy, significantly reducing its dependence on diesel generators and fuel transportation, cementing its eco-friendly status in the NPS Go Green initiative.
Source => energy.gov

7. Primitive Glamping Adventures

Ready for the ultimate "glam-ping" experience, where you can literally "rise" above scenic harbors and rugged canyons? Well, at Channel Islands National Park, it's all about getting back to basics: Camp year-round on five distinct islands, each with its own unique campground location like Cuyler Harbor on San Miguel and Scorpion Canyon on Santa Cruz. Be sure to secure transportation through concessionaire boats or planes and make advanced reservations for this primitive camping adventure. Oh, and don't forget to pack sturdy gear, layered clothing, and water – it's survival mode, glampers! Plus, adhere to strict animal and fire safety guidelines on the islands for an unforgettable natural escape.
Source => nps.gov

8. Ice Age's Pygmy Mammoths

Mammoths hitting the shrink ray? Not quite, but something fascinating happened on the Channel Islands: During the last Ice Age, the sea level was 400 feet lower, connecting the northern islands into a mega-island called 'Santa Rosae,' where Columbian mammoths famously swam and later evolved into adorable pygmy mammoths due to isolation and limited food supplies. Talk about island life downsizing!
Source => nps.gov

9. Biodiversity Haven and Foxy Friends

Who let the foxes out – on an island? Mother Nature, that's who: Channel Islands National Park is home to over 2,000 unique plant and animal species, many exclusive to this park; including island foxes, spotted skunks, rare seabirds, and marine mammals, making it a biodiversity haven for wildlife aficionados.
Source => weatherspark.com

10. Underwater Kelp Forest Parties

If you ever visit Channel Islands National Park, keep an eye out for the unusual underwater forest parties, where the guests are slippery California moray eels and the bouncers are spiny lobsters: The park is home to thriving kelp forests, with over 1,000 species of marine plants and animals supported by the largest species of them all, the giant kelp. This ecosystem not only serves as a hotspot for aquatic social gatherings but also bolsters commercial and recreational fisheries, adding even more reasons to protect and appreciate these wild aquatic wonderlands.
Source => nps.gov

11. Whale of a Time Celebration

Get ready to have a whale of a time and cetacean-celebration, because Channel Islands National Park is the ultimate party spot for blubbery buddies and fin-tastic friends: In fact, nearly one-third of global cetacean species, including various whales and dolphins, can be spotted frolicking in the waters of the Santa Barbara Channel – a sight you can enjoy on a whale watching tour offered by Island Packers or other operators in neighboring harbors.
Source => nps.gov

12. Socially-Distanced Nirvana

In a year that left many clamoring for some Vitamin Sea, visitors to Channel Islands National Park found a socially-distanced nirvana to buoy their spirits: Despite pandemic restrictions, the park welcomed over 167,000 visitors in 2020, with San Miguel Island and Prisoners Harbor at Santa Cruz Island nearly doubling their visits from the previous year, and a 50% increase for Santa Rosa Island – although overall visitation did ebb by 59%.
Source => nps.gov

13. Chumash Cash Cow Canoes

Who said money doesn't grow on trees? The Chumash people clearly didn't think so, because they were busy paddling their cash cow canoes all over the Channel Islands: The Chumash traded in "achum," or shell bead money made of olivella shells from the islands, and navigated using tomols – redwood plank canoes bound together with plant-based glue and cords. Today, the Chumash Maritime Association continues this paddlin' legacy by partnering with the Channel Islands National Park in traditional tomol crossings.
Source => nps.gov

14. Miniature Woolly Elephants

Where Woolly Elephants Wandered in Miniature: Channel Islands National Park houses the world's most extensive collection of pygmy mammoth fossils, discovered on Santa Rosa Island in 1994, and unique to these California islands.
Source => nps.gov

15. "The Big Plant Theory" Sitcom

If the Channel Islands National Park were a sitcom, it'd be called "The Big Plant Theory": With about 790 plant taxa sharing the stage, 578 natives and 205 non-native species co-star in this botanic comedy, creating diverse vegetation communities that will leave your sides splitting and your inner naturalist educated.
Source => nps.gov