Camping › California › San Miguel Island
San Miguel Island
38 mi southwest of Isla Vista, CA · No signal at camp
About San Miguel Island
Wind and weather constantly sweep across the North Pacific to batter the shores of this westernmost of all the islands. This extreme weather creates a harsh but profoundly beautiful environment. Although it can be challenging to reach the San Miguel Island Campground, it's always worth the effort. Perched on a plateau, the campground offers incredible island views and access to a variety of recreational activities and unique natural and cultural resources. Although a century's worth of sheep ranching and overgrazing caused scientists in 1875 to describe the island as "a barren lump of sand," with the grazing animals removed, vegetative recovery is in progress. Giant coreopsis, dudleya, locoweed, lupine, buckwheat, coastal sagebrush, and poppies are all recolonizing the island to their former extent, returning San Miguel to its more natural state. Also making a comeback, after years of…
- Managed by: Channel Islands National Park, NPS
- Where: 38 mi southwest of Isla Vista, CA · 34.0406, -120.34909
Things to do:
Official page for this camp (fees, closures, booking)
Weather by month
Typical daily highs and lows (°F), 1991–2020 NOAA normals. Best months: Jul–Nov (comfortable days, mild nights, little rain). Nights below freezing: None.
Fly over it in 3D, check today's weather and fire news, plan the drive and print a trip plan.
Good to know
No signal at camp
From the carriers' FCC coverage maps, which tend to be generous.The Milky Way shows rich detail, horizon to horizon.
Class 2 of 9, from NASA/NOAA night-light data.