Anacapa Island
Anacapa Island Kayaking And Standup Paddle Boarding (SUP) - Channel Islands National Park - California
California's Anacapa Island in Channel Islands National Park consists of three Islets - East Anacapa, Middle Anacapa, and West Anacapa Islands. At a very high tide, shallow water passes between all three islets. At low tide, the land between Middle and East Anacapa is out of the water.
Anacapa Island is very beautiful and provides some spectacular paddling and excellent snorkeling.
Kayaking and standup paddleboarding (SUP) are excellent ways to see the beautiful island. However, since the channel crossing to get to the islands is 11 miles and crosses major shipping lanes, I don’t recommend paddling from the mainland to Anacapa.
Anacapa circumnavigation - I have kayaked all the way around Anacapa Island (all the islets) in one day – about 15 miles. When you kayak around Anacapa, there are quite a few small beaches that you can often land on. You can often do some excellent snorkeling off of a kayak or SUP.
Kayaks and standup paddle boards can be stowed on landing dock – a cement dock accessed by a long metal ladder and about 10 to 15 feet above water depending on the tide.
There is a hoist to lower kayaks to the water. I suggest bringing a long rope in case the hoist is broken. I used my own long rope to lower and lift my kayak. You must climb down the long metal ladder to get to your kayak.
You can camp on Anacapa Island (fee). There is no water on Anacapa Island so you must bring your own. To get to the campground, you must climb the 10 to 15 foot ladder to the dock. You must then climb 157 stairs to the top of the cliff. The distance from the landing to the campground is one-half mile and includes the 157-stair climb. You must carry your camping gear to the campground, but leave your kayak on the dock in the landing cove.
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Here is the link for transport to the islands in Channel Islands National Park.
Here is a link for the Tides and Marine Forecast for the Channel Islands
Here is the Channel Islands National Park Link for Anacapa Island
Go to Dave's Anacapa Island section of his Channel Islands web page.
Here is a map link to Anacapa Island by the landing cove.
Here are pictures of our Anacapa circumnavigation trip paddling all the way around Anacapa Island (all the islets) in one day – about 15 miles. We had a perfect day for this paddle. All of the following pictures were taken in August. We started in the morning from the landing cove at about 8am and there was a light east wind (tail wind) as we paddled.
Anacapa Island Cathedral Cove - just around the point from landing cove near the beginning of our paddle.
Anacapa Island Sea Cave Kayaking - Cathedral Cove.
Anacapa Island Kayaking - pocket beach near Frenchy's Cove on the North side of island. In the summer, the North side of the Island normally has no surf so you can easily land at pocket beaches (more pocket beaches are available at lower tides) . In the winter, a North or Northwest swell will sometimes wrap around the island creating some surf. The South side of the island is more exposed to surf and swell.
West Anacapa Island - Kayaking near the West end of West Anacapa Island. When we reached the west end of the island, the wind was just beginning to shift and blow lightly from the west. We then also had a tail wind heading East along the South side of the island.
Anacapa Island Kayaking - West Anacapa on South West side - just after rounding the west tip of the island.
Anacapa Island Kayaking - Pocket beach on South side of island. The South side of the island is more exposed to surf and swell. Some of the pocket beaches along the South side of the island had some surf on the day we paddled here.
Anacapa Island South Side.
Anacapa Island Kayaking - South side of island paddling East. We enjoyed a tail wind for almost the entire paddle! The normal prevailing winds here generally begin still or from the East in the morning and then switch to blow from the west in the mid morning or afternoon. The wind pattern can vary depending on the time of year and the weather that is occurring on the day you paddle.
Anacapa Island Kayaking - South side of island by inlet between Middle Anacapa Island and East Anacapa Island.
Anacapa Island - South side of East Anacapa Island approching the East end of island.
Anacapa Island - Anacapa Arch Rock
Anacapa Island - Anacapa Arch Rock Kayaking
Anacapa Island - Anacapa Arch Rock Kayaking - Kayaks under the arch. We also paddled through the arch on this day.
After paddling through Arch Rock, it's about 1,000 feet (less than 1/4 mile) back to the dock at the landing cove. This was the only section of the paddle where we had a head wind to paddle against.
I have a web page with map link and more information about Arch Rock on Anacapa Island.
East Anacapa Island Light House near where we camped.
Anacapa Island - looking from East Anacapa Island towards Middle and West Anacapa near where we camped.
Getting You And Your Kayak or SUP To Anacapa Island
When we camped and kayaked on Anacapa Island, Island Packers transported our kayak and us. Island Packers can transport you and your kayak or SUP. Here is the link for transport to the islands in Channel Islands National Park.
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