Santa Rosa Island
Channel Islands National Park — ocean access, fishing, hiking
Location: Ventura, CA, CA
Price: From $15 per night
Rating: 4.8 out of 5 (227 reviews)
Season: May through October
Tucked away in a canyon to protect visitors from strong northwest winds, Water Canyon Campground offers exceptional island views, access to spectacular hiking opportunities and a nearby white sand beach. Located 40 nautical miles from the Channel Islands National Park visitor center in Ventura, Santa Rosa is the second largest island in California at approximately 53,000 acres in size. The island landforms support a diverse array of plant and animal species including six plant species found nowh
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Restrooms, Camp Host, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/santa-rosa-island to be notified when sites open up.
Federal campground on Santa Rosa Island offers exceptional island views, access to spectacular hiking, and a nearby white sand beach. Google reviews consistently praise the campground's water access, well-maintained facilities, and unique island experience (4.8/5 from 95 reviews).
Wildlife alert: Santa Rosa Island Fox, Gray Whale, Island Fox, Allen's Hummingbird, Common Raven, Horned Lark, Island Fence Lizard
Insider tips for Santa Rosa Island: Book early — this is a federal campground with only 15 tent sites and high demand Boat transportation arranged through Island Packers from Ventura Harbor or air transportation through Channel Islands Aviation from Camarillo airport Multiple water spigots and restrooms available throughout campground
Skip Santa Rosa Island if: You need RV hookups — no hookups available at sites. You prefer year-round camping — seasonal operations May through October only. You're visiting outside May-October — campground closed.
Best time to visit Santa Rosa Island: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.
Nearby campgrounds: Santa Rosa Island Backcountry Beach Camping (Ventura, CA), San Miguel Island (Ventura, CA), Santa Cruz Del Norte Backcountry (Ventura, CA), Santa Cruz Scorpion (ventura, CA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Santa Rosa Island
Cell signal at Santa Rosa Island (Ventura, CA): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
Tucked away in a canyon to protect visitors from strong northwest winds, Water Canyon Campground offers exceptional island views, access to spectacular hiking opportunities and a nearby white sand beach. Located 40 nautical miles from the Channel Islands National Park visitor center in Ventura, Santa Rosa is the second largest island in California at approximately 53,000 acres in size. The island landforms support a diverse array of plant and animal species including six plant species found nowhere on earth but Santa Rosa Island.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
this is a federal campground with only 15 tent sites and high demand
Boat transportation arranged through Island Packers from Ventura Harbor or air transportation through Channel Islands Aviation from Camarillo airport
Multiple water spigots and restrooms available throughout campground
Campground operates seasonally May through October only
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
Boat transportation can be arranged with Island Packers from Ventura Harbor. Air transportation can be arranged with Channel Islands Aviation from Camarillo airport. To park headquarters in Ventura, California: Highway 101, exit Victoria or Seaward to Ventura Harbor.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Channel Islands National Park fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Channel Islands National Park before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Santa Rosa Island cost per night?+
What season is Santa Rosa Island open?+
Does Santa Rosa Island have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Santa Rosa Island?+
How do I make reservations at Santa Rosa Island?+
What is the cell service like at Santa Rosa Island?+
What season is Santa Rosa Island open, and what are check-in times?+
Official resources
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
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