Parking
There is no driving or parking on Santa Barbara Island. Arrive by authorized boat service at Landing Cove, then follow the approach to the visitor center and the Arch Point trail.
Overview
About Arch Point Trail
Arch Point Trail is a moderate 1.0-mile round-trip out-and-back on Santa Barbara Island. Starting near the island's visitor center, the route follows the Arch Point Loop Trail north to Arch Point and returns along the same corridor. The walk is short but fully exposed, with uneven footing and cliff edges.
Why go
- Coastal views and wildflowers in season
- Short route to Santa Barbara Island's wave-carved Arch Point
Heads up
- Fully exposed to wind and sun with no shade
- Cliff edges and uneven footing require attention
A short, high-reward island walk to a dramatic coastal landmark, with broad views and seasonal wildflowers.
Parkwolf’s verdictBottom LineMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Channel Islands map
Full mapElevation33–207 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
3 active Channel Islands alerts
- ClosureSanta Barbara Island dock closed; landings restrictedMentions Santa Barbara Island, referenced in this guideThe Santa Barbara Island dock is closed; landings are restricted to the adjacent rocky ledge. - Severe winter storm damage caused the closure, and repairs are not expected in the near future.Official details
- ClosureSanta Rosa Island wildfire-recovery closuresAvoid closed routes and shorelines on Santa Rosa Island during recovery from the 2026 wildfire.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Channel Islands Tour Guide
Your drive to Arch Point Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Channel Islands National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Channel Islands audio tourRecorded for this area
Santa Barbara Island's Bluff-Top CampgroundListen
“Up ahead is the Santa Barbara Island Campground, perched on the bluff. It's a steep, quarter-mile walk up from the landing, but your reward is a front-row seat to some incredible ocean views and wildlife.”
Plays near this trailhead in the Parkwolf Channel Islands Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Santa Barbara Island: Small, Remote, and Wild
- Signal Peak: The Highest Point on Santa Barbara Island
- 47 audio storiesacross Channel Islands’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Island Fox, Humpback Whale, Blue Whale, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 31 trails, 49 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Arch Point Trail
What You'll SeeThe route leads to coastal views and the wave-carved Arch Point, with wildflowers in season.
The route leads to coastal views and the wave-carved Arch Point, with wildflowers in season. The open island setting also provides views of rocky shoreline and seabirds. Stay on the designated trail to protect fragile vegetation and nesting birds.
Access and RouteThe visitor route begins near the Santa Barbara Island visitor center after the approach from…
The visitor route begins near the Santa Barbara Island visitor center after the approach from Landing Cove. There is no driving or parking on the island; visitors arrive by authorized boat service. The stored line represents the one-way visitor-center-to-Arch-Point corridor, while the listed 1.0 miles is the total round-trip distance.
Tips and SafetyBring water and sun protection.
Bring water and sun protection. Wind and sun can be strong, there is no shade, and the bluff edges require attention. Stay behind marked boundaries, keep to the trail, and allow enough time to return for the boat departure.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Channel Islands
2,232 sightingsIsland FoxMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
282 sightingsHumpback WhaleMost seen around 9 AMSighting map
79 sightingsBlue WhaleMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
101 sightingsGrey WhaleMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
364 sightingsCalifornia Sea LionMost seen around noonSighting map
105 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 5 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Channel Islands. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
