Parking
No vehicle parking on Santa Barbara Island. Arrive by boat at Landing Cove; bring all food and water, and follow the route from the visitor center/campground.
Overview
About Sea Lion Rookery Trail
From the Landing Cove visitor center on Santa Barbara Island, this moderate out-and-back follows the established island trail south for about 1 mile to the Sea Lion Rookery overlook, then returns the same way for about 2 miles round trip. The approach climbs from the landing area onto the marine terrace before crossing open, exposed terrain to the overlook.
Why go
- Designated overlook offers close views of California sea lions from above
- Open route is easy to follow after the Landing Cove climb
Heads up
- Highly exposed to wind and sun with little or no shade or water
- Boat access, cliff edges, and seasonal nesting closures require careful planning
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Channel Islands map
Full mapElevation112–420 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 Sea Lion Rookery 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 trailhead
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 as you drive up to 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 Sea Lion Rookery Trail
What You’ll SeeFrom the designated overlook, look down toward California sea lions on the rocky coast, with…
From the designated overlook, look down toward California sea lions on the rocky coast, with broad Pacific views and seabirds around the island’s cliffs. The overlook is above the rookery; this is a wildlife-viewing route, not a beach or shoreline-access trail.
Trail FeelThe route is open, windswept, and easy to follow once you reach the top of the landing-cove…
The route is open, windswept, and easy to follow once you reach the top of the landing-cove climb. Expect natural dirt and rock, some steps, little to no shade, and exposed cliff edges. Stay behind marked viewing boundaries and keep to the designated trail.
Planning & SafetyVisitors reach the trailhead by boat at Landing Cove; there is no vehicle parking, water, or…
Visitors reach the trailhead by boat at Landing Cove; there is no vehicle parking, water, or other visitor service on the island, so bring everything you need and meet the boat on time. The initial climb from the dock gains about 200 feet over roughly a quarter mile. Stay on the designated trail to protect fragile vegetation and nesting seabirds; portions may close when pelicans are nesting from January through August. Pets are not allowed in the park.
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.
