Where to See California Sea Lion in Channel Islands National Park

Sighting map

California Sea Lion sightings in Channel Islands

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Where California Sea Lion has been reported, from 364 sightings. Not a live tracker: animals move, and an empty area doesn’t mean there are none.

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Timing

When to look

12 AM2% of the busiest hour1 AM2% of the busiest hour2 AM1% of the busiest hour3 AM1% of the busiest hour4 AM3% of the busiest hour5 AM16% of the busiest hour6 AM58% of the busiest hour7 AM74% of the busiest hour8 AM84% of the busiest hour9 AM89% of the busiest hour10 AM95% of the busiest hour11 AM97% of the busiest hourNoonBusiest hour1 PMBusiest hour2 PM97% of the busiest hour3 PM95% of the busiest hour4 PM89% of the busiest hour5 PM84% of the busiest hour6 PM79% of the busiest hour7 PM68% of the busiest hour8 PM32% of the busiest hour9 PM16% of the busiest hour10 PM8% of the busiest hour11 PM5% of the busiest hour

California Sea Lion is most seen 9 AM–5 PM. Bars compare each hour with the busiest one.

California Sea Lion sightings by hour, as a share of the busiest hour
Hour	Share of busiest hour
12 AM	2%
1 AM	2%
2 AM	1%
3 AM	1%
4 AM	3%
5 AM	16%
6 AM	58%
7 AM	74%
8 AM	84%
9 AM	89%
10 AM	95%
11 AM	97%
Noon	100%
1 PM	100%
2 PM	97%
3 PM	95%
4 PM	89%
5 PM	84%
6 PM	79%
7 PM	68%
8 PM	32%
9 PM	16%
10 PM	8%
11 PM	5%

Where to look

Channel Islands spots that mention California Sea Lion

Compare with the sightings

Places and trails whose Parkwolf guides talk about California Sea Lion. A good start, never a guarantee.

Places

SightPoint BennettRemote rookery with thousands of seals and sea lions

SightPotato Harbor OverlookClifftop window onto a turquoise, potato-shaped cove

CampgroundSanta Barbara Island CampgroundBluff-top primitive sites with ocean panoramas and prolific seabirds

Trails

EasyInspiration Point Trail1.5 mi · 1.3 hrEasy 1.5-mile loop from the Anacapa visitor center to the park's signature ocean overlook.

ChallengingLobo Canyon Trail9.6 mi · 6 hrSculpted sandstone canyon to a wild, lonely Santa Rosa coast

EasySea Lion Rookery Trail2 mi · 1 hrExposed 2-mile round trip to a sea lion overlook

ChallengingElephant Seal Cove Trail3.4 mi · 2.2 hrStrenuous Santa Barbara Island walk from Landing Cove to an Elephant Seal Cove overlook above volcanic sea cliffs and Shag Rock

EasyLighthouse Overlook Trail0.5 mi · 30 minShort, easy walk to classic lighthouse views over sea cliffs

ModerateHarris Point Trail6.2 mi · 3.5 hrRanger-led bluff hike to Lester Point above Simonton Cove

EasyAnacapa Island Loop Trail2.3 mi · 1.5 hrFull figure-eight walk across East Anacapa to Inspiration Point, Cathedral Cove, Pinniped Point, and the historic lighthouse

Wolf sightings in Yellowstone on Parkwolf’s Find Wildlife map, brightest around Lamar Valley — Wolf sightings in Yellowstone, in the app

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Wildlife

More wildlife in Channel Islands

All 16 sighting maps

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282 sightingsHumpback WhaleMegaptera novaeangliaeMost seen 8–11 AMSighting map

79 sightingsBlue WhaleBalaenoptera musculusMost seen 6–10 AMSighting map

101 sightingsGrey WhaleEschrichtius robustusMost seen 7–10 AMSighting map

105 sightingsBald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusMost seen 8–10 AM & 4–7 PMSighting map

149 sightingsNorthern Elephant SealMirounga angustirostrisMost seen 9 AM–5 PMSighting map

702 sightingsCommon DolphinDelphinus delphisMost seen 10 AM–3 PM & 4–7 PMSighting map

126 sightingsBottlenose DolphinTursiops truncatusMost seen 9 AM–4 PMSighting map

Where to see California Sea Lion in Channel Islands