17 SoCal hiking trails that are blooming with wildflowers (but probably not for long!)

Besides their brilliant aesthetic, the coreopsis also provide essential habitat for the world’s largest protected breeding colony of Western gulls, who descend onto Anacapa from April to June to fight over territory and build their nests under the canopy of flowers. (Unlike their mainland friends, these nesting seagulls tend to not be overly aggressive toward people. Just don’t leave your sandwich unattended.)

The hike: With only two miles of trails, it’s easy to traverse the whole island in a day. Once you climb the 157 stairs from the ferry landing, the paths are easy and mostly flat. From the landing cove, head toward the small cluster of historic buildings and explore the island’s history. Then, turn left and walk up to the lighthouse — the only one on the Channel Islands, complete with a working foghorn — before hiking back toward the visitor center to start the loop trail. As you hike, you can watch the harbor seals and sea lions playing in the surf and basking on the rocks at Pinniped Point and Cathedral Cove. At Inspiration Point, on the western tip of the island, the views are some of the best in the Channel Islands, looking out across Anacapa’s two smaller islands and the larger Santa Cruz Island.

To get to Anacapa, you’ll need to take a ferry, operated by Island Packers, from either Ventura or Oxnard to the island. The round-trip rate for a day trip on the ferry is $63; there are no additional park entry or parking fees. Ferries run several times a week. Bring plenty of water, as there is no drinking water available on Anacapa.