The Least Visited National Park In California Is Getting A Peaceful New Campground

California has more national parks than any other U.S. state. Nine of the country's 63 national parks can be found in the Golden State. Some of them, like Yosemite, are extremely popular. They attract millions of tourists each year, and there have been reports of massive crowds, traffic jams, and other problems associated with overtourism. Others, like Channel Islands National Park, aren't nearly as busy. If you're looking for peace and solitude in nature, Channel Island National Park is an ideal destination. And soon, there will be a brand new campground that visitors can enjoy during their trip to this underrated national park.

In 2025, only about 227,200 people visited Channel Islands National Park. It was the least visited national park in the state of California. It has been one of the least popular parks in the state for the past several years. It isn't for lack of natural beauty that Channel Islands National Park is less busy than other destinations on the west coast. The group of five islands that make up the park are rugged and beautiful. The scenery is pristine and untouched, but getting there isn't easy since you have to take a private boat or a ferry to the islands. Scoring one of the limited campsites available on the islands is challenging because they tend to book up well in advance.

Camping is the only overnight accommodation option within the national park, so visiting is too much effort for many travelers. For outdoor enthusiasts who love unspoiled natural beauty and prefer to avoid crowds whenever possible, the difficulty of reaching Channel Islands National Park is part of its draw. The new campground, Prisoners Harbor Campground, is opening in August of 2026 with six new campsites for nature-loving adventurers. 

Channel Islands National Park is made up of five different islands: San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa, and Santa Barbara. Including the area of the park that is located under the ocean, it encompasses about 249,354 acres. The islands are located off the coast of Southern California. There are campsites available on each of the islands, and they are open year-round. Prior to Prisoners Harbor Campground's official opening, there were only 66 campsites available, with an additional six sites for groups, across all of the islands.

Prisoners Harbor Campground will open on August 27, 2026. It's located on Santa Cruz Island and will have six campsites that can each accommodate four people. "For our park rangers, Prisoners Harbor Campground is one of those rare opportunities to create a new inspirational experience that will be here for generations to come," Channel Islands National Park Superintendent Ethan McKinley said in an announcement published on the National Park Service website. "It's a small, thoughtfully designed campground that's in tune with nature. Visitors will fall asleep listening to the gentle rhythm of cobblestones rolling in the surf."

"We're really excited about the new Prisoner's Harbor campground on Santa Cruz Island," Channel Islands National Park Foundation board member Michael Delaney said in the same press release. "It's set in a beautiful oak woodland nestled below Eagle Ridge," he added. It has been decades since a new campground was constructed in Channel Islands National Park, according to the National Park Service.

The only way to get to Channel Islands National Park is by taking a park concessionaire boat or via a private boat. Once you reach an island, you'll need to travel by foot. To travel from island to island a private boat is needed. Some visitors choose to kayak, but it is recommended to book a guided tour if you aren't an experienced paddler because it can be very strenuous. Santa Cruz Island is the largest of the five islands that make up Channel Islands National Park. The new campground is only a short 0.3-mile walk from Prisoners Harbor pier where travelers arrive.

Reservations for the campground opened on August 18, 2026. At the time of writing, there were still multiple campsites available on Recreation.gov on select dates in September and October. Each campsite costs just $15 per night, so if you're able to reserve one it can be a budget-friendly way to immerse yourself in California's stunning coastal scenery. The campsites are 8 feet by 20 feet so visitors are encouraged to use smaller tents and pack light. The sites have picnic tables and food storage areas. There are also vault toilets. Pets are not permitted within the national park.

Indigenous people inhabited Santa Cruz Island for more than 10,000 years. During your visit you can enjoy the island's rich history and see a jaw-dropping wildlife spectacle. There are over 600 different species of plants, 140 bird species, 11 mammal species, amphibians, and reptiles that live on the islands. Some species can only be found on the Channel Islands. There are multiple hiking trails for visitors to explore across the island. Santa Cruz Island is also home to one of the world's largest sea caves.