San Miguel Island Hiking

All hikes on San Miguel are ranger led. However, on a typical 4 day trip, the ranger will take you out to Point Bennett which is a 16 mile round trip hike, Lester Point which is a 5 mile round trip hike and Cardwell point which is a 6 mile round trip hike. The last is highly recommend for close views of the elephant seals and sea lion population. Here is a trail map courtesy of Island Packers. The temperature fluctuates a great deal - when you set out in the morning its foggy, windy and cold and in the afternoon it is quite hot as the sun comes out. Dress in layers and carry a hat and plenty of water. Here is a gear check list.

Places you can explore without a ranger are the trail between the camground and Cuyler harbor, the short distance to the ranger station and the cross signifying the monument to the Spanish explorer, Juan Cabrillo who visited the islands in the 16th century when the Chumash were already settled here.

  

Cuyler Harbor from the Lester Point trail                                                    Palm trees and seals on the Cuyler Harbor beach

   

Ghostly caliche forests - probably a view of the last ice age                    Some of the flowers along the hike

 

More flowers                                                                                 Hiking from the Research station to the seals which are in the background

 

A peregrine falcon                                                                                                I guess we must have disturbed him

On the trail


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