Maps & Route Descriptions

The Santa Barbara Channel is located off the coast of Southern California near Santa Barbara and Los Angeles. Specific routes are described below the maps. Click on the maps to download larger pdf files.

Santa Barbara Channel Islands

The Northern Four Islands

• Anacapa Island to Oxnard (12.4 sm, 10.8 nm, 20.0 km)
  (East edge of Anacapa to Silver Strand in Oxnard below Channel Islands Harbor)
  This is the shortest crossing to the coast from any of the Channel Islands. In general, the wind and water temperature can be slightly more favorable than the longer mid channel swims. There can be significant adverse current around the end of Anacapa (running north or south) and along the coast near Channel Islands Harbor (running west). The tides should be factored into the start time to minimize this effect.
• Santa Cruz Island to Oxnard (19.0 sm, 16.5 nm, 30.6 km)
  (San Pedro Point to Silver Strand in Oxnard below Channel Islands Harbor)
  The conditions for this swim are similar to those of the Anacapa crossing. The tides should be taken into account since there are strong currents around the San Pedro Point (running North or South) which is the start point on Santa Cruz Island. On a rare good day, this swim can be completed with not too much difficulty.
• Santa Cruz Island to Santa Barbara (23.5 sm, 20.4 nm, 44.3 km)
  (Frys Harbor to Santa Barbara Lighthouse)
  This swim route is (unfavorably) perpendicular to the predominant wind direction. Several swimmers have started at Cueva Valdez, which is a little farther west and slightly longer, but it allows for more drift to the east from the wind. The effect of “windy lane” can be stronger here. Currents have not been a major factor in the swims from here. We have seen a little east-west current in the channel, but nothing real significant. The wind and swell is more of a concern in this swim.
• Santa Rosa Island to Isla Vista (27.5 sm, 23.9 nm, 44.3 km)
  (Carrington Point to Coal Point)
  This crossing is long and, as has been mentioned before, the winds and water temperature get rapidly stronger and colder as you move west in the channel. Overall is harder to get good conditions with a swim from Santa Rosa. We have had fairly reliable conditions in our other swims but it is not the case with Santa Rosa. It appears there is some current running around Carrington Point at the start, if there is a large tide.
• San Miguel Island to Point Conception (25.9 sm, 22.5 sm, 41.7 km)
  (Nifty Point to Point Conception)
  This swim is extremely difficult to the winds, cold water and strong currents not to mention the distance. The shortest route is to aim directly toward the east side of Pt Conception, but it might be wise to play the currents and go east. This island is similar to Santa Barbara in that they both have very large seal populations.

The Southern Three Islands

• San Nicolas Island to Laguna Point (61.2 sm, 53.2 nm, 98.5 km)
  (San Nicolas Island to Laguna Point, which is 2.7 miles west of Point Mugu)
  This swim has never been done. Although Laguna Point is closer, our recommendation is to swim past the south side of Santa Barbara Island and finish at Point Vicente, a distance of 69.3 miles. This swim could go down as the greatest marathon swim in history if someone is successful. There has never been an attempt of this island.
• Santa Barbara Island to Malibu (37.7 sm, 32.8 nm, 60.7 km)
  (Arch Point to Point Dume)
  Although Point Dume is closer, the currents favor going to Point Vicente and finishing on the same beach/rocks as Catalina Island swims. The swim is 2.3 statutes miles longer going to Point Vicente (a total of 40.0 miles), but the time to complete the swim will be far less. The first half of the swim will generally be in rough water and wind. Once the swimmer is past Catalina, they may encounter the same good conditions which have been a trademark of many Catalina Island swims.
• San Clemente Island to Huntington Beach (54.4 sm, 47.3 nm, 87.6 km)
  (East of Northwest Harbor at the north end of the island to Huntington Beach State Park)
  There are several options with this swim. The shortest route would be to swim from the northern end of the island, heading north around the west end of Santa Catalina Island.  This route would likely encounter strong currents around the western edge of Santa Catalina Island.  The most obvious route (and the one depicted on the map) would be to swim directly to Huntington Beach from the northern tip of the island. This may not be the best option as the currents approaching Catalina Island are extremely strong. It might be better to leave off the south end of the island and aim toward northern San Diego County. There has been only one successful relay off this island so there is little data to reference at this point. This is a swim where you need to allow for 6-10 hours beyond your expectations due to the head currents.

Note that the distances identified on these Maps and Route Descriptions represent the shortest distances between any given island and the mainland. The distances recorded in the Swim Successes may not always be in agreement with the Maps and Route Descriptions, because individual swims may have been undertaken along routes that  do not represent the shortest distance between a given island and  the mainland. Distances are noted in statute miles (sm) on the maps, in statute miles and kilometers (km) on the Swim Successes, and in statute miles, nautical miles (nm) and kilometers in the Route Descriptions.