This 83 square mile island located just off our coast (the largest of the 5 Channel Islands Islands open to the public) was purchased by the National Park Service 25 years ago for $30 million.  As of today it is completely open to the public year round.  Although Santa Cruz is larger, most of it is owned by the Nature Conservancy, where visitors are not allowed.

The island was purchased from  the Vail and Vickers cattle company 1986.  For twenty five years the island has been closed for half of the year while the cattle company continued it’s cattle and elk trophy hunting operation.

Above the crescent moon beach at Becher’s Bay is a patch of Torrey pines that is found only one other place in the world.  Island foxes and bald eagles call this island home

For more information including how to get to the island go to:

http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/dec/31/santa-rosa-island-completely-open-to-public/