This local (to my location) airport is not listed in any Airport search on this site, so I am giving just a very general description and history of it.

Santa Cruz Island was the largest privately owned island off the continental United States, (mainly owned by the late resident rancher/sportsman Dr. Cary Stanton, M.D.) but is currently part-owned by the National Park Service and the rest owned by the Nature Conservancy. The National Park Service owns 24%, and the Nature Conservancy owns 76% of the land. The island, located off the coast of Southern California 18 miles from Oxnard's Channel Islands Harbor in Ventura County to it's eastern end, is 22 miles long and from two to 6 miles wide. It is part of the northern group of the Channel Islands of California, and at 61,764.6 acres is the largest of the eight islands of the chain. During World War II there were some military surveillance early warning facilities still somewhat visible remains on the south side of the island. Santa Cruz Island is just west of Anacapa Islands.

I am remiss if not mentioning the Gherini family from France owned and occupied over generations the eastern part of Santa Cruz Island where they planted vines and built a winery, some rough roads and a dock. Their land was purchased by the National Park Service for a National Park. Outcries for further island planned development including a resort destination hotel led to the later purchase of the rest of the island from the Stanton interest by the Nature Conservancy to preserve its wild state. Annual landing permits are required of boaters. A Gherini family member who I've met still lives in Oxnard, California on the nearest continental coast.

Roughly stretching from the southeast to the northwest, these channel islands are San Clemente Island northwest of San Diego, Santa Catalina Island, San Nicholas Island, the isolated Santa Barbara Island, Anacapa Islands just 11 miles off the California coast, Santa Cruz Island, Santa Rosa Island and San Miguel Island south of Point Conception.

Santa Cruz Island is located within Santa Barbara County for Sheriff's law enforcement. A (nearest) US Coast Guard station is located at Oxnard's Channel Islands Harbor-11 miles to Anacapa Islands and also another USCG station is at Santa Barbara Harbor. The nearest USCG search and rescue flight support is at US Coast Guard Station Long Beach, California. Defined by the U S Census Bureau as block 3000, Census tract 29.10 of Santa Barbara County, the year 2000 census showed an official population of two persons.

The coastline of Santa Cruz Island has steep cliffs, gigantic sea caves capable of boat trips within-(I've been there, done that in one of my boats), coves and sandy beaches. The whole of the Channel Islands are a boater's and fishing paradise, with some Federal Marine Reserves for species protection. Santa Cruz Island is mountainous with highest peak Devils Peak at 2,450+ feet. A central valley splits the island along the Santa Cruz Island Fault, with volcanic rock on the north and older sedimentary rock on the south. Dr. Stanton had a private rudimentary ranch dirt aircraft landing strip in this central valley. Incidentally, Santa Cruz Island is the only place in the world where the Island Scrub Jay bird is found. Unusual!

Now, a landing strip KSZN in the National Park Service portion of the island is dirt-surfaced 09/27 of 2,151' by 50' wide and runs roughly parallel with the coastline, and is served by Channel Islands Aviation from KCMA on an NPS exclusive contract to bring day visitors to the island. Outside of law enforcement needs, that is the only permitted aircraft service to my knowledge. The airstrip is private and trespassers are prosecuted. The NPS has established a minimal 2,000 feet above ground level flight clearance over the island. So, you would have to clear Devil's Peak at or above 4,450+ feet altitude to remain legal there.

If you want to personally fly to and land at one of these Channel Islands, only Santa Catalina Island has a possibly available, but private civil airport constructed by shaving two mountain tops and using the fill in the valley to make a smooth landing surface. Avalon's private airport KAVK 6.4 miles NW of village of Avalon is only for experienced pilot's because of the topography (gradients at each end of the 3,000 foot paved fair condition runway and deceptive sight-lines-you are landing on a mesa with sharp drop-offs). Use of KAVK requires approval through Unicom prior to landing or takeoff and only when attended.

The San Nicholas Island strip KSNI and San Clemente Island are controlled by the US Navy with work installations, and are off limits to others except civilian employees using a personnel contracted shuttle aircraft. I landed just once on KSNI in a U S Navy Douglas A-3 Skywarrior aircraft from Point Mugu when I worked there in Flight Test Division. My seat was just behind the USN pilot's, coming from and returning to Point Mugu's airport.

Channel Islands Aviation, Cessna dealer since 1976 at Camarillo KCMA Airport uses two twin engine Britten-Norman Islander aircraft for day trip tours and other support to Santa Cruz Island. Please contact them at (805) 987-1301 for further information.

For Santa Cruz Island Information and Access: The Nature Conservancy

213 Stearn's Wharf, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. (805) 898-1642.

For more extensive information please get the free substantial colored brochure "Protecting your Channel Islands" that covers the islands that makeup the "Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary & National Park" at either Santa Barbara Harbor or at Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard, California. (The islands that are US Naval property are not covered in these extensive brochures).