Found Only Here. Visit The Torrey Pines Grove.

Santa Rosa Island is one of only two places that Torrey Pines exist in the world! This extremely rare species of pine trees are found only on this island and in San Diego. At 26-56 ft tall, standing alone on this isolated patch of coast, the Torrey Pines are magnificent in scale. Exposure to the elements have twisted these trees into beautiful shapes that spark the imagination and provide incredible photographic opportunities.

#1 Cherry Canyon Botany Walk with Steve Junak

• An easy guided nature walk of Cherry Canyon.

• Will include frequent stops to view plants.

• Route Planned: From Historical Ranch to Cherry Canyon Loop

• Total Distance Covered: 2.2 mile round trip loop

Steve Junak is an active researcher and expert on the flora of the islands of California and Baja California, Mexico. Steve earned a master’s degree in botany, has led field trips for more than 25 years, and has co-authored several books about the Channel Islands, including “A Flora of San Nicolas Island, California” and “A Flora of Santa Cruz Island.”

#2 Cherry Canyon Hike with Outdoor Guide Greg Giloth & John Ziegler

Long-time Channel Islands Restoration Volunteer Greg Giloth and CIR’s Marketing Manager, John Ziegler

• A guided nature hike of Cherry Canyon.

• Allotted time allows for free time at Water Canyon Beach.

• Route Planned: From Historical Ranch to Cherry Canyon Loop

• Total Distance Covered: 3.5 mile round trip

Greg Giloth has co-led or participated in dozens of group excursions to the Channel Island and wild backcountry of Santa Barbara County. He has hiked, backpacked, and imparted information about the local wilderness to hundreds of volunteers and community members. He will be leading a hike in Cherry Canyon that will include time to explore Water Canyon Beach and the island ranch.

John Ziegler is Channel Islands Restoration’s Marketing Manager, with over 20 years of experience in marketing, developing websites, and graphics. John is a volunteer wilderness ranger with the Los Padres National Forest and has volunteered with the Los Padres Forest Association for 14 years. He is an avid backpacker and outdoor enthusiast.

#3 Torrey Pines Hike with Ecologist Lauren Harris Guide & Caleb Stumberg

• A quick hike to the Torrey Pines Grove.

• For experienced hikers only, limited spots.

• Route Planned: Along East Point Road To Torrey Pines Loop Clockwise

• Total Distance Covered: 6.5

Lauren Harris earned her Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Evolution with Distinction in the Major from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) in 2021. Here, Lauren worked in the UCSB Biology Greenhouse caring for plant collections, and interned in the D’Antonio VegLab researching wildfire germination cues for chaparral species. It was during these experiences that her interests shifted from plants broadly to California native plants, leading her to apply to the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management to be a force for conserving California’s natural landscapes and vegetation.

As the Staff Ecologist for Channel Islands Restoration, Lauren is eager to leverage her experience in research to identify and employ best management practices for the preservation of local vegetation and ecosystems.

Caleb, a newly elected CIR Board member, has appreciated and enjoyed the outdoors since he was a kid; hiking was often a family activity for Caleb growing up in Montana and is still one of his favorite ways to spend his time. Since moving to California in 2019, Caleb has fallen in love with the Channel Islands and the pristine nature they have to offer while hiking across their varied landscapes. He is fascinated with their ecosystems and is a big reason why he loves working with CIR, and why he is excited to be leading a hike to the Torrey Pines on Santa Rosa Island. He looks forward to the adventure!

#4 Complete Coastal Walk with Rachel Metz and Carol Gravelle

• An extended coastal hike exploring the coast of Santa Rosa Island.

• Route Planned: Along East Point Road

• Stops at Water Canyon, Black Rock, and the base of Torrey Pines

• Total Distance Covered: 4.9 out and back

Rachel Metz has a Master of Science in Philosophy with a specialization in environmental ethics and science, which she was awarded with honors at the University of Edinburgh in 2022.

She currently holds the position of Assistant Director at the California Nature Art Museum in Solvang, just earned her environmental educator certification through AEOE (Association for Environmental & Outdoor Education), is an education committee member for Channel Islands Restoration, on the youth advisory board for Children & Nature Network, and is especially passionate about marine and coastal conservation. In her spare time, she enjoys nature journaling, reading, painting, hiking and tidepooling with her two young daughters, Tigerlily and Fawn.

Carol has been volunteering with CIR on island projects since 2013, including
multi-day trips to Santa Rosa, San Clemente and San Nicolas Islands, and has been a regular on the San Nic nursery crew since 2015. Beyond her avid support of CIR’s mission, she has long supported LA-based Food Forward as a glean leader, leading teams of volunteers in rescuing produce which would otherwise go to waste and donating it to food pantries.

#5 Geology of the Channel Islands with Professor Sabina Thomas

• A hike along the coastal bluff trail & may include an easy beach walk.

• Includes discussions on geology, scenery, and island features

• Route Planned: Ranch House to Coastal Trail to Beach

• Total Distance Covered: 3.0 miles walk along the coastal trail

Sabina Thomas obtained her PhD in Geology at the Technische Universität of Berlin, Germany. Her focus was on fluid-rock exchange in metamorphic environments of the Alps.

Currently working at Santa Barbara City College in the geology department, she understands the geographic history and seismic activities that have gone into shaping Santa Rosa Island and the Channel Islands of California.

Sabina will be leading a geology walk and tour of the beach (tide permitting) that will cover topics related to geology and topical island features.

#6 Channel Islands Archeology and History with Professor Jennifer Perry

• An easy tour of the ranching house and history of Santa Rosa Island.

• Suggested for guests less inclined to walk as far during their visit.

• Route Planned: Staying at the Ranch House and Main Bechers Bay

• Total Distance Covered: 1.0 - 2.0 miles of casual walking and talking

Professor Jennifer Perry

Although Dr. Perry has been involved with archaeological research throughout southern California and beyond, the majority of her work relates to the Channel Islands. She first fell in love with the islands when participating in a field class on San Clemente Island in 1992. Since 1998 she has collaborated with Channel Islands National Park on projects relating the human prehistory and history of the islands from ~12,000 to 50 years ago. Of her varied publications, she is the co-editor and an author of “California's Channel Islands: The Archaeology of Human-Environment Interactions”. Topics of more recent publications and reports include findings from a resurvey of Santa Barbara Island, reanalysis on trans-Holocene (~10,000 years) collections from San Clemente Island, and documentation of historic features on Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands.

Want To Learn More About Our Island Cruise?

Contact CIR at john@cirweb.org with questions or requests for our Santa Rosa Island Autumn Equinox Cruise
or visit our event page for ticket information and additional details. Spots are limited, so act fast and we look forward to seeing you there!

Contact us for more information at john@cirweb.org