California is home to some of the most stunning gems of the National Park system: Yosemite, Sequoia, Redwood and Joshua Tree national parks, to name a few.

But one might argue any collection that speaks to the Golden State’s nature, must also represent the coast and, in the sparkling Pacific, the Channel Islands.

The archipelago was thrown up by tectonic collision of the Pacific and North American plates and is named for the deep trough that separates them from the mainland.

Established in 1980, Channel Islands National Park consists of five islands — Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel and more detached Santa Barbara — and the marine reserves, which lie within 1 nautical mile of the group’s 175 miles of coastline.

The islands offer diverse opportunities for visitors and have a long history of human use and occupation. Besides Anacapa, here’s a brief look at what each offers:

Santa Cruz >> At 96 square miles, Santa Cruz is the largest of the National Park group. Perhaps the most family friendly, it offers visitors a more hospitable stay with opportunities to hike, visit tidepools, camp and explore sea caves either by kayak or boat tour. Information about guided kayaking can be found at sbadventureco.com/adventures/channel-islands. While the human presence on the islands by the Chumash Indians dates back some 13,000 years, Santa Cruz provided grazing for both cattle and sheep in more recent history. Visitors can explore some of that past at the Scorpion Ranch House, which was built in the 1880s.

Santa Rosa >> Neighboring Santa Rosa is the park’s second-largest island and has a similar history of ranching and offers beach and backcountry camping, a coastal lagoon, tidepooling, rare Torrey pines, beach dunes and driftwood. Another attraction different from its neighbors, Santa Rosa’s Lobo Canyon is reported to feature spectacular sandstone cliffs, but the trek to the canyon is described by the Park Service as a strenuous 9.6-mile round-trip hike.

San Miguel >> The westernmost of the group, San Miguel gets the most severe weather and its 28-mile coastline is surrounded by submerged rocks. The island was used by sheep ranchers for almost 100 years until the mid-1940s. The island was subsequently used as a bombing range by the Navy, which officially owns San Miguel although the island is managed under an agreement with the Park Service. Today, San Miguel is a breeding ground for seals and sea lions and the home of pristine tidepools. While visitors can do some limited exploring on their own, access to other areas is only allowed when accompanied by a park ranger.

Santa Barbara >> At 655 acres, Santa Barbara is the smallest of the Channel Island group; it’s also more distant, well detached from the other four and some 55 miles to the southwest of Ventura County. Described as a cliff island with no beaches but technically open to the public, there is no boat service to Santa Barbara Island as the landing dock remains closed after damage from 2015 storms.

Visitor safety

• While the Park Service strives to provide safe and reasonable access to the islands, help is not as immediately available as it might be at a mainland park. Visitors would be wise to remember the Scout motto, “Be prepared.”

• Never hike alone. Stick to marked trails and avoid cliff edges. Carry water.

• Know boat departure times and be aware that changing weather conditions can alter or interrupt boat schedules.