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This list of islands of California is organized into sections, generally arranged from north to south. The islands within each section are listed in alphabetical order.
The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) lists 527 named islands in the state.
This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.Humboldt County
Offshore
| Island | Image | Coordinates | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sugar Loaf Island | 
|
40°26′20″N 124°24′50″W / 40.438767°N 124.413783°W / 40.438767; -124.413783 | Sugar Loaf Island, offshore Cape Mendocino, rises 128 feet (39 m) above mean sea level. It is a special zone in the South Cape Mendocino State Marine Reserve and is closed to public access. Being offshore of Cape Mendocino, the westernmost point in California, Sugar Loaf Island is called the westernmost island in the state. |
Humboldt Bay
All three islands in Humboldt Bay are located in the narrow midsection of the bay. This portion of the bay is located within the City of Eureka, California entirely within Humboldt County.
| Island | Image | Coordinates | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daby Island | 
|
40°48′41″N 124°09′07″W / 40.8114°N 124.151837°W / 40.8114; -124.151837 | The smallest of the three islands within Humboldt Bay, Daby Island has a maximum elevation of 3 feet (0.91 m) and is located slightly northeast of Woodley Island. |
| Tuluwat Island | 
|
40°48′46″N 124°10′06″W / 40.8129°N 124.1684°W / 40.8129; -124.1684 (Indian Island) | The largest island, 1.3 miles (2.1 km) long, was originally the center of culture and population of the indigenous Wiyot people. Now protected, no public access is allowed, except for the Wiyot and grandfathered residents. |
| Woodley Island |
|
40°48′34″N 124°09′38″W / 40.809516°N 124.160549°W / 40.809516; -124.160549 | The second largest of the three islands within Humboldt Bay contains: the Woodley Island Marina (Eureka's largest marina), the Eureka regional office of the National Weather Service, and offices of the Humboldt Bay Harbor Recreation & Conservation District. |
Northern California
| Island | Image | Coordinates | Counties | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bird Rock | 
|
38°13′48″N 122°59′40″W / 38.2299°N 122.9944°W / 38.2299; -122.9944 (Bird Rock) | Marin | Small Pacific island west of Tomales Point, primarily a seabird colony. It covers 2 acres (0.81 ha). |
| Hog Island (Tomales Bay) | 
|
38°11′50″N 122°56′09″W / 38.1971°N 122.9358°W / 38.1971; -122.9358 (Hog Island (Tomales)) | Marin | A 2-acre (0.81 ha) island in Tomales Bay. |
| Año Nuevo Island | 
|
37°06′31″N 122°20′16″W / 37.1086°N 122.3378°W / 37.1086; -122.3378 (Año Nuevo Island) | San Mateo | Small Pacific island, about 0.2 miles (0.32 km) long, near Año Nuevo (New Year's) Point, south of the Golden Gate. It is protected by the Año Nuevo State Reserve as an important habitat for seabirds and other coastal wildlife. |
San Francisco Bay Area
For the Farallon Islands, see § Farallon Islands, below. For islands in the Sacramento River Delta, see § Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta, below. For islands in Suisun Bay, see § Suisun Bay, below.
Other islands of the San Francisco Bay Area:
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Farallon Islands
The Farallon Islands are a group of rugged small islands over 20 miles (32 km) offshore from the mainland of the City and County of San Francisco, which they are also formally within. They consist of over twenty small islets divided into north, south and middle sections, as well as a major bank, Fanny Shoal. The surrounding waters were once used as a disposal site for radioactive waste.
Suisun Bay and Sacramento–San Joaquin River delta
Suisun Bay
Suisun Bay is an arm of the San Francisco Bay estuary which connects the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers to the Carquinez Strait.
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Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta
The Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta is an inverted delta at the juncture of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. There are about 57 named islands in the Delta.
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Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are a group of eight main islands and several minor islands in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and Ventura counties in Southern California. The four northern islands are protected in Channel Islands National Park, while two are used by the U.S. Navy. These Islands are part of the Greater Los Angeles Area.
| Island | Image | Coordinates | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anacapa Island | 
|
34°00′16″N 119°23′59″W / 34.0045°N 119.3996°W / 34.0045; -119.3996 (Anacapa Island) | Located 14 miles (23 km) off the coast of Ventura, California. It contains 728 acres (295 ha) of land spread across three mountainous islets. The island has only three permanent residents. Part of the Greater Los Angeles Area. |
| Begg Rock | 33°21′45″N 119°41′52″W / 33.36250°N 119.69778°W / 33.36250; -119.69778 (Begg Rock) | A 15-foot (4.6 m) high rock, located 8 miles (13 km) from San Nicolas Island. | |
| Prince Island | 34°03′29″N 120°20′01″W / 34.05806°N 120.33361°W / 34.05806; -120.33361 (Prince Island) | Located near San Miguel Island and measures about 35 acres (14 ha). | |
| San Clemente Island | 
|
32°54′00″N 118°30′03″W / 32.9000°N 118.5009°W / 32.9000; -118.5009 (San Clemente Island) | Southernmost Channel Island, containing 56.81 square miles (147.1 km) of land. It is 24 miles (39 km) long, and uninhabited. An active U.S. Navy base is located on the island. In Los Angeles County. |
| San Juan Island | 
|
32°28′41″N 119°12′54″W / 32.478°N 119.215°W / 32.478; -119.215 (San Juan Island) | Historical San Juan Island, modern Cortes Bank, is a high seamount, an island submerged 6 feet and more, 96 mi SW of San Pedro, 111 mi (166 km) W of Pt Loma, and 47 mi (82 km) SW of San Clemente Island. The outermost feature in the Channel Islands, it has been visible as an island from elevations on San Clemente Island on clear days, and known for some of the world’s largest surf. Offshore from Orange County. |
| San Miguel Island | 
|
34°02′23″N 120°22′31″W / 34.0397°N 120.3754°W / 34.0397; -120.3754 (San Miguel Island) | Westernmost Channel Island, measuring 8 miles (13 km) long, 3.7 miles (6.0 km) wide, and containing 9,325 acres (3,774 ha) of land. The island is uninhabited, and is rarely visited. Part of the Greater Los Angeles Area. |
| San Nicolas Island | 33°14′58″N 119°30′01″W / 33.2495°N 119.5004°W / 33.2495; -119.5004 (San Nicolas Island) | Is said to be the most remote island of the Channel Islands, and is used by the U.S. Navy as a weapons testing and training facility. It has no civilian inhabitants, but is inhabited by military personnel. It covers 14,562 acres (5,893 ha). Part of the Greater Los Angeles Area. | |
| Santa Barbara Island | 
|
33°28′32″N 119°02′10″W / 33.4756°N 119.0362°W / 33.4756; -119.0362 (Santa Barbara Island) | Smallest Channel Island at 640 acres (260 ha) in area; it is located roughly between San Nicolas and Santa Catalina Islands. Part of the Greater Los Angeles Area. |
| Santa Catalina Island | 
|
33°23′00″N 118°25′03″W / 33.3834°N 118.4176°W / 33.3834; -118.4176 (Santa Catalina Island) | The most populous of the Channel Islands, with 3,696 residents as of 2000. It is about 22 miles (35 km) long with a maximum width of 8 miles (13 km). It covers 74.98 square miles (194.2 km). In Los Angeles County. |
| Santa Cruz Island | 
|
34°02′25″N 119°50′37″W / 34.0403°N 119.8437°W / 34.0403; -119.8437 (Santa Cruz Island) | Santa Cruz Island measures 22 miles (35 km) long with an average width of 4 miles (6.4 km), covering 96.5 square miles (250 km). It is the largest Channel Island. The island is now on public land, but was previously the largest privately owned island of the continental United States. Part of the Greater Los Angeles Area. |
| Santa Rosa Island | 
|
33°57′00″N 120°06′04″W / 33.9500°N 120.1010°W / 33.9500; -120.1010 (Santa Rosa Island) | Santa Rosa Island occupies 83.1 square miles (215 km), and is the second largest Channel Island. The island has a permanent population of 2 persons, and is about 26 miles (42 km) off the coast of Santa Barbara, California. Part of the Greater Los Angeles area. |
| Shag Rock | 33°29′13″N 119°02′10″W / 33.4870°N 119.0362°W / 33.4870; -119.0362 (Shag Rock) | Small islet located off the north shore of Santa Barbara Island, and is only about 1 acre (0.40 ha). | |
| Sutil Island | 33°27′50″N 119°02′54″W / 33.4639°N 119.0482°W / 33.4639; -119.0482 (Sutil Island) | Located off the southwest shore of Santa Barbara Island, and is about 12 acres (4.9 ha). It is named for a Spanish ship exploring the West Coast in an expedition led by Sebastián Vizcaíno. |
Greater Los Angeles Area
The Greater Los Angeles Area is an urban area on the Pacific coast of southern California.
| Island | Image | Coordinates | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Island Chaffee | 33°44′23″N 118°08′20″W / 33.7397°N 118.1390°W / 33.7397; -118.1390 (Island Chaffee) | An artificial island/oil platform named after astronaut Roger B. Chaffee who died in the Apollo 1 accident. Located in San Pedro Bay. | |
| Deadman's Island | 
|
33°43′25″N 118°15′57″W / 33.7236°N 118.2659°W / 33.7236; -118.2659 (Terminal Island) | An island with a landmark mound at the mouth of Los Angeles Harbor, flattened in 1928 for a Federal Prison and Coast Guard Base. Joined by a short causeway to Terminal Island, the newer island is sometimes referred to as Isla del Umberto or more often, Reservation Point. The former mound with a natural arch was called “Deadman’s Island” for the graves at top. |
| Freeman Island | 33°44′29″N 118°09′45″W / 33.7414°N 118.1624°W / 33.7414; -118.1624 (Freeman Island) | An artificial island/oil platform named after astronaut Theodore Freeman who died in a crash. Located in San Pedro Bay. | |
| Island Grissom | 33°45′33″N 118°10′53″W / 33.7592°N 118.1815°W / 33.7592; -118.1815 (Island Grissom) | An artificial island/oil platform named after astronaut Gus Grissom who died in the Apollo 1 accident. Located in San Pedro Bay. | |
| Naples Islands | 33°27′05″N 118°43′12″W / 33.4515°N 118.7201°W / 33.4515; -118.7201 (Naples Islands) | A neighborhood in Long Beach that consists of three different islands divided by canals which empty out into Alamitos Bay. | |
| Terminal Island | 
|
33°45′25″N 118°14′53″W / 33.7570°N 118.2481°W / 33.7570; -118.2481 (Terminal Island) | An expansion of natural Rattlesnake Island, which stretched between San Pedro and Long Beach. Earth dredged from shallow San Pedro Bay was used as landfill. It is 3.5 miles (5.6 km) long and covers an area of 4.46 square miles (11.6 km). The picture shows Reservation Point, formed after Deadman’s Island was leveled. |
| Island White | 33°45′10″N 118°09′33″W / 33.7528°N 118.1592°W / 33.7528; -118.1592 (Island White) | An artificial island/oil platform named after astronaut Ed White who died in the Apollo 1 accident; Located in San Pedro Bay. |
Newport Bay
The bay associated with Newport Harbor and the city of Newport Beach, California.
| Island | Image | Coordinates | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balboa Island | 
|
33°36′23″N 117°53′40″W / 33.60639°N 117.89444°W / 33.60639; -117.89444 (Balboa Island) | A 50-hectare (120-acre), densely populated harbor island with 1,500 expensive homes. Partially created as a result of the Santa Ana River flooding in 1824, then artificially expanded to its present size. |
| Bay Island | 
|
33°36′25″N 117°54′18″W / 33.607°N 117.905°W / 33.607; -117.905 (Bay Island) | West of Balboa Island. |
| Collins Island | 33°36′31″N 117°54′1″W | A small island located at the end of Balboa Island | |
| Harbor Island | 
|
33°36′01″N 117°54′10″W / 33.6003°N 117.9028°W / 33.6003; -117.9028 (Harbor Island) | |
| Lido Isle | 
|
33°36′14″N 117°55′02″W / 33.6039°N 117.9173°W / 33.6039; -117.9173 (Lido Isle) | Northwest of Balboa Island. |
| Linda Isle | 
|
33°36′50″N 117°54′13″W / 33.6139°N 117.9037°W / 33.6139; -117.9037 (Linda Isle) | |
| Newport Island | Located at the far west end of the bay |
Lake islands
River islands
Miscellaneous
| Island | Image | Coordinates | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rincon Island | 
|
34°20′51″N 119°26′43″W / 34.3475°N 119.4454°W / 34.3475; -119.4454 (Rincon Island) | A 1 acre (0.40 ha) artificial island off the coast of Ventura County, leased for oil and gas production. |
| San Mateo Rocks | 33°24′17″N 117°37′02″W / 33.4048°N 117.6173°W / 33.4048; -117.6173 (San Mateo Rocks) | Sea lion haul-out and scuba destination near San Clemente in Orange County | |
| Smith Island | 35°09′45″N 120°45′14″W / 35.1626°N 120.754°W / 35.1626; -120.754 (Smith Island) | Rocky island in San Luis Bay, Avila Beach, California |
See also
- Geography of California
- List of islands of the United States
- Outline of California
- Peninsulas of California
References
- "GNIS Feature Search". Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Protected Marine Areas, 14 March 2013
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Sugarloaf Island Special Closure, 2015
- Bob Lorentzen; Richard Nichols (1998). Hiking the California Coastal Trail: Oregon to Monterey. Bored Feet Publications. ISBN 978-0-939431-18-2.
- "Bird Rock". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
- "Año Nuevo Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
- "Bird Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
- Petra Unger; Diana Edwards (December 2017). Palo Alto Baylands: Existing Conditions (Report). AECOM, 2020 L Street, Suite 400, Sacramento, CA 95811. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- "Atlas of Gulf of the Farallones Region, Central California". United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 2014-05-16. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
- David L. Durham, "California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of This State," p. 693 (Quill Driver Books 1998) ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
- "Anacapa Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
- "Begg Rock". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- "San Clemente Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
- Porcasi; Judith and Paul (1999). "Early Holocene Coastlines of the California Bight" (PDF). Pacific Coast Archaeological Society Quarterly. 2. 35 (Spring/Summer).
- "San Miguel Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
- "San Nicolas Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
- "Santa Barbara Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
- "Santa Catalina Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
- "Santa Cruz Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
- "Santa Rosa Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
- "Shag Rock". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
- "Sutil Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
- "Fallen Astronauts: Book Review".
- "City of Long Beach". Archived from the original on 2010-07-13.
- "Fannette Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
- "Negit Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
- "Paoha Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
Further reading
- Martin, James A.; Lee, Michael T. (2006). The Islands of San Francisco Bay. San Rafael, CA: Down Window Press. ISBN 0-9787241-0-0.
