The anchorage is in the W part of the harbor; the E part is foul. Good shelter may be had in S weather, but the holding ground is poor. In strong NW weather the heavy swells that sweep around the N shore and into the harbor make the anchorage dangerous. The harbor is not safe in rare N or E winds. Water may be obtained at a small spring abreast the anchorage.
Navigation:
Click the “Map View” button above to see a chart of this harbor.
San Miguel Island, 23 miles SSE of Point Conception, is the westernmost of the Channel Islands and the most dangerous to approach. The island is irregular in shape and 7.6 miles long in a E-W direction, with an average width of 2 miles; the highest points, 831 and 817 feet, are near the middle of the island and are visible about 35 miles. The island is covered with grass, but there are no trees. The W part has more sand dunes on it than any of the other islands in the group. The shores are bold, broken, and rocky, with a few short stretches of beach; the S shore is more precipitous than the N.
San Miguel Island, although a military reservation, is administered on a day to day basis by the National Park Service. Cuyler Harbor is the only place landing is allowed. A permit is required for other than beach use.
Cuyler Harbor is a bight 1.2 miles long and 0.6 mile wide on the N shore SW of Prince Island. Prince Island and Harris Point are prominent in the approaches.
