Santa Cruz is the largest of the 5 islands that make up Channel Islands National Park. It’s the easiest island to get to and offers the most activities such as snorkeling, swimming, lots of hiking trails, kayaking through caves, and tons of wildlife to see. I think camping overnight is one of the best ways to see what the Island has to offer.

When to go:

Summer:
– Ideal for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking
– Whale watching for blue and humpback whales
– Vegetation begins to dry out
– Busy season

Fall:
– Still great for snorkeling and kayaking
– Fall bird migration

Winter: *my preference
– Amazing sunsets
– Whale watching for gray whales
– Easier to get reservations

Spring:
– Tons of wildflowers
– Island Fox pups are born
– Spring bird migration

Fun Facts:

  • 76% of Santa Cruz Island is owned by The Nature Conservancy and the rest is owned by NPS
  • There are approx 60 endemic species living on Santa Cruz, including the island scrub-jay
  • Diablo peak is the tallest peak on the Channel Islands and sits at 2,450 feet
  • Island foxes are also only found on the Channel Islands. Each subspecies is unique to the island they live on.
  • Santa Cruz was once occupied by 6 different Chamush villages before it became privately owned and used by ranchers
  • Many buildings used by ranchers in the 1800s still stand

How to get there:

The most popular option to get to Santa Cruz Island is by taking the Island Packers boat which departs from the Ventura Harbor. It costs roughly $84 round trip for campers which may seem steep but the service and staff were incredible, helpful, and knowledgeable. You can out check the boat schedule here. The boats operate year-round and it takes roughly 1-2 hours total, depending on weather and wildlife stops, to get from the Ventura Harbor to the Santa Cruz drop-off points. The captain of our boat always made sure to point out wildlife along the way as well as share facts about them which I was grateful for! We saw hundreds of common dolphins and even two gray whales!

There are two places to be dropped off: one being Scorpion Anchorage and the other being Prisoners Harbor. This all depends on where you’re camping and hiking and what you’re interested in doing. Read more about this below!

Where to camp:

Please keep in mind that there are no services on the island. There are no medical facilities, no showers, no trash cans, no stores, and the only drinking water available is at the Scorpion Ranch Campground. Please prepare and pack accordingly. You must follow NPS rules and if you don’t already know the Leave No Trace principles, please read through them before your trip.

There are two options for camping on Santa Cruz Island:

    1. Del Norte Backcountry Campground

      How to get there: Book a boat reservation to Prisoners Harbor
      Hiking is required:       7-miles roundtrip on a strenuous trail
      Reservations:       Required
      Sites: 4 backcountry sites
      Price: $15 per night
      Water/Amenities: No water, no showers, vault toilets
      Cell Service: Minimal, T-mobile is best
      Best for: Amazing views overlooking the ocean, quiet campground
      Best things to do near Del Norte + Prisoners Harbor:
      – Before you trek up to Del Norte campground, you can hike Pelican Bay which is a 4-mile trail from Prisoners Harbor that offers stunning views and lots of opportunities to see the Island foxes and many different bird species. Typically, this trail requires a guide but they are not offering that service at the moment. Instead, they are currently requiring waivers as this trail is on TNC land. Just make sure you have enough water!

      – Another option is to hike a portion of the trail that connects Prisoners Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage. You’ll get beautiful viewpoints all along the trail!

      – If you really want to see what the island has to offer, many people will hike from Prisoners Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage. Begin your trip by getting dropped off at Prisoners Harbor and hike the 3.5 miles to Del Norte Campground to stay the night at one of the four campsites. The next day, hike the ~12 miles from Del Norte to Scorpion Ranch Campground to stay for another night or make it in time for the boat pick up at 5pm. Please note, you need to pack enough water for this entire trek as there is no drinking water at Del Norte campground.

    2. Scorpion Ranch Campground

      How to get there: Book a boat reservation to Scorpion Harbor
      Hiking: From the drop-off point to the campground is .5 miles
      Reservations:       Required
      Sites: 25 individual sites, 6 group sites
      Price: $15 per night
      Water/Amenities: Drinking water available, no showers, vault toilets
      Cell Service: Minimal, T-mobile is best
      Best for: Lots of hiking trails and water activities nearby
      Best things to do near Scorpion Ranch Campground + Scorpion Anchorage:
      – Kayaking tours run year-round
      – Guided snorkel tours (seasonal) or snorkel rentals
      – Hikes:
      Potato Harbor: 5-miles roundtrip
      Cavern Point Loop: 2-miles roundtrip
      Scorpion Canyon Loop: 4.5-miles roundtrip

      Other things to note:

      – You must use the bear boxes located at each campground or the Island foxes and birds will steal your food.
      – Poison Oak is present on this island
      – Respect the no trespassing signs that separate TNC and NPS land
      – Cliff edges are pretty unstable

*This map can be found on the NPS website

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