Santa Cruz Island

Perfect for hiking and camping. Wide open area for hiking. Slight steep hills. Theres also kayaking available for rent. Boats leave 8am and 830am ventura marina for what i know. One hour trip to sta cruz. Theres no water for sale in the island so bring your own. Theres a water faucet in the campgrounds but im not sure if its drinkable. Bring food in case you get hungry through your hike. We packed sandwiches and hydration pack. And you cant leave any trash in the island. You have to bring your trash with you til you get back.

Beautiful island in Channel Islands National Park. Most of the island is owned & managed by the Nature Conservancy. Hikers can get a permit to access this area. Island Packers provides boat service for visitors, but no private vehicles are allowed on the island. They can transport camping gear as well. Visitors can also visit using private boats. Prisoners Harbor has a good quality pier. I have not visited other areas. The island offers many trails, several picnic and camping areas and a few pit toilets. I would recommend getting the National Geographic topographical map before visiting. The island was used for ranching for over 100 years. National Park Service & Nature Conservancy are working hard to remove invasive species & to restore unique native species. It is not uncommon to spot native jays & island foxes & also bald eagles.

This is a great island to explore as part of an expedition to Channel Islands National Park. Incredible cliffs here and beautiful vistas. The scenery is fairly dry, but there is beauty in the starkness, especially when contrasted with the sapphire blue of the oceans. Well developed trails and lots of opportunities for great views.

Everything from this trip was amazing! Starting from the boat ride out having a glass of wine and watching the dolphins swim. The hike wasn't bad, a bit rough at the beginning but the views were well worth it! The weather was perfect and seeing the ocean from atop a mountain was a life changing experience. I would suggest this trip to anyone. $50 for an experience of a life time

We took the day trip to Santa Cruz with Island Packers (reservations needed in advance usually). I would recommend going to the National Park Visitors center in Ventura Harbor the day before for a good overview and recommendations. The 8a boat trip arrived around 920a. We left a bag with some snacks and extra water in a fox box by the information center and bathroom. Make sure to take the guided tour around the back half of the Cavern Point Loop trail - 20 minutes after arrival. Linda was a wealth of information and gave us much more appreciation for the island. There were plenty of island foxes, ravens, flora and even a few scrub jays. We then hiked to Potato Harbor, where we had lunch with a view. We then hiked back via road with a canyon view. After using the pit toilets, take a brief tour of the visitor center and replenishing our water, we then hiked up the other side of the Cavern Point Loop trail. The morning had been shrouded in marine layer while in the afternoon was mostly clear with a view towards Anacapa. We hiked back down the same way with a view arriving back at 415p in plenty of time for the 5p boat back to the mainland. Bring layers of clothing as the morning was cool with a breeze and the marine layer blocking the sun. The afternoon warmed up at Scorpion Anchorage with plenty of sun - make sure to bring sunscreen. You also need to bring water (there are a couple of water spigots at the campgrounds) and your own food. The boat has some snacks, but I recommend getting something from the grocery store or cafe before the boat trip. You can also rent snorkel gear or go on a kayak tour (reservations recommended) - we did not have time to do this but other visitors recommend both through Santa Barbara Adventures. If you have waited to late to book Island Packers, try looking again right before the cancellation period (72 hrs in the summer) and you may luck up. You can also get on their wait list.

We were able to kayak around this beautiful Island with a story of triumph. The flora and fauna were on the brink of extinction but due to conservation efforts, that didn't actually begin until the 1990's, the islands and their unique plants and animals that are found only on the channel islands are making a come back. If you want to camp, make reservations way in advance and know that the seas can be really rough and boats get cancelled regularly. The most consistently nice weather is June- August. We lucked out on early May.

Great day trip with plenty of hiking, swimming, and kayaking. The trails are steep at first but level off quickly (usually within a 0.25 to 0.50 miles) and the vistas are unforgettable -even in the fog. With all the rain the island was completely green and with massive blooming flowers.

One of the least visited NP, so I have been told. Great day out. You get the ferry with Island Packers, and they are great. Once at the island, a brief what u should not do from the rangers, and you are on your way. We did a short 5 mile hike to Potatoe Harbor, which took us across the top of the cliffs with outstanding views of the ocean. It was very windy when we were there, so dress in layers as the temperature can change massively depending on if you are high on the cliffs or deep in the valley. Great fun day trip, although you can camp overnight if you want..

My first time here was several years ago in late July. The sun was brutal so sun protection is very important - hat, sunglasses and sunscreen and a lot of water. I visited Santa Cruz Island again this past Sunday and it was a great day! We hike 8 miles on the Smugglers Cove and the sun was harsh as usual but I'm glad I brought my sun hat, wore my sunglasses and reapplied sunscreen multiple times. However, I had super chapped lips by the end of the day even though it applied chapstick multiple times through out the day. After 4 hours and an 8 mile hike, we were pooped!!! We chilled at the shaded tables and spotted the cute little island fox and the blue bird the same color as sonic the hedgehog. I love how they have storage for you to put your stuff away. We used it to put our food and carry less things during the hike.

Wonderful place to be, especially if you like dramatic coastal views and enjoy hiking. We came on a day trip from Ventura and we're not disappointed. We chose SCORPION COVE because of the possibility to hike to Potato HARBOUR and Cavern Point, 2 not-to-be-missed scenic lookouts along a 5-mile hiking hoop of easy to moderate level. Santa Cruz is very different than Anacapa Island in this period: there are many fewer birds around and those who come close are mostly ravens. Scorpion Cove area has a visitor center and a few old agricultural machines. The valley continues inland to a couple of camping spots, where you often run into the beautiful island fox roaming around and scavenging for leftover food. POTATO HARBOUR is spectacular: a gorgeous cove surrounded by cliffs towering around it. A perfect spot for your picnic lunch. CAVERN POINT is also jaw dropping, with its vertical walls and majestic panorama over the northern coastline of East Santa Cruz. The hike is easy to moderate, and a real pleasure to do. In July, despite the summer, temperatures rarely go above 70s and 80s. It's a real paradise. You won't regret making your way to this isolated place in the Channel Islands National Park.

Oh what an adventure!! Just getting here is an experience but once you arrive, there's so much to see! So much wildlife on the island and in the surrounding waters. There are even several species of plants and animals endemic to the island that aren't found anywhere else in the world! I came in search of the island's endemic fox and scrub jay (bird) and hit the jackpot on both! The foxes are adorable and the scrub jays are so feisty and fun to watch. The island is also full of endemic fence lizards and tons of vibrant, bright red Firebugs! I saw at least 5 different species of butterfly as well! On the way back to the mainland, we were chased by giant pods of dolphins! So much life around these islands. Hiking is definitely a draw. I chose to land at Scorpion Ranch so I could hike the Potato Harbor Trail. It's about 6 miles out and back with just over 700 feet elevation gain depending on which way you go. I started at the visitor center and from there it's a lot of steps up - but I like to get my big inclines out of the way lol. While hiking, I saw about 4-6 people total - it's such an escape - so much peaceful solitude on this trail - surrounded by ocean views. The day I visited was beautiful and so clear I could see all the way to the mainland. At the end of the trail, you're rewarded with awesome views of Potato Harbor - which is much more beautiful than it sounds haha! Sheer, white cliffs on all sides, minty blue-green waters full of kelp beds, giant rocks out in the water covered in pelicans and Cormorants - pure California beauty! On the way back, I turned my trail into a loop and went by way of the upper Scorpion campground bc the campgrounds have a reputation for the foxes. Not far down from the upper campground is the lower campground and both had numerous foxes prowling around! There are potable water faucets, bathrooms, food lockers, and lots of picnic tables all around both campgrounds. There are also bathrooms and picnic tables around the pier at the Scorpion Ranch landing, as well as a visitor center. I landed and hiked out of Prisoner Harbor some years ago which is the other option for Santa Cruz Island and it's much less developed - much more wild - there are bathrooms and a couple of tables and that's about it. Santa Cruz Island is the largest in the national park and actually of all the California islands. There are some historical buildings and info to explore from when this was a working ranch in the 1800s. But the area has been inhabited for over 10,000 years. The Chumash people named the island Limuw meaning "place of the sea". There's a dark sand beach right next to the pier that's great for snorkeling and a perfect kayak launch point. There's a small, seasonal office that rents out the gear or bring your own. Get here by boat via Island Packers - they depart from Ventura and Oxnard for Santa Cruz Island. Their website is easy to use and book on - trips are dependent on the weather - I've had them cancel on me once bc of bad waves but they immediately gave me a full refund, no issues. It takes about an hour to get to the island and you can do a day trip or camp a few nights. If you do a day trip, they have a few departure times in the morning but only one return time around 4-430pm. I took the 9am departure time and felt like it was a decent amount of time on the island for a day trip. There aren't any concessions on the island so be sure to bring plenty or food and water for your trip.

After a nauseating, ass freezing, sardine packed, spine dislocating seated 1.5 hr boat ride from Ventura Harbor, arrived at (chosen) Scorpion area. The pictures looked like an exotic beach from Mexico, once you get there it looks more like a landfill. Lots of rocks, black sand mixed in (was told was much sandier just a few weeks ago and lots of rocks washed ashore.) As always, perfect timing. Still, after the sun came out around 1-2pm, it reflected a beautiful hue on the clear water and it indeed does look like your in Cabo. The water was nice and cool + pristine; managed to get in a quick swim. Very limited area but worth going in, if you like swimming which I love and no one seems to write about much in these reviews. The hiking was good, took the 1.5 each way loop to not strain the back too much, and had really nice picturesque views on top. Thought may get lost but easy to navigate. Its a nice moment. On the way up, saw campers; was hoping to see a few of the 4k foxes but only saw 1, yes ONE the whole trip. My son saw one too so 2 total out of the 4k. They look like baby coyotes, hopping away at your sight. The scrub jay bird is very pretty, saw a couple, and the Ravens must be feasting well cause they look like plump black chickens with sharpened mouths. The base has changing rooms, restrooms (those were science fiction nasty with all the waste in a big bottomless storage which you can see all of it, yukkk. (No flushing system it piles up.) That will traumatize me for a few months at least. You can have lunch at various picnic tables, and they have no-lock large lockers to store your dailies when you go up the trails or do water activities (kayak, snorkel, sea cave tour option$$s.) Lots and lots of kelp. Came to relax, and did a bit, was nice. would I do it again? Too much hassle and time wasted on that miserable boat back and forth (3 hours plus another hour waiting to get on/back to boat early to grab best seats), so no. I Don't camp; the idea of sleeping on dirt and fallen leaves not very appealing to me, but to each their own. Good to go once, and that will be that.

STRANDED FOR 30 hours...Let's talk about it. Ok, I willingly put myself in this situation. I wanted to go somewhere to quiet all the noise and get back to me; this was the perfect place. Santa Cruz Island is an acquired taste, it's west of the west, and a glimpse of California before it was California that we know it to be. It is considered the Galapagos of North America or the Galapagos is considered Channel Islands of South America. Dare I say Hawaii without the crowds and infrastructure!?! Regardless of how it is seen, its overall beauty is spellbinding. Nevertheless, It is the largest of the eight islands being 24 miles long and six miles wide with two harbors scorpion anchorage and prisoners harbor. Catalina island is one also. Five islands are apart of the Channel Islands National park (Santa Cruz, San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Barbara Island, and Anacapa). Channel island is the least visited National park and the only one that one must take boat ride. No restaurants on Santa Cruz island and it is as primitive as primitive gets. You must bring your own everything. You can go for the day or go for a few days as camping is an option. I've visited a few times and this will be the first time camping on the island. I had my gear on a wagon including a tent, cooler, binoculars, and homemade muffins. Biggest land predator is a cute little fox which is indigenous to the island. Step one--find campsite and setup camp. You get a table and fox box; they have water available on the island. The walk from pier to campground was about 15-20 minute walk. The trees were thick, but sunlight still cut through them. The walk was pleasant. Step two--enjoy the island. What is there to do on this primitive-primitive island? I'm glad you asked. Want to step back in time and experience California as it used to be? It's a world in itself. There is hiking, snorkeling, diving, and kayaking. There are over a hundred large sea caves between the islands and the best conditions for the caves are June through October. I brought my kayak, wetsuit, and snorkel gear to explore. Sunrises and Sunsets are magical. Kayaking here is amazing. "You see the line where the sky meets the sea it calls me"--yes I borrowed that from Moana. I digress, I saw flying fish leap out of the water and fly like birds. Water is so clear and viewing wildlife is incredible--sea lions often pop their heads up to say hello. Kayak around the cliff faces of Santa Cruz Island. There are two high tides and two low tides in California everyday keep that in mind for sea caves. You can paddle around for hours without getting bored. It makes pioneering and exploring more fun and accessible. Snorkeling and free diving both bring me joy. As I descend, I see the world above disappear as I dive below. That big sapphire blue universe is one of the many places I find peace and also one place I can fly. Trying to understand her tides and moods are impossible; please don't throw plastic in her. Kelp forest is vast and grows quite fast. Never underestimate the power of the ocean--if you enjoy swimming of any kind, you will be amazed at what is under the sea. Frolic in the kelp forest if you like as it's a whole new world underneath the surface. Head first into the unknown. Scorpion trail was also quite lovely. Once back at the campsite, I had dinner and got ready for bed. I turned off all the lights in the tent just to see if it would glow...you know, the stars. As darkness began to settle into the valley, in the shadow of the moon, the absolute best part of a dark sky is you can see hundreds of stars. Ahh, days we save as souvenirs. I'm not a huge fan of crickets but off in the distance, even they were singing sweet harmonies. Its always nice to live with the earth and not just on it. This place exists to remind us just how small we are. I have realized that to be more alive, I have to be less afraid. So that's what I did; I lost my fear and gained my whole life. If you're looking for a Stateside outdoor destination, look no further! Santa Cruz Island is a hidden gem that would appeal to hikers and nature-lovers alike. California, you've got some explaining to do--for starters how is this place real!?! I just wish I knew how to say goodbye to serenity...I'll be back. I dare you to go for the day. If you want restaurants and hotels then I'd suggest Catalina island. Most people will just see dirt, water, and a pier. I challenge you to look through different lenses. The farther you go the better it gets! In this case, a getaway not so far away. Thinking back It makes me feel goose-pimply all over. Find your center in the great outdoors! Until further notice, celebrate everything! If you like what you see go see what you like! #ChasingTheSun "To romanticize the world is to make us aware of the magic, mystery, and wonder of the world; it is to educate the senses to see the ordinary as extraordinary."

Our work group planned a 4 day 3 night camping trip, and although many of our coworkers bailed last minute. The four of us that went had a blast! This was by far the most educational national park visit I've ever done. We arrived on a Friday via the 12pm ferry, and headed to our campsite on the upper campsites. A bunch of families and groups were already there. It seems to be very kid friendly and the 3/4 mile trek to the campsite was flat and easy. Some people brought rolling carts to carry their huge tents and kitchen set ups. We only brought our backpacks full of gear, wish we had brought more luxury. The island foxes are adorable! They're everywhere and try to steal your food. We had to be extra cautious. The wildlife is beautiful. Friday & Saturday nights they have movie nights! The park ranger will answer your questions afterwards. It was super educational. Our park ranger Karen was AMAZING! I even got to do the Junior ranger book for the first time(at the age of 26) and Karen was 100% okay with it. I had such a blast, as I had never had the opportunity to go to national parks as a child. We also brought our kayaks! $10 each to transport. We kayaked both ways and saw a ton a wildlife. We followed some guide groups around and learned a few things. Saw harbor seals pop up in the kelp forest right next to my kayak about 4 times. It was spectacular. Only thing that was unfavorable about this trip was the restroom. They're out toilets, which is fine... BUT the fans are solar charged. So once the sun goes down and people forget to shut the toilet lids, there is zero ventilation and the ammonia is so bad, your eyes will burn! Just be careful. Otherwise, great trip. Be ready to hike and kayak a ton to see the island and all it's glory. We hiked to smugglers cove and Montanan peak. Kayaked Saturday and Monday. Highly recommend :) Make sure you bring all your camping luxuries!

Recently, my family and I hiked the Cavern Point on Santa Cruz Island. Leaving the crowds behind, we found a quit and picturesque spot to have a picnic. Within the magic ambiance of our picnic spot I heard the sound of silver bells that the grass makes when the wind gently blows through it. It was a truly amazing experience to be one on one with nature - away from the noise and the hustle & bustle of the city life. The views from Cavern Point are tremendously beautiful. Later, we skipped rocks on the beach and enjoyed the peace of the ocean waves. We didn't want to leave. I can't wait to be back!

Welp... it's an island and a gorgeous one at that. I mean, what island ISN'T beautiful?! What makes this island even that more enjoyable is that it's the only island within Channel Islands National Park that's accessible year around. You can reach Santa Cruz island by booking a boat cruise with Island Packer Cruises. It only takes about an hour to get there from the Santa Barbara and Ventura Harbors. It's actually quite an enjoyable boat ride (minus all of the sea sickening swaying for those who get sea sick like myself). Once you arrive, you have free reign to explore all of the beauty that lies beneath. You can camp, hike, or canoe and paddle board at the little beach near the jetty. But make sure that you pack everything that you need. Aside from restrooms, there are no other amenities on the island. Bring food, water, and whatever other essentials that you may need (especially if you decide to camp here). I spent a day hiking and exploring and it was truly gorgeous. Coastal views all throughout and a wonderful breeze. I hiked the Potato Harbor trail which is a beautiful 5 mile coastal loop that focuses most of its' time on Scorpion Ranch and the island coast. The scenery is excellent. You'll even be able to walk through parts of the island forest and see the adorable island foxes along this trail. This part of the island (Scorpion Anchorage) is a lot more popular than the other part of the island (Prisoner's Harbor) as it affords you more hiking opportunities and only requires one stop by boat to get there. I haven't yet visited the Prisoner's Harbor side of the island, but it is said to be more remote. I'd recommend the Potato Harbor hike if you are just doing a day trip. Visiting Santa Cruz Island was such a memorable experience. I would love to return someday to explore the Prisoner's Harbor side of the island.

While on Santa Cruz Island (Channel Islands National Park) I was told a story: A group of people came to the island specifically to see the Island Fox and a Jay of some sort, both endemic to the island. They got off the boat which took them there, walked down the pier towards the beach and spotted both a fox and a jay then plopped themselves down while they waited for their return trip. They'd seen everything they'd come to see. Silly people. There's so much more to do on this island. You'll certainly see the (adorable) foxes and jays everywhere but how about camping, hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, sunbathing, picnicking, or exploring the plein air museum of island artifacts? I spent two consecutive days on Santa Cruz Island, ferrying back and forth with Island Packers as I'm not a camper. Day one took me to Scorpion Anchorage, day two to Prisoner's Harbor. I preferred Scorpion Anchorage as it seemingly had more hiking options and a more inhabited feel. Prisoner's Harbor abuts Nature Conservancy-owned land (they own 76% of the island) and hiking on their land is allowable only with a permit or a guide. There's a guide who joins you on the boat ride over (at both locations), who'll lead a free tour on this land, but over at Scorpion there's also many hikes which you can lead yourself. The Channel Islands themselves are surround by a marine preserve. The waters are gorgeous and the island - 96 square miles - is a place worth exploring. Alternatively, get off the boat and plop yourself down on the beach and await your return back to Ventura. Either way, I got the impression that a visit to beautiful Santa Cruz Island is never a bad idea.

Looking to visit a very unique National Park? Santa Cruz Island is your spot! Whether it's for the day or for overnight, scenic location for hiking and adventuring. Just 1 of 5 Channel Islands, Santa Cruz Island is a wonder on its own worth recognizing and visiting at least once in your life! Book your reservation with Island Packers and they will take you on approx. 1 hr boat ride to and back from the island for about $60/person. Santa Cruz is free and most of all free for you to explore. Or you can partake in Kayaking, Snorkeling, or swimming if hiking is not your thing. I was there for a day trip and loved my time there hiking the scenic Potato Harbor trail. You'll spot some of the native island foxes that reside there. The island is peaceful, calming, and never crowded like other National Parks can get during the peak season.

3.5 stars. We visited the Island via Island Packers which was a great company. This review is for the island itself. There are yellow jackets everywhere that made it impossible to eat lunch once we arrived. We had to walk onto the pier to take a bite out of our sandwich and were still unable to eat it since the yellow jackets continued to swarm us out there. It's dangerous to eat food and it's the only spot with shaded benches. Something needs to be done regarding this problem. We love the National Park system and would have to say that this was our least favorite thus far. The park has no food service whatsoever, you can't even purchase water. So you must take everything with you. We did the sea cave tour so we only had 3 hours on the island and it was more than enough time. The sea cave experience was our favorite thing on our day trip! The island itself has limited to no shade, very dry, and infested with yellow jackets. If you are going to visit, we recommend doing the sea cave tour, renting a kayak, and bringing snorkeling gear. Being in the water is probably much better than being on the island. All National Parks provide a unique experience which is why we love them... this was just not our favorite.

Used Island Packers to get to the island. Took the 9:30 am with a 4:30 pick up. Island packers was awesome by the way, we saw 100 dolphins and 2 grey whales! When we arrived at scorpion anchorage we were met by the park ranger who kindly informed us of island rules. Their are some bathrooms, but NO trash cans- be prepared. Based on my research and my moms bad knees we opted for a more moderate hiking excursion. We walked past the first campground before veering off and up towards potato harbor road. It was nice to take the inland route to kind of build up to the more grand cliff views. We lunched above potato harbor, with beautiful sparking blue green waters, and a distant sound of sea lions. Thanks to other reviews that mentioned yellow jackets, we came prepared with lemon eucalyptus spray. I brought a small sheet and sprayed the perimeter of the sheet. When an ant would run on our picnic sheet, it quickly turned around haha No insects bothered us at all! After lunch we headed toward the north bluff trail to the cavern point loop. The very end of the loop was a bit hard on the knees going downhill, but doable. We really took our time, once back at the beginning we used the restroom, had a snack at the picnic tables, checked out the visitor center, checked out the rocky beach and the it was 4:15, time to get back on the boat. It was a spectacular day and a great escape from normal life. Next time I want to do smugglers cove or maybe the other port?

Apparently there is limited access to this Nature Conservancy preserve. It's an old ranch house and proptery. The Nature Conservancy has a stake in some conservation issues on the island, such as the Santa Cruz Island fox.