The trail crosses from one geological plate to the other and it was fascinating to see the change in terrain and fauna. I have been here before and come back today, it looks like this trail route has been edited, it used to direct you to cross a stream and reaches the other parking lot but now this trail on the app took me to the end which is on top of Booking.com is a great site to search accommodation near Ventura Harbor. Most day trippers will get dropped off at the Scorpion Anchorage, which is closest to a variety of trails, kayaking tours, and the largest campground on the island. Side note, whenever I head to this part of town from the coast, Google maps will take me up wildcat canyon road instead of El Monte road. The loop visits two of the most famous points on the eastern section of the island, Cavern Point and Potato Harbor. Address 1691 Spinaker Dr Ventura, CA 93001 Phone (805) 658-5730 Park Name Channel Islands National Park Owner National Park Activities Hiking, Birdwatching, Camping, Kayaking, Swimming, Snorkeling, Scuba Diving, Backpacking Amenities Trails, Restrooms, Pier Pet Policy Pets are not allowed on the island Fees Fee for boat trip, camping Hotels There are two locations that Island Packers goes to on Santa Cruz Island: Prisoners Harbor and Scorpion Anchorage. it gets super busy so i recommend going during the week day if you get a chance ! When we went, kayaking was at Scorpion and at Prisoner's, you had to go on a guided tour of the Nature Conservancy lands which required hiking about 5 miles r/t. We return to the campground to find the less-experienced paddlers, Suzanne, Lisa, Sam, and Whitney, already there. The trail begins on a fire road leaving Prisoner's Harbor and rises above sea level, overlooking the northern coast of the island. Follow this path up and you will see incredible views of Scorpion Anchorage, the nearby Anacapa Island, and the large cliffs. Park day fee is $3 to park. It's best to check with Island Packers. So much bright spring green making it like a fairyland. There are no options for food or water to purchase once on the island. We loved it! Required fields are marked *. Creek & trees were beautiful. The nightmare that Ive been worrying about for days is materializing before my eyes. I also explained the risks on the phone to Renske, who didnt seem perturbed either. This hike is a significantly steeper climb and is only recommended if you are planning to spend the entire day in Santa Cruz Island hiking. Due to their more unpredictable weather and waters,. Dan. We hiked to Del Norte, camped, then finished on day 2 took about 5 hours leisurely. This was a beautiful trail no doubt! Were already here? Renske asks. Views don't get much better than from this windy spot. We were lucky to spot a big group of Dolphins and spent time watching them swim around the boat. You will need to bring sunscreen hats sunglasses water snacks and a first aid kit when you kayak from Prisoners Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage. Such a beautiful hike! Find the great white beacon of Bird Shit Rock. Very quiet. The trail is pretty overgrown at points and covered with foxtails. Channel Islands Adventure Company runs guided kayak tours at three locations: Scorpion Anchorage, Prisoners Harbor, and Painted Cave. There are two locations that Island Packers goes to on Santa Cruz Island: Prisoners Harbor and Scorpion Anchorage. No water until scorpions but we were okay with 14L for two days for two adults. There are two Island Packers [], Taking a whale watching cruise off the coast of Southern California is exhilarating and gives you a high likelihood of seeing gray whales up close, but its fun to watch [], Channel Islands National Park protects five rugged windswept islands off the central coast of California. Thats less than a mile NW of Scorpion and visible from the mainland on a clear day. It is a good idea to pack plenty of extra water for your trip. The shore near Gherini (Scorpion) Ranch has two distinct anchorages. We decide to turn back early, making todays 8-mile paddle a 3-mile one. It was scary going down especially with my super heavy backpack. It is possible to kayak from Prisoner's Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage but it is a long and challenging journey. The other is Prisoners Harbor near the Conservancy border. We watch the tiny shows, eating miniature blueberry, cherry, and pecan pies, in honor of the holiday. My husband and I took our 9 year old son and he enjoyed it so much. On our second day, we kayaked 9 miles from Scorpion Anchorage to Prisoners Harbor and then hiked the three (strenuous) miles to the Del Norte Campground on a mountaintop. iptv m3u. Since there is no water we carried 7 liters each (14 liters total) from Prisoner's Harbor to Del Norte Campground. However kayaking in cold water [], If youre someone who likes to be on the water you may be wondering if you can use a kayak paddle for [], 2023All Sports FAQAll rights reserved, Powered byWPDesigned with the Customizr theme. Island Packers is continuing its trips to Prisoners Harbor on Santa Cruz, Anacapa Island, weekend rides to . As a reminder, as of November 1st, the Scorpion Anchorage Pier was closed for repairs prohibiting guests to visit the Scorpion Anchorage area except for from December 21st to January 5th during the holidays.. Our other favorite activities at Prisoner's Harbor on Santa Cruz Island . The ferry takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to cross the channel. If I plan to spend the night, I also plan a backup. Both 60- and 90-minute boat rides can be booked from both Ventura and Oxnard Harbors. There are also snorkeling and hiking option, plus a great visitor center. Love the river access and beautiful trees in fall. Scorpion Anchorage is a small harbor with a pier on the northeast side of Santa Cruz Island. Nice trail but steep around the peak, kinda sketchy with big backpacks on but totally doable. We want to go back and explore more! Island Packers recommends getting to the harbor 45 minutes before the departure time. Some of the tracks looked like mountain lion tracks. We crossed the water and we had a snack and back home. Island Packers Cruises is the exclusive concessionaire to the national park. The boat ride is part of the experience of the day trip to the Channel Islands, as you can see many different birds and animals on the way. And the rock is again a giant white beacon beckoning sailors to spend some time. No there is no fee to kayak from Prisoners Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage. After a quick lunch, we head out on a surprisingly strenuous up-and-down trail (carrying our water supply) toward the Del Norte Campground, which lies at the top of one of the islands peaks. Landed at Scorpion, hiked to Del Norte Campground to stay the night. I packed 6.25 litters of water and used about 4. We were heading across nearly 22 miles of the Pacific toward Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island. Hi- I will be visiting with 3 friends over Memorial Day weekend. Reviews (4,028) Photos (4,701) 5: 4: 3: 2: 1: 4.5. Wind is an issue. We didnt do the whole thing this is definitely longer than 3.6 miles. This hike would be the best in the spring when Santa Cruz Island has more foliage since it is mostly internal through the canyon. Expect wind and bring layers, as the temperature can change quickly. Both locations have many activities such as hiking, snorkeling, bird watching, ocean kayaking, and camping to check out. Island Packers operates trips to Santa Cruz Island 5-7 days a week, year round. Santa Cruz Island is the largest island in Channel Islands National Park with 61,972 acres, measuring 22 miles long and 2-6 miles wide. There are, Your email address will not be published. Only 24 percent of Santa Cruz Island is owned by the National Park Service (the rest is owned by The Nature Conservancy), so most of the island is inaccessible to campers except for the northeastern ends two campgrounds: Scorpion Anchorage and Del Norte (above Prisoners Harbor). Then did del Norte > scorpion campground the next day. But, after a lasagna dinner, I announce that we should aim to be on the water in the morning by 6 AM. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. We appreciated the thick marine layer as the trail has no shade. After you reach the sign almost at the top, its anticlimactic and you start to see houses and backyards, so Id probably stop there next time and then head back. Are we going to die? Sam asked. Visitor Center A visitor center is located in the historic Scorpion ranch house. Scorpion Canyon Loop Trail is a nice hike through and up the canyon with different views of the island, the nearby Anacapa Island, and the ocean. No shade. Night 1 at del Norte (make reservations) then night 2 at scorpion canyon. Good mix of elevation gains and flatter walks. 9a departure. Whitney has a smile on his face and though Sam, Lisa and Suzanne look very relieved theyre done, they dont seem permanently scarred. Channel Islands National Park is open year round. An area not as much fun to traverse with a fully loaded pack. Definitely wear sunscreen no shade: I put it everywhere but my ears and my ears now are blistering from that bad of a sunburn. Your email address will not be published. The evening Autumn fog though was beautiful. Scorpion in foreground, Little Scorpion in the distance. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Santa Cruz Scorpion Anchorage landings are at a pier. With the wind and water totally calm, the ten of us paddle along the serene, rocky, golden coast. You would need to contact Island Packers ahead of time to make sure they have space to transport the Kayak. Great views. Its going to work out great, Renske reminds me, while were lying in our tent before falling asleep. Got to Scorpion at 310p for the 4p ferry. It is unclear how Scorpion was named; it may be the shape of the valley or the fact that there are small scorpions present. It is steeper with ups and downs but if you are in reasonable shape it is not a problem. I normally don't care for gaiters but this would be an exception. Sites 1/2 have absolutely stunning views of the ocean. Beautiful, serene hike! Use caution during this section. Also, as the reviewer below me noted, do not follow the google maps instructions from this page- it takes you somewhere on the Barona reservation. I should have believed her; but, so often, its impossible to adopt the faith that others have in us for ourselves. This list of the 16 top destinations in the Southwest US will, The Southwest is a unique part of the United States, full of unique natural wonders. Its possible to hike to Chinese Harbor Beach and continue west all the way to Prisoners Harbor, but that is a very long shade-less trek. Loved the sound of water all along the trail. We both had about a liter left over at the end of the hike. After setting up our tents and playing a surprisingly vicious game of Cancellation Hearts, the group congregates at a couple picnic tables overlooking the ocean. We kayak through a towering rock archway and into dark sea caves stretching into the island. On the other hand, if its late in the day and were the only ones looking for a spot, well sometimes use a single hook in the center of the anchorage. When we intend to spend only a few hours, we prefer to drop a single hook just shoreward of the charted 13 ft. rock (just left of the S in Scorpion on the chart) in 20-25 feet of water but will accept a spot almost anywhere along the beach and will anchor to within 100 yards west of Bird S***t, rock(78 rock) if we have to. It can get cold on the boat on the way to and from Santa Cruz Island so be prepared with additional layers. It is very deep in the center of the bight, which makes anchoring bow and stern problematical. Hike Profile Distance: 8.20 miles Elevation Gain: 1526 ft Minimum Elevation: 41 ft Maximum Elevation: 800 ft Time: 4-6 hour Difficulty: (2/5) Dog Friendly: No Permit Required: No Weather: The weather on the Channel Islands is pleasant, but can also be very unpredictable at times. Everything was in bloom. You can reserve snorkel gear or a snorkel tour and see the most updated prices on the Channel Islands Adventure Company website. Prisoner's Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage, Santa Cruz Island. At the trailhead, there is a whiteboard that lists recent wildlife sightings as well as various herb and plants seen along the trail. No need to cross the road to start on the other side. A good part of this trail is overgrown with wild grass whose pointy seeds will get into your hiking boots - gators strongly recommended. Bring plenty of water since theres no water source past Scorpions. boat ride to prisoners stopped at scorpion first so took longer than the boat ride back which was about an hour I believe. Another fire broke out early Friday morning on the ridge west of thisa matter of perhaps 500 yardsand against the wind. The route ends at Scorpion Anchorage. As for wildlife, we saw ducks in the river and a juvenile Rosie boa crossing in the path. It is a little easier at some points, but I'd say just as steep and even boring after a while being more inland and on a dirt road. Relax, Renske yells as I get hit in the face with another wave. Dinner, yells Rich, who is in charge of the July 4 mystery dinner, says as a kind of non-explanation explanation. Potable water available at Scorpian Anchorage but none at Del Norte so plan accordingly! We saw only 2 other people the whole time we were on the trail and there were lots of animal tracks and scat. I formerly head the sports department at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The trail is along the sea on the way to Pelican Bay. It looks like its about an inch away from completely sinking. Ken Lund About Summary There are only four sites there are the view was spectacular. But otherwise beautiful, I completed this trail with my Dad this weekend, 6/19/22 - it was absolutely beautiful. I didnt know what to say, so I just told her that we decided to take all of our gear with us for a day trip because foxes and people were stealing it., Foxes and people?! You will see the museum ahead of you and a small sign on the right that says Cavern Pt Loop Trail. Once on the boat, there are two main drop off points on Santa Cruz Island, Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoners Harbor. Disembarked ferry at Prisoners at 1115a and started straightaway. The boat ride with island Packers was very nice comfortable with bathrooms and bar with smacks. The mixed sand and cobblestone Scorpion Beach is a world-class destination because of easy beach access, clear ocean waters, a spectacular shoreline with sea caves to explore, nearby camping, numerous trails, and year-round Island Packers boat transportation. We only saw 2 others on the trail. Channel Islands Adventure Company is excited to announce the new tours being offered at Prisoners Harbor on Santa Cruz Island. The islands were formed by plate tectonics, underwater volcanoes, and changing sea levels. []. Bring more water than you think. Weather conditions can change rapidly, it is best to bring layers and a jacket regardless of the time of year. Tomorrow well be easier. I suggest that we play a game before dinner, and Sam suggests that we play the celebrity-guessing game Times Up. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. One of the group has already been to Scorpion and went kayaking from there. Are you spending time in San Diego? Nice trail! Scorpion Anchorage is just an 18-mile ride off the coast of Ventura County on the 96-square-mile island of Santa Cruz. I carried 9L with me because there is no water at Del norte. This is it! Also make sure to wear comfy shoes and probably double up on socks. Only negative is that people dont pick up after their dogs. Did this trek over 3 days and 2 nights. First 5 lots of up and down, walked the down; then 6-9 ran the downs and flats around a 10 min pace, 8ish-9.5 steep uphill but not death; last 4 mostly down so cruised it. We spent the day doing a long hike but we wish we would have spent the money and done the kayak tour. Went in mid-March, stunningly green and beautiful, charming weather. We made it to Prisoners Harbor with about 40 minutes to spare before the ferry left at 3pm. I am 42 yr old man that weighs 205 lbs. Scorpion Cove vs. The hike out is well marked except for the west side of the peak where is gets a bit more fun(interesting) to navigate. It is also a good idea to have a support boat or someone on shore who can keep an eye on you. Little Scorpion is the primary overnight anchorage. Hurrying, most of us push off from the beach and paddle almost a mile out before Natalie and Norberto, who were lagging behind, manage to catch up. Want to know about other wildlife on the island? Im a sports expert and lover. 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