This area of the park offers more sea caves than any others. This trail is a fairly well maintained dirt road and featuresmultiple little overlooks. On a clear day, you can see San Nicholas Island, Santa Barbara Island, and Santa Catalina Island out to the south. The foxes on Santa Cruz are interesting. If youd like to continue, you can go straight through the back of the upper campground up Scorpion Canyon until youre ready to turn around. Exciting right? Cruising the California Channel Islands for Education, Recreation and Research Since 1968. The visitor center includes an orientation area that helps visitors plan a safe trip on the island and a variety of interactive exhibits that describe the island's tremendous biodiversity, rich cultural history, and current resource issues. If youre running short on time, there is an option to cut the hike short and descend down Potato Road to the upper campground as a more straight shot to the beach. Hotels with Complimentary Breakfast in Ventura. Find interactive maps, tours of park places, on-the-ground accessibility information, and more.Download before you go so you can use it offline at the islands! Travel time to Scorpion is a little over an hour and Prisoners Harbor, on direct route is about one and a half hours. My personal favorite time of year is October. One option is a rocky beach called Tinker Beach and the next is the tide pools at Pelican Bay, just five minutes further up the trail (continue up the river bed). The route ends at Scorpion Anchorage. Tinker Beachis a rocky little beach with relatively easy water access and an abundance of life along the rocky walls. You must bring all of your water for your stay, although you may stow extra water in the fox boxes by the pier for the next days activities to save weight. Weather conditions can change rapidly in the Santa Barbara Channel. At one point when we were lounging around in the tent we had a fox trot up and nearly come inside. A variety of seabirds can be seen throughout the year (especially around Scorpion Rock), but most birders go to the island to see the endemic island scrub-jay-only found on Santa Cruz Island and no other place in the world. During the northbound direction of their journey, they frequently pass closer to the mainland.December through Mid April many channel crossings provide the opportunity to view gray whales. Kayaking here is truly amazing, but also quite dangerous. If you make it to the campground, you will have hiked about 7 miles round trip from the pier. You can purchase a shuttle ticket from Scorpion Cove to Prisoners Harbor through Island Packers the ferry company. For those looking for an easy trail but can handle some elevation gain,Cavern Point Loopoffers the most beautiful views in the quickest time. is a short 3.5 miles from Prisoner's Harbor, but it feels more deliciously remote . Santa Barbara + Sierra Madre/San Rafael Mountains, California. Kayaking east towards Scorpion Rock or west towards Cavern Point provides great wildlife viewing and sea caves. We suggest passengers do not wear loose or leather soled sandals or flip flops on your island adventure. Be sure to pay close attention to when your boat departs, but the campground is a mere half mile away from the dock. At Scorpion Anchorage, picnic tables are available at the beach and near the ranch area. 2. The boundary is the property line (marked by a fence line) between Prisoners Harbor and Valley Anchorage. Usually, this hike is less crowded than the others due to the increased difficulty. Your day is generally much quieter at Prisoners due to significantly less visitation, but for the same reason, there are usually only one or two park staff around on a busy day. For this reason,Id recommend renting a kayakif you plan to fish during your day at Scorpion. Santa Cruz Island Day Trip & Camper Transport Fares. If you have limited mobility, Id honestly reconsider traveling here at all due to the ladder you will be required to climb to set foot on the island. In contrast to Scorpion Cove, your only option for kayaking at Prisoners Harbor is to rent a boat in Ventura or bring your own across on the ferry. Pack food and drink for your time on the island. Our Jeanneau has 400 ft. of chain forward and 350 ft. chain-rope astern. This rocky trail travels along coast bluffs, through groves of pine and oak trees and through multiple deep canyons, offering scenic views and an occasional endemic island fox. 15. . Best viewing is at Prisoners Harbor, but they are also spotted around the Scorpion area as well. The trail descends into several canyons before climbing back up to 700 feet to the campground. During a normal year of rainfall, wildflowers are best viewed in late winter and spring. Its about more than standing on the mountain top. At the end, youll reach a much quieter beach that is usually more protected from the wind. The National Park Service (NPS) has closed Prisoner Harbor until further notice.On going rain run off/creek flow and predictions of more rain has closed this area for visitors safety.NPS will re-assess this area on Monday, February 27, 2023 an we will update this message at that time. Sea temperatures during warmer months may reach the upper 60s. Whichever you choose, you will love the entire experience. The old bones are creaking as we speak. Their phone number is (805) 658-5730. You can book your ticketshereand find more information about Santa Cruz Islandhere. thank you to all. The island fox is incredibly cute and bold, having been the top land predator for thousands of years. I hope to share with you some of the knowledge Ive learned along the way so you can do the same! Travel time is one hour. Kayaking from Prisoners Harbor is also very scenic. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and metal food storage box. Scorpion SCI to E. Anacapa 11:00 AM. The fox encounters at Prisoners Harbor are more organic (and often more rewarding when you come across a fox hunting on trail), but more rare, though many days I will see a fox searching the picnic tables there as well. Common hazards include: The next step in planning after weighing Scorpion Cove vs. These varied land forms support a wide variety of plant and animal species. Once on the water, there is no shortage of sea caves and kelp forest to explore in both directions. An outdoor pit toilet is available for the campground, though you will need to bring your own toilet paper. 1691 Spinnaker Drive #105B Frequently, our boats land at Scorpion Anchorage to offload passengers and gear before continuing to Prisoners Harbor. .3 miles one way Take a longer walk to the campground trail head, where the picnic area faces Chinese Harbor and the mainland beyond. A third moderate hiking option is thePelican Bay Trail. He then decided to leave Gotham for a while after having a parent's association, and later the police, on his case (which resulted in Gordon becoming alcoholic and cheating on his wife) and had to shift his focus on the countryside, spending most of his time in scouts camps, wearing a scout chief uniform over his Batsuit, to cover his identity as the Batman. As a quick summary, Id say your best chance of seeing a fox is at Scorpion and best chance of seeing a scrub jay or other specific bird species is at Prisoners, though both can be found at both locations. Remember that it is uphill out of the cove on the way back, and it is pretty tiring, so leave yourself enough time. Heading off on a close reach almost always gets us to the vicinity of Cavern Point. Kayaking from Prisoners Harbor is also very scenic. 3 bedrooms. Alternatively, you may use, Channel Islands National Park Travel Forum, Channel Islands National Park Vacation Rentals, Channel Islands National Park Vacation Packages, Things to Do in Channel Islands National Park, Channel Islands National Park Travel Guide, http://www.tripadvisor.com/help/how_to_edit_your_posts. If youd like to spend most of your Channel Islands National Park time exploring the underwater half of the park, a tour withChannel Islands Adventure Companywill never disappoint! We had a docent come by twice to chat and make sure we knew to be at the dock by 3 pm since this was theoretically the last boat coming out here until the construction was done in 6 months or so. I guarantee youll see a fox within 15 minutes of sitting at a bench in Scorpion Campground. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft. Wednesday High : 53F I get sea sick fairly easily. I actually prefer this hike and it has been recognized by many as the most beautiful in the entire National Park. TNC property is closed to the public with the exception of the Pelican Bay Trail, so you have to be a bit more cautious when exploring, but the private property is usually well marked. A visitor center is located in the historic Scorpion ranch house. On days that the concessionaire boats run to Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoners Harbor, guided hikes may be offered by national park volunteers or concessionaire naturalists. If you really just cannot decide between a day at Scorpion Cove vs. There are not any trees along the trails. Picnic tables are located near the pier, and 1.3 uphill miles at the Del Norte trail head. Head east and youll encounter Scorpion Rock and the many large seacaves to explore and swim through along the way. It is on the border of the Channel Islands National Park and The Nature Conservancy property. If unique animal sightings are what youre after, both Scorpion Cove and Prisoners Harbor will give you ample viewing opportunities of island animals. Once on the island, the easiest option is a shortwalk to the wetland arealocated just past the restrooms to the left. Id recommend getting an early start and checking out Scorpion Rock and caves to the east in the morning before the wind picks up. There are no other goods, services, or accommodations (lodging) available on the island. With two campsites within the National Park, a one-way hike can be done from the middle of the island to the eastern end. I recommend ending in the campground so that you can refill water as you walk back to the beach. All rights reserved. A hat and sunscreen are recommended. Prisoners Harbor is located midway along the North shore of Santa Cruz Island. Travel time to Scorpion Anchorage is 1-1.5 hours while travel time to Prisoner's Harbor is 2 hours and the boat often also visits the famous Painted Cave area. 805-642-1393, 3550 Harbor Blvd Scorpion rock is pretty far, but devoted snorkelers can make it on a nice day. A more inland option for moderate hiking is Scorpion Canyon Loop. Cruising the California Channel Islands for Education, Recreation and Research Since 1968. We could see Anacapa rising prominently off to the west as we dropped. Location & Hours 1901 Spinnaker Dr Get directions Edit business info You Might Also Consider Sponsored Under the Oaks Santa Barbara Currently booked through March of 2023. 805-642-1393, Santa Cruz Island Hiking & Interpretive Guides, All Rights Reserved | Travel Master Proby, East End Landing Cove Anacapa Island Day Trip, Del Norte Campground | Prisoners Harbor SCI, Camping on Santa Cruz Island-Del Norte -Prisoners Harbor, Driving Directions | Channel Islands Harbor, Oxnard, Anacapa Island Hiking Guide & Interpretive Trail Guide, Santa Cruz Island Hiking Guide & Interpretive Guide, Santa Rosa Hiking Guide & Interpretive Guides, San Miguel Island Hiking & Interpretive Trail Guides, Santa Barbara Island Hiking and Interpretive Trail Guides, History -Stories -Facts of California Islands, East End Landing Cove AI | K-12 Education, Wildlife & Whale Watching | K-12 Education, Anacapa Island (AI) Channel Islands National Park, Santa Cruz Island (SCI) Channel Islands National Park, Santa Rosa Island (SRI) Channel Islands National Park, San Miguel Island (SMI) Channel Islands National Park. 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