I arrived in Prisoner's Harbor around 11 am and started running shortly after. Scorpion Anchorage on NPS property, lies on the east end of the island, and Prisoners Harbor to the west, at the border of National Park and The Nature Conservancy property. Excellent trail be prepared to hike for 2 1/2 hours. Try this 20.1-km point-to-point trail near Santa Barbara, California. Nice Hike overall. The beach comprises fairly large rocks, so water shoes or sandals are essential. Then, when I called five different kayak-rental outfits in Southern California to find different kayaks with hull storage space, none had enough on hand. It is steeper with ups and downs but if you are in reasonable shape it is not a problem. Recommended Routes in Santa Cruz Island - 2 Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. At Scorpion Anchorage, picnic tables are available at the beach and near the ranch area. Filtered water is available at Scorpion Anchorage, but no water is available at Prisoner's Harbor or Del Norte, so be sure to bring your own. Expect wind and bring layers, as the temperature can change quickly. Super shady and green. The hike is especially difficult for Natalie and Norberto, who seem to have unloaded enough supplies from their kayak to live on the island without support for a year. 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. The Scorpion Anchorage is the most visited destination in the park, with about 65,000 people coming ashore each year to enjoy recreational activities such as hiking, picnicking, camping, kayaking, and swimming, according to park staff. This is it! Park day fee is $3 to park. Parts of the trail were a bit overgrown so be mindful of ticks. Check out Prisoners Harbor! The trip is about 12 miles each way and kayakers must contend with strong tides and currents as well as wind and waves. Did this trek over 3 days and 2 nights. You'll need to leave pups at home dogs aren't allowed on this trail. Campsite 1 & 2 great views; campsite 3 & 4 have shade. 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 . Nevertheless, take time to observe the swell and surge before you make a decision about entering. My husband and I took our 9 year old son and he enjoyed it so much. We didnt do the whole thing this is definitely longer than 3.6 miles. Unfortunately, I didn't see any wildlife yesterday. This is off the trail a considerable distance. Soon, were all drinking fantastic lemon craft cocktails and eating bacon-topped pasta primavera as a deep red-orange sunset dazzles us on the horizon. Have fun! The snorkel tour is significantly more expensive than buying or renting snorkel gear, so opt for snorkeling on your own if you are looking to save money. Views don't get much better than from this windy spot. At no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. There's a trip to Santa Rosa or a trip to Prisoners Harbor at Santa Cruz available with Island Packers. 2023 Channel Island Adventure Co. Privacy | Terms. As you continue hiking the trail there will be more breathtaking views of the large cliffs and you will also be able to spot sea caves. Add Your Recommended Routes RECOMMENDED ROUTE Difficult Santa Cruz Traverse 13.4 mi 2,573' Up 2,568' Down Anacapa, CA RECOMMENDED ROUTE Intermediate Potato Harbor Loop 5.0 mi 511' Up 510' Down Santa C, CA Santa Cruz Island Hiking 67 Miles of Trail Scorpion Anchorage is one of two landing locations on Santa Cruz Island. KAYAK RENTAL: The Channel Islands Kayak Center in Ventura sits next to Island Packers, and they rents kayaks for $35/day for single kayaks and $55/day for double kayaks. Bring plenty of water since theres no water source past Scorpions. Check out these activities on Get Your Guideincluding a Brunch Cruise, Whale and Dolphin Watching Cruise,and a sea kayaking tour at La Jolla. First 4.5 miles to the del Norte campground were strenuous with a full pack and 5L of water. I did this going the other direction, from Scorpion to Prisoners. We get accustomed to an effective paddling rhythm, our kayaks moving surprisingly quickly across the surface of the water. In summer and fall, it's hot and dusty. I would guess a couple more miles. The next day, we continued on to Scorpion via Montoon. Definitely 13.3-13.5 mi, not 12.5. Well, if you have a [], Copyright CaliforniaBeaches.comAbout Us | ContactPrivacy Policy | Terms of Use, NavigateBeachesMapsArticlesHotelsRestaurantsAttractions, Join our email list to get new information, events or other fun stuff, Embassy Suites by Hilton Mandalay Beach Resort, Best Whale Watching Spots in Southern California. []. Channel Islands Adventure Company is excited to announce the new tours being offered at Prisoners Harbor on Santa Cruz Island. Learn about the local history of the island while kayaking with a friendly guide and have a wonderful opportunity to see wildlife such as Garibaldi fish, brown pelicans, seals, sea lions, and even a bald eagle! Also my legs were done by the time I got to climb the peak. You can spend the night at Del Norte, then hike to Scorpion Campground for another night. There are a lot of trees along the trail. I realized that it might be possible that the trip report that I used to help plan this trip was written by a paddler much more experienced than us, one who had his own kayak. There are bathrooms located at this campground if needed. Scorpion Anchorage features the friendliest waters, followed by Anacapa, where you'll find incredible tide pools at isolated Frenchy's Cove. Id recommend re-mapping yourself again when you get into lakeside to make sure the coordinates to the trailhead are correct or youll have another 20 min drive to go back down wildcat canyon road. There were a lot of ups and downs but really nothing unbearable for a someone fit. 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. the weather was helpful because it was foggy and not to hot. Island Packers uses Scorpion (the western one at the mouth of the valley where the ranch house and interpretive center are located) to offload hundreds of hikers, backpackers and kayakers. Lots of grass with sharp needle like pointers that I was constantly reaching down to pull out. But remember, for a yacht on a single hook, this is, at best a fair weather anchorage. Dry and a lot of switch backs. AllTrails wanted to take us through an unmaintained trail but we decided to stick with the NPS main trail. So, you must pack all your water. One of the best things to do while visiting Santa Cruz Island is to kayak and explore the sea caves. The route ends at Scorpion Anchorage. If you do your day trip to the Channel Islands with Island Packers, you will have about 6-7 hours to spend on Santa Cruz Island. However kayaking can [], Perhaps youve seen ocean kayaks paddling along the coast and thought to yourself Those look like a lot of fun. This was a fun run. Support Most iptv box. Island Packers recommends getting to the harbor 45 minutes before the departure time. Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoners Harbor are the two most popular destinations that the Island Packers stops at. But, Im lying. 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. This definitely felt longer than 12.5! The museum walks you through how the Channel Islands were formed, the history of ranching in Santa Cruz, the different animals that adapted to the island, and the conservation efforts of the park today. Scorpion Anchorage is one of two landing locations on Santa Cruz Island. Is this it? The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Dont miss the Blue Grotto sometimes called Emerald Cave, which is accessed on the east side of Bird Sh**t rock. You'll wish you hadn't left your canteen on the boat. Got to Scorpion at 310p for the 4p ferry. The captain stopped for humpback whale, dolphins, and sea lion sightings. The Island Packers boat to Santa Cruz Island leaves early from Ventura Harbor, so I recommend booking accommodation nearby for the night before. There are also snorkeling and hiking option, plus a great visitor center. Our other favorite activities at Prisoners Harbor on Santa Cruz Island are hiking the Pelican Trail with a trained naturalist from Island Packers or enjoying the wildlife both on the island and in the water (dont forget to bring a camera!). The second loop, Scorpion Canyon Loop Trail, is marked in green in the map above. 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. Very good trail, good weather. 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?! The bottom is mostly sand, though we have encountered some eel grass. We stop to watch a large group of sea lions playing in the water, one of whom comes a couple feet from our boat to investigate. 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. It's a 1-mile climb to captivating Cavern Point. Im sure youre right, I say. And dont miss the loop trail to Potato Harbor. Santa Cruz Island has a few beautiful hiking trails. 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. love this trial, short n sweet with great scenery. We also hiked the Navy Road portion of this trail to Del Norte, which many will tell you is "easier" to take on the way back in terms of steepness. Shaded for 90% of it and just a little out in the sun on the uphill section. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Backpacking Santa Cruz Island: Prisoners Harbor to Scorpion Harbor Updated: January 05, 2020; Post By: Matthew Hengst; January 3rd to 5th, 2020. Beautiful hike along the river on the A trail. Look, there is nothing tragic happening here as far as I can tell, Wendy texted me. Just put El Monte park into your maps and it will take you to the trailhead. We did this trail the other way, from Scorpion to Prisoners, with a night spent at Del Norte campground. The other is Prisoner's Harbor near the Conservancy border. There are also several steep cliffs and rocky shorelines to navigate. Some of the tracks looked like mountain lion tracks. Gorgeous views of El Capitan and the valley below, everything is so green right now, we felt like we were in Ireland. There is no cell service in this area. And the rock is again a giant white beacon beckoning sailors to spend some time. Scorpion Anchorage is a small harbor with a pier on the northeast side of Santa Cruz Island. I really liked it. All others must anchor out and it is best to stay well clear of the mooring field, which like the pier, is for official use only. Friendly rangers. Scorpion in foreground, Little Scorpion in the distance. Good views! The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Weve put together an easy guide to help plan your trip to Channel Islands National Park. There are no other visitor centers on the island. There is no food on any of the Channel Islands, so make sure to bring food with you and a bag to carry your trash out. The Crossing The channel crossing for a Prisoner's Harbor day trip is approximately 1 .5 to 2 hours depending on vessel route and possible stops at Scorpion Anchorage. We want to go back and explore more! If you see a shark while kayaking from Prisoners Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage you should stay calm and paddle towards the shore. at Del Nortes fox boxes, but theres no guarantee. One of the best things to do in Santa Cruz Island is to hike to Potato Harbor Overlook where you can see a beautiful view of the clear blue water below. Flights are extremely expensive, and most of us dont have a private boat, so the best option is to book a trip with Island Packers. If you start Cavern Point Loop counterclockwise, the trail starts about a 5 minute walk up from the pier, past the bathrooms. 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. Thats good for the ecosystem, but makes navigating a little tougher. Want to know about other wildlife on the island? The first fire started on the flat about half way between Pelican Bay and Prisoners' Harbor and about half way between the ocean and the top of the ridge. Water source past Scorpions via Montoon better than from this windy spot Island leaves from. 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