Wind is an issue. One could think of Prisoner's Harbor as Two Harbors to Scorpion's Avalon. She believed that? I laugh. Explore Prisoner's Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage, Santa Cruz Island - view hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. Island Packers Cruises is the exclusive concessionaire to the national park. 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. Yes you can kayak from Prisoners Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage. This rugged backpacker-friendly trail takes you to Del Norte Campground from Prisoners Harbor. the weather was helpful because it was foggy and not to hot. The anchorage is quite deep and youll find that you have to maneuver in fairly close to anchor in less than 35 ft. Loved this hike! Scorpion Anchorage is one of two landing locations on Santa Cruz Island. Its some of the most spectacular scenery in California. All pier landings involve climbing a ladder between 1 and 6 rungs. Very peaceful lots of nature though if you want to cross the river be prepared to get a little wet. Be sure to pack food and water for your time on the island. Thank God for his help. Beautiful hike along the river on the A trail. 1. The best time of day to kayak from Prisoners Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage is in the early morning or late afternoon when the sun is not as intense. Exposed. I prefer the spots in the SW corner of the anchorage but will accept the second tier spots that are farther out. 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). Island Packers operates trips to Santa Cruz Island 5-7 days a week, year round. The companys service is generally good, though plan for the fact that the crew asks all passengers to help unload the boats cargo hold upon docking, which can take 30 minutes. When climbing near the peak there is a lot of loose rocks and steep climbing. I took extra care to make sure the adventures logistics were carefully planned and our itinerary allowed the four less experienced kayakers to shirk some paddling miles and still complete the trip. Super shady and green. 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. The main trail from Del Norte Camp to Scorpion Anchorage is in pretty good condition. We arrived around 10:45 a.m. and had to wait for 30 minutes for a parking spot. Spend time exploring the island, snorkeling, relaxing on the beach, and more. For access to Santa Cruz Island inquire with Island Packers Cruises. You can use the other trail called the Santa Margarita River Loop and takes you cross a little stream and reach the river, you dont have to cross the river (no need do the loop) because the river depth could be deep, just out and back will do. Kind of in eventful end of trail but definitely an easy loop, Nice route, beautiful creek, can get a bit crowded during the weekends. Shes right, of course, and I realize her oft-repeated confidence in my trip planning was never just platitudinous she genuinely believed it. Nevertheless, take time to observe the swell and surge before you make a decision about entering. BTW we dont leave the boat unattended for more than a half hour or so. The boat ride with island Packers was very nice comfortable with bathrooms and bar with smacks. Please be sure to check back frequently as this journey continues. While this is a great spot for exploring in your plastic boat, many of the caves have dangerously low ceilings. I started imagining elaborate suicide strategies to avoid having to tell nine of my friends that our six-months-in-the-making July 4th plans were now destroyed and I decided that somehow drowning myself in a kayak would be the most poetic way to go. Really fun trail. To get to Prisoners Harbor, take the Island Packers Ferry. Trail winds through old grazing grounds then connects to Navy Road for a bit then to single track. Scorpion has the best kayaking spots on the island. Scorpion in foreground, Little Scorpion in the distance. And dont miss the loop trail to Potato Harbor. The Prisoner's Harbor area is part of The Nature Conservancy section of the island. Your email address will not be published. Bring lots of sunscreen and a camera to capture the beautiful views :]. They have regular trips to all of the islands and whale watching excursions too. The trip is about 12 miles each way and kayakers must contend with strong tides and currents as well as wind and waves. I brought about 5 liters of water in the springtime and was enough for me until I reached Scorpions where there was potable water. There's a trip to Santa Rosa or a trip to Prisoners Harbor at Santa Cruz available with Island Packers. Dont worry you can definitely do it. anchorage and it can be difficult to get close enough to the shore to get out of the westerly wind. IG - @kylerampone. Both locations have many activities such as hiking, snorkeling, bird watching, ocean kayaking, and camping to check out. Make sure you bring enough water, there is no source for potable water until you get to Scorpion. This species of island fox evolved from the mainland gray fox. If you drop your boat in the water when the sun just peaks over Anacapa, youll likely find glass-smooth waters and excellent visibility. This area of the park offers more sea caves than any others. Once on the boat, there are two main drop off points on Santa Cruz Island: Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoners Harbor. Not too washed out and very easy trail to follow. Scorpion Cove vs. At no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I told you that you could do it! I yell. Wildlife can be spotted at both locations and will vary depending on the time of day and season. 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. We got there about 30 minutes before and still had plenty of time to check in and wait before boarding the boat. It is on the border of the Channel Islands National Park and The Nature Conservancy property. 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 We only saw 2 others on the trail. You can stay at Scorpion Anchorage for up to 14 days. Only negative is that people dont pick up after their dogs. Even with a helmet,you could still be crushed if youve picked a cave with poor clearance. Its now a significant obstruction. If you dont want to spend the money on the kayak tour (yes, its pricey), you could spend your day at Channel Islands National Park doing one or both of the hikes below, and then snorkeling on your own with your extra time. If you decide to do the entire two loops, connecting the blue and the green marked trails above will total about 7 miles, so it will take up most of your day. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. You will see the museum ahead of you and a small sign on the right that says Cavern Pt Loop Trail. We crossed the River 6 times to get to our destination recommend extra shoes/or just be prepared to get your feet/up to ankles wet. Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links for products and services I recommend. Also, my watch clocked me at 14.5 miles not 12.5. 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. Scorpion Anchorage is one of two landing locations on Santa Cruz Island. Every landmark had personality, every direction I looked was art. I hope you have found some useful content on my site today. You can find accommodations in Ventura or nearby cities such as Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, and Malibu. This trail is great for backpacking, birding, and camping, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. We spent the day doing a long hike but we wish we would have spent the money and done the kayak tour. The only water on the island is at scorpion so you would be stuck carrying a lot of water if you went out and back. Park day fee is $3 to park. BRING WATER, lots of motivation, and your sense of wonder because it is so stunningly beautiful. 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. I wonder [], Kayaks are incredibly stable and safe boats and most people will never capsize or flip their kayak. Round trip fare is $63 for adults, $58 for seniors, $45 for children and free for infants younger than 3 years old. Good mix of elevation gains and flatter walks. Hike from the harbor to del Norte campground took us about 2 hours where we spent one night. Passed by 2 crossings, wasnt able to go through the river since the water was too high for the outfit I had. However, to backpack the island, we would suggest getting dropped . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We stay well clear of their dock, which is tucked in the west corner of the anchorage. Lots of shade. Lets just do it. She wrote that she thought we should just ignore the warnings and hypothetical cargo-space problem and just continue with my original plan. Its our best chance to get to Prisoners Harbor, I say, hoping to avoid the afternoon ocean swells that ruined todays kayak. It is unclear how Scorpion was named; it may be the shape of the valley or the fact that there are small scorpions present. On your Channel Islands day trip dont miss the museum where you can learn more about the Channel Islands. Im sure youre making a bigger deal of it than it is, she said. This post has been removed at the author's request. The loop visits two of the most famous points on the eastern section of the island, Cavern Point and Potato Harbor. Check out these activities on Get Your Guideincluding a Brunch Cruise, Whale and Dolphin Watching Cruise,and a sea kayaking tour at La Jolla. Other than that beautiful views. Dont miss the Blue Grotto sometimes called Emerald Cave, which is accessed on the east side of Bird Sh**t rock. Scorpion Anchorage is just an 18-mile ride off the coast of Ventura County on the 96-square-mile island of Santa Cruz. A little long, and some unsteady rocks. Rentals include paddles, flotation jackets, and helmets, but dont expect the equipment to be well-organized when arriving on Santa Cruz, because no representatives from the rental company work on the boat or the island. Beautiful views make up for difficulty. We made it to Prisoners Harbor with about 40 minutes to spare before the ferry left at 3pm. Lots of running water lots of beautiful trees very quiet. We loved it! Can someone tell me why the hell Im carrying ten pounds of lemons in here? I yell to anyone who will listen. Rich sets up a makeshift cocktail bar on top of a Fox Box the metal safes used on Santa Cruz to keep foxes from stealing camp food pulls out a metal citrus squeezer, and begins filling a bottle with fresh lemon juice. I would guess a couple more miles. The other is Prisoners Harbor near the Conservancy border. I did this going the other direction, from Scorpion to Prisoners. There was a sign at the beginning of the trail saying the trail was closed up ahead but we were able to hike the whole thing. High 70 afternoon hike. Camping is located at both Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoners Harbor. parts of the trail were moist due to the mist. There is no shade on this trail, so dress accordingly and have sun protection. It's beautiful right now. Beautiful regardless of the gales. You can swim, snorkel, dive and kayak here, and there are plenty of hiking options too, starting from Scorpion Anchorage. Scorpion Anchorage is the best area of the Channel Islands National Park to kayak. Views don't get much better than from this windy spot. The southeast end, from Prisoners Harbor east to San Pedro Point, is part of the park. 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. Smugglers Road, Scorpion Canyon and Potato Harbor, Ford Point via East Point Trail and South Road, Torrey Pines via East Point and Torrey Pines Trail, Mount Pleasant via Del Norte and Navy Road Loop. The captain stopped for humpback whale, dolphins, and sea lion sightings. It is possible to kayak from Prisoners Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage but it is a long and challenging journey. Booking.com is a great site to search accommodation near Ventura Harbor. I really liked it. Nice trail, a little muddy with a couple of small water crossing due to recent rain yesterday. Headed out to Santa Cruz Island in the Channel Islands National Park? We are looking for a full day of hiking and scenic views. Love the horses that hike along the trails too! Get picked up from the scorpion dock the next morning. MHiked backwards scorpion to Del norte. I carried 9L with me because there is no water at Del norte. Everyone looks defeated and nervous, and Sam has a look on her face like she thought she was standing in line for a whale-watching tour on a cruise ship only to discover that she was actually in a line to be drafted to the Olympic rowing team. 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 was a fun run. Thats good for the ecosystem, but makes navigating a little tougher. 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