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. Potable water available at Scorpian Anchorage but none at Del Norte so plan accordingly! Scorpion Anchorage is a small harbor with a pier on the northeast side of Santa Cruz Island. Swell, wind and, on one occasion, the smell from Bird S**t Rock (78) have encouraged me to find another spot for the night. Make sure you bring enough water, there is no source for potable water until you get to Scorpion. Were already here? Renske asks. Highly recommend. Santa Cruz Scorpion Anchorage landings are at a pier. The name of the island that Prisoners Harbor is located on is Santa Cruz Island. The hike from Prisoners to Scorpion is about 16 miles. 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. Overall it was a really unique experience being able to boat out to a national park island and crank out a long hike. On our third day, we hiked back to Prisoners Harbor and kayaked 8 miles to Pelican Bay and back (especially beautiful). Yes you can kayak from Prisoners Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. 9a departure. Unfortunately, I didn't see any wildlife yesterday. There is potable water, pit toilets, picnic tables, and food storage bins at this campground. A day trip to Channel Islands National Park, Santa Cruz Island, is a perfect way to spend a vacation day. Due to their more unpredictable weather and waters,. First 4.5 miles to the del Norte campground were strenuous with a full pack and 5L of water. We were lucky to spot a big group of Dolphins and spent time watching them swim around the boat. Passed by 2 crossings, wasnt able to go through the river since the water was too high for the outfit I had. I prefer the spots in the SW corner of the anchorage but will accept the second tier spots that are farther out. When climbing near the peak there is a lot of loose rocks and steep climbing. The goal was to reach the peak but after 1/4 mile I decided to turn back because the path is precarious and I was alone. You will continue this part of the hike at the campground, where you should first fill up your water at the spigot (watch out for yellow jackets!). This loop trail leaves from the eastern harbor, Scorpion Anchorage (as opposed to Mid Santa Cruz, or Prisoner's Harbor). Everything was in bloom. Everythings going to work out. Im not sure if shes saying this because she believes it or because I specifically told her before leaving for the trip that I would need ongoing emotional support to avoid intentionally drowning myself at sea over my self-hate about planning a kayaking trip that would leave its participants emotionally damaged. The trail begins on a fire road leaving Prisoner's Harbor and rises above sea level, overlooking the northern coast of the island. We decide to turn back early, making todays 8-mile paddle a 3-mile one. There is no cell service in this area. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Trail winds through old grazing grounds then connects to Navy Road for a bit then to single track. Both locations have many activities such as hiking, snorkeling, bird watching, ocean kayaking, and camping to check out. The area around the high mount is technical but didn't feel dangerous. Report inappropriate content 2. They have regular trips to all of the islands and whale watching excursions too. Scorpion Anchorage is one of two landing locations on Santa Cruz Island. 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 took about 1.5 hours to finally get on the trail and hiking from the time we left. Relax, Renske yells as I get hit in the face with another wave. I'm deciding between the two and have a few questions. You get off the boat at 10:30/45 and the boat leaves in the afternoon from Prisoners at 2:45. Im a sports expert and lover. We ended up leaving 2.5 liters (total) at the campground (there's an emergency stash there but I wouldn't rely on it), and carrying 3 liters each (6 liters total) from Del Norte to Scorpion Anchorage. The rode simply bowed and we couldnt get over the stern hook. The trail was super straightforward and spot on with AllTrails. 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. Come prepared to pack out all your trash. Scorpion Anchorage is a small harbor with a pier on the northeast side of Santa Cruz Island. Your adventure begins on the Island Packers ferry where hopefully youll spot a pod of dolphins during your journey or even whales. You'll need to leave pups at home dogs aren't allowed on this trail. Pretty views of the surrounding area - I cant comment to the end of the trail as we didnt make it there, but I would definitely come back again! We will just be going for the day and I'm trying to figure out which part of the island is the best to go to. Completed this trail 4/16/21. We motor across Chinese Harbor to Prisoners, staying on or outside the 20 fathom curve if we can't see shore, which keeps us clear of all obstructions. 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. The captain will point out animals that they spot and slow down the boat so everyone can see. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. When most people think of kayaking they imagine themselves paddling peacefully down a river on a hot summer day. The spring is the best time to do a day trip to Channel Islands National Park if you want to see more foliage while still enjoying nice weather. 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. This hike would be the best in the spring when Santa Cruz Island has more foliage since it is mostly internal through the canyon. Great trail with the sound of running water the whole way. Even though we had plenty of scope in December 2022, a wind shift to the northeast made it impossible to retrieve our secondary anchor by slacking the primary. It is also a good idea to have a support boat or someone on shore who can keep an eye on you. Both locations have many activities such as hiking, snorkeling, bird watching, ocean kayaking, and camping to check out. But, after a lasagna dinner, I announce that we should aim to be on the water in the morning by 6 AM. Once on the boat, there are two main drop off points on Santa Cruz Island, Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoners Harbor. 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. Alternatively, you may use, Channel Islands National Park Travel Forum, Channel Islands National Park Vacation Rentals, Channel Islands National Park Attractions, http://www.tripadvisor.com/help/how_to_edit_your_posts. Beautiful views make up for difficulty. Prisoners Harbor Landings are at a pier. I should have believed her; but, so often, its impossible to adopt the faith that others have in us for ourselves. It is possible to kayak from Prisoners Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage but it is a long and challenging journey. Cruises to both Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoners Harbor leave from the Ventura Harbor location year-round. The transportation to Santa Cruz Island is with Island Packers and goes out of Ventura Harbor. Extend your trip to California by visiting Big Sur, Temecula, Death Valley National Park, or Joshua Tree National Park. I am 42 yr old man that weighs 205 lbs. Friendly rangers. Anacapa Island is closer than Santa Cruz Island, however it is very small and offers less options for hiking. The anchorage is quite deep and youll find that you have to maneuver in fairly close to anchor in less than 35 ft. 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. Also, my watch clocked me at 14.5 miles not 12.5. Beautiful views, trail is easy to follow. It was scary going down especially with my super heavy backpack. Boats to Prisoner's Harbor, the mid-Santa Cruz Island landing, are not scheduled as frequently as to the more popular Scorpion Anchorage, but for those seeking solitude, it's worth the effort. Required fields are marked *. If youre planning on kayaking from Prisoners Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage be sure to check the weather and tides beforehand. Only about one quarter of this mountainous island is part of the national park (eastern 24%), the rest is managed by The Nature Conservancy and other organizations. Dinner, yells Rich, who is in charge of the July 4 mystery dinner, says as a kind of non-explanation explanation. This trail is great for backpacking, birding, and camping, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. 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. There were lots of wildflowers and opportunities to see wildlife like birds, butterflies, small rodents, and even the Santa Cruz fox. Look, there is nothing tragic happening here as far as I can tell, Wendy texted me. Such a beautiful hike! All pier landings involve climbing a ladder between 1 and 6 rungs. It's beautiful right now. Then did del Norte > scorpion campground the next day. Hike from the harbor to del Norte campground took us about 2 hours where we spent one night. Dan. We can do it! this was very difficult because of the climbing uphills. Place Name If this isnt it, Im going to kill myself!. If youre north of the anchorage, locate the steep cliffs of Cavern Point. A little long, and some unsteady rocks. Whitney has a smile on his face and though Sam, Lisa and Suzanne look very relieved theyre done, they dont seem permanently scarred. Mostly shady under beautiful holly oaks and occasional views of the surrounding scrub hills, greener than usual. There is barely any shade on this trail so make sure you have plenty of water and sunscreen. If you want to book a kayak or snorkeling tour you will have to do that ahead of time. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. River crossings are closed by the rangers due to high water. This was a fun run. After hiking to Scorpion Anchorage there will be a campground and the Scorpion Anchorage Harbor where boats can take you back to the mainland. Lots of shade. When we stop for a snack break after two hours of paddling, Renske and I are smiling and laughing, and I realize that were actually having fun. It's expected to take six to eight months. Check out Prisoners Harbor! Weve strapped so much trash-bag protected stuff to the top of the boats that Rich and Wendys kayak looks like a makeshift garbage barge, and Natalie and Norbertos kayak looks like its been loaded up with every belonging theyve owned since childhood. She believed that? I laugh. Campsite 1 & 2 great views; campsite 3 & 4 have shade. Hiking, camping, sea kayaking, and snorkeling are the top reasons to visit the island. You can swim, snorkel, dive and kayak here, and there are plenty of hiking options too, starting from Scorpion Anchorage. This is it! On the way down the trail, near the campground, we saw a few island foxes. To get back, head town the trail on the right (Potato Harbor Road). Channel Islands National Park is located off the coast of California and is made up of five islands: Anacapa Island, Santa Cruz Island, Santa Rosa Island, San Miguel Island, and Santa Barbra Island. 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. Over all worth it would not recommend kayaking after this hike. This species of island fox evolved from the mainland gray fox. I would guess a couple more miles. 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. Once on the boat, there are two main drop off points on Santa Cruz Island: Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoners Harbor. No shade. My husband and I took our 9 year old son and he enjoyed it so much. But before going ahead with my plan of self-destruction, I decided to get Wendys opinion. Love the horses that hike along the trails too! 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. Could be a little tricky for some. Santa Cruz Island used to be one big ranch which provided food, hay, grain, pasture, sheep, cattle, wine and more. They will get into your shoes and pants. Boats land at either Prisoners Harbor or Scorpion Anchorage, a short walk from historic Scorpion Ranch. Eel grass might be. Note: Kelp, which virtually disappeared from all of the islands, is rebounding with vigor at Scorpion and covers the surface south and east of (10) rock. Check out this blog post: Channel Islands National Park Animals. If you dont have your own gear, you can rent snorkel gear from Channel Islands Adventure Companywhen you arrive at Santa Cruz or ahead of time on their website. Is this it? Little Scorpion is a fraction of a mile east. 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. Round trip tickets cost an obscene $79 (plus $28 per kayak transported), proving that a world with boat transportation monopolies is a bad world indeed. Started my birthday with morning hike, lots of shade and water in the river. All pier landings involve climbing a ladder between 1 and 6 rungs Santa Rosa Bechers Bay landings are on a pier and onto a grated catwalk to a flight of stairs If you see a shark while kayaking from Prisoners Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage you should stay calm and paddle towards the shore. Other boats line up beam-to-beam in a East-West behind Scorpion Rock. This location has stunning views of both the island and marine environment. While this is a great spot for exploring in your plastic boat, many of the caves have dangerously low ceilings. It's a spectacular hike, and we didn't see a single person on the trail once we left the campground. I highly recommend this to see the island quickly. 0:39 - Turnoff for the Del Norte Trail (times are approximate) This post has been removed at the author's request. Today - Dec 31 Reservations required (limited quota) Select a start date Filtered water is available at Scorpion Anchorage, but no water is available at Prisoners Harbor or Del Norte, so be sure to bring your own. Are you looking for another island adventure? Prisoners Harbor is more secluded in comparison to Scorpion Anchorage offering a completely different experience for Channel Islands National Park guests. Santa Cruz Island has a few beautiful hiking trails. It is on the border of the Channel Islands National Park and The Nature Conservancy property. Beautiful green fields, glorious views and no one else out since a big storm is coming this afternoon. If you want to make sure you get the best seats you could arrive earlier to get in line sooner. We camped at Del Norte 1st night and woke up and completed the trail (11mi) to Scorpion Cove. You will find many unique sea caves near Scorpion Anchorage, making Santa Cruz Island a unique place to kayak. This trail is great for backpacking, birding, and camping, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. And dont miss the loop trail to Potato Harbor. There are side trails that lead down to the river. (As of November 2019 this location is closed for construction of a new pier and will reopen summer 2020). Potato Harbor hike. 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. Active birding zone and saw a trout jump. Very good trail, good weather. I formerly head the sports department at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. This is a very pretty trail with easy to moderate gains in a few areas; however, a great deal of the trail is flat. View full map. Ferries generally leave daily @ 9am from Ventura, CA. Anchoring at Little Scorpion The anchorage is quite deep and you'll find that you have to maneuver in fairly close to anchor in less than 35 ft. Water, pit toilets, picnic tables, and it 's unlikely you 'll need to pups... Hiking to Scorpion browser for the next time I comment on you Island: Scorpion Anchorage landings at! 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Involve climbing a ladder between 1 and 6 rungs a trademark of AllTrails, LLC campsite 1 & 2 views! No source for potable water, there is barely any shade on this is! Trails too miles not 12.5 then connects to Navy Road for a bit then single. Dont miss the loop trail to Potato Harbor Road ) wildlife like birds, butterflies small... This to see wildlife like birds, butterflies, small rodents, and snorkeling are the top reasons to anytime. Have to maneuver in fairly close to anchor in less than 35 ft trail once we left the campground is. Have a few Island foxes small and offers less options for hiking, Renske yells I. Took our 9 year old son and he enjoyed it so much, snorkeling, bird,. Up beam-to-beam in a East-West behind Scorpion Rock spectacular hike, lots of wildflowers and opportunities see. 16 miles difficult because of the climbing uphills the sports department at the 's. 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Your trip to Channel Islands National Park animals rocks and steep climbing University. There are two main drop off points on Santa Cruz Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoners Harbor is on... Comparison to Scorpion Anchorage Harbor where boats can take you back to Prisoners Harbor Del. Plan accordingly off points on Santa Cruz Scorpion Anchorage, locate the steep cliffs of Cavern point gray..
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