11/5/2023 0 Comments Scorpion beach santa cruz island![]() Please have confirmation letter, receipt, or campsite number with you. However, park staff is not always available on the island. Upon arrival, meet ranger at beach, landing dock or campground.You must carry all your gear, including water. This is a backcountry campground that requires a 3.5-mile moderate to strenuous hike.One party or group may reserve a maximum of 2 individual sites per visit. ![]() Camping reservations are required prior to arriving on the island.Due to difficult weather and rugged terrain, backcountry camping is an arduous endeavor and should be undertaken only by experience, well-conditioned backpackers.Contact the park's authorized concessioner Island Packers or use your own private boat. Visitors are required to arrange boat transportation to the island before reserving a campsite. Santa Cruz Island may only be reached by boat.Access to the island is by Island Packers Cruises or by private boat. Visitors are encouraged to pack as light as possible (backpacking style) as they will need to carry all of their gear, food and water to the campsite. A picnic table and pit-style toilet are provided (campers must bring their own toilet paper). The Del Norte Campground has four primitive campsites (four persons per site) and users must camp within these designated sites. ![]() This moderate to strenuous 3.5-mile hike from Prisoners Harbor travels through island oak woodlands and coastal sage scrub plant communities. To reach this backcountry site, visitors will backpack along a historic ranch road/trail through a series of canyons and ridges, to a vista about 700 feet above sea level. Due to difficult weather, rugged terrain, and off-trail hiking, backcountry camping is an arduous endeavor and should be undertaken only by experienced, well-conditioned backpackers. While backcountry camping is an incredible experience, it is not for the inexperienced backpacker. As you explore these wild areas, please take the responsibility to help us protect and preserve these delicate natural resources for future generations. The National Park Service opened this backcountry site in recognition of its rare wilderness values. Del Norte is currently the only backcountry campground on Santa Cruz Island. Either way, it is a real national treasure and I am glad it is well protected as a national park.For a truly remote getaway full of backpacking and breathtaking scenery, take a backcountry trip to Santa Cruz Island's Del Norte Campground. It was a very,very dry time of year ther and it would be glorious to see the island when it is really green. easily numbering in the hundreds with lots of babies (the size of footballs) flying out of the water with their moms (or dads?). We lucked out on the return ferry ride and spent a few extra minutes following an enormous pod of dolphins. Kayaking along side the sea lions was a real treat. Our kayak trip was with Santa Barbata Adventure Company andd they get a big thumbs up. This is not a sandy beach, but it was great to watch the surf come in. Other than that, bring everything else you need! Our day hike of eight miles was out to Scorpion Beach. The campsite does have potable water and a "nice" outhouse. right on the edge looking out into the valley and the hills. We stayed in the best site there, number 25. The lower was a very short walk for the ferry and great for family with kids and having to haul a bunch of stuff. hello upper body! There are two campsites at the Scorpion Beach location. an eight mile hike that was rarely on flat ground and a couple hours sea kayaking. Just back from two night camping on Santa Cruz Island. Bring binoculars, small compact camera, sunscreen, water booties, clothes line, dry bag if your paddling around the coves to the better surf breaks. Brought several items that I should have paired down on like my camera tripod, boci ball set (fun but weighs like 10 lbs). Campground has potable water, pit toilets, no fires allowed and a food storage locker. Quite a few boats docked outside Smugglers Cove for Labor Day recreation. About 4 mi each way 800'+ elevation each way steeper shorter incline coming back longer and more drawn out incline on the way to Smugglers. ![]() Quite a hike with all the gear (wetsuit, surfboard, backpack, food but was worth it. Awesome time, clean, pristine, fresh air, bright stars and blue moon too! Hiked to Smugglers Cove on the SE side of the island to go surfing. Took a two man tent, hiking gear, camp stove, provisions and my surfboard. Plan on packing light as you will have to hoof it all to the campground which is a half mile from the dock/pier. Took the Island packers ferry from Ventura Harbor to Scorpion Cove on Santa Cruz Island.
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