About Santa Cruz Del Norte Backcountry
Number of accommodations: 4
Nearby Activities & Attractions
Hiking
Kayaking
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Open year round
This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.
Rates, Sites & Availability
4 Sites Available
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Site Details
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4 Sites Available
No available sites
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Reviews (143)
What Guests Are Saying
Santa Cruz Del Norte Backcountry offers stunning views and a peaceful camping experience, with well-maintained sites and amenities like picnic tables and bear boxes. The hike to the campsite is moderately challenging but rewarding, showcasing the island's natural beauty. However, campers should be prepared for limited privacy, a lack of water, and potential challenges with the trail's maintenance. Overall, it's a great destination for those seeking a remote and picturesque camping adventure.
What Guests Are Saying
Santa Cruz Del Norte Backcountry offers stunning views and a peaceful camping experience, with well-maintained sites and amenities like picnic tables and bear boxes. The hike to the campsite is moderately challenging but rewarding, showcasing the island's natural beauty. However, campers should be prepared for limited privacy, a lack of water, and potential challenges with the trail's maintenance. Overall, it's a great destination for those seeking a remote and picturesque camping adventure.
Review Summary
Jeremy M
VerifiedNovember 9, 2020 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: BACKCOUNTRY AREA
Highly recommend this site if you like being able to explore without many (or any) other folks around. Make sure to pack light & bring plenty of water. I had a buddy try to bring too much & he did not have fun hiking 3.5 miles uphill to the campsite lol. I'd definitely recommend the hike to Chinese Harbor, try to time the walk back around sunset & you'll get some beautiful views.
Michael P
VerifiedOctober 29, 2020 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: BACKCOUNTRY AREA
About a 4 mile hike to the site from the dock at Prisoners Harbor. First mile is steep uphill. The campsite we got #2 had no shade whatsoever. Luckily it wasn't hot and actually we had a bit of overcast. Four miles from there you have a cobblestone beach at Chinese Harbor which was way cool.
young k
VerifiedSeptember 23, 2020 • Stayed at: 003, Loop: BACKCOUNTRY AREA
The quiet and tranquil campsite was really good, especially because the sunset is beautiful and the sea is calm, so I want to go again.
Jacek W
VerifiedAugust 18, 2020 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: BACKCOUNTRY AREA
Beautiful sunset.
Elizabeth D
VerifiedMarch 3, 2020 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: BACKCOUNTRY AREA
Incredible, absolutely amazing! Biggest challenge was estimating how much water to bring in/ carry.
Dawn Renae H
VerifiedFebruary 19, 2020 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: BACKCOUNTRY AREA
My first backpacking experience and it was challenging!
The sites were clean and everything was as advertised.
The trip up with 4 gallons of water plus 25 plus # of gear tested this fat ole 60 yr old with asthma but I did it!!!
Note: 2 more canyons than expected, deeper than expected. The one with the pipe and the low tree is particularly interesting and challenging.
The 9 mile round trip to Chinese Harbor is a piece of cake if you can make the almost 4 miles to Del Norte with water, pack and your lungs intact.
2 nights is enough fun, the third is not.
Brent M
VerifiedFebruary 1, 2020 • Stayed at: 003, Loop: BACKCOUNTRY AREA
Transportation was effecient. Island has very few people and hardly anyone hikes to the campground and even fewer to the east of the campground. Nobody is around after the boat leaves. Campsites are all clean and well placed. Wildlife is in abundance. I recommend hiking up to the ridge. Bring enough water; there is no location to filter water unless there has been a very recent rain.
Gautham A
VerifiedJanuary 25, 2020 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: BACKCOUNTRY AREA
It would be great to have a drinking water facility at this campsite.
Annette L
VerifiedJanuary 24, 2020 • Stayed at: 003, Loop: BACKCOUNTRY AREA
Nice Backcountry location, tent pad did fit two small backpacking tents, an island fox visited us a few times, the trail is an uphill dirt road for the first mile or so, then it rises and falls through the rolling hills to the campsite, not super strenuous if you're an experienced hiker.
Megan R
VerifiedJanuary 23, 2020 • Stayed at: 003, Loop: BACKCOUNTRY AREA
Coming from Colorado, my friend and I were dismayed to find that the backcountry site on Santa Cruz island was incredibly close to the trail & the sites were within very close proximity. This was not the remote backcountry experience we'd envisioned. Rather than camping there, we continued to hike thru the night, until we arrive at the other ferry site.
Location Santa Cruz Del Norte Backcountry
Address:
1901 Spinnaker Drive
Ventura, CA, 93001
United States
The campground is accessible via US Highway 101, located approximately 20 miles to the southeast.
Latitude & Longitude: 34.0108 / -119.66
Elevation: 217 feet
Policies & Rules
Arrival & departure
Check in time
11AM
Check out time
11AM
General
- Santa Cruz Island may only be reached by boat. Visitors are required to arrange boat transportation to the island before reserving a campsite. Contact the park's authorized concessioner Island Packers or use your own private boat.
- During winter and spring, Del Norte campground campers will need to be prepared for a wet creek crossing at Canada del Puerto in Prisoner's Harbor. Visitors may have to wade through fast moving water up to 2 feet deep.
- Camping reservations are required prior to arriving on the island. There are NO walk-ups at this facility.
- One party or group may reserve a maximum of 2 individual sites per visit. There are 4 individual campsites. Max 4 people per site.
- This is a backcountry campground that requires a 3.5-mile moderate to strenuous hike. You must carry all your gear, including water. Due to difficult weather and rugged terrain, backcountry camping is an arduous endeavor and should be undertaken only by experience, well-conditioned backpackers.
- Upon arrival, meet ranger at beach, landing dock or campground. However, park staff is not always available on the island. Please have confirmation letter, receipt, or campsite number with you.
- Primitive camping. Tent camping only, no electricity/water/sewer site hook-ups at this campground. Bring low profile tents and extra food for weather delays. Partial shade from trees. Picnic table, food storage box, and pit toilet (bring your own toilet paper) provided. No stores or services. Must bring your own water. One gallon of water per person per day is recommended.
- Proper food and trash storage is required. Food/Trash storage lockers are provided at each site. Recommend hard-sided container (i.e. action packer) to further protect food/garbage from animals.
- Visitors are required to pack out what they pack in, including garbage.
- No campfires or charcoal fires. Only enclosed gas camp stoves are allowed.
- Smoking is only allowed on beach areas at Scorpion, Smugglers, and Prisoners Harbors.
- Avoid contact with deer mice. Hantavirus has been found in island deer mice. For more information visit: https://www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/hantavirus.htm.
- To help prevent the introduction of nonnative species the following items may not be brought to the park: pets; live or potted plants; soil; cut flowers; firewood or any untreated, unfinished wood (including hiking sticks); corrugated boxes; tools or equipment with attached soil; motorized vehicles; bicycles; and single-use plastic grocery bags. Prior to departure, visitors are required to use pest-proof packing materials, inspect and clean their gear and shoes of all soil, seeds, and insects. Learn more about biosecurity and watch the required video at Protect Your Park Through Biosecurity.
- No fishing in marine reserves. California fishing license and ocean enhancement sticker required to fish outside marine reserves.
- Kayakers: ocean conditions can rapidly change, requiring expert abilities. Ocean kayaking is an inherently dangerous activity. Always check weather and do not kayak beyond your experience level.
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Last updated: June 3, 2026
