About Santa Cruz Scorpion
Number of accommodations: 31
Nearby Activities & Attractions
Birding
Hiking
Kayaking
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Open year round
This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.
Campground Amenities
Water and Hygiene
- Potable Water
Water Access
- Beach Access
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Rates, Sites & Availability
31 Sites Available
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Site Details
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31 Sites Available
No available sites
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Reviews (566)
What Guests Are Saying
The Santa Cruz Scorpion campground is highly praised for its stunning views, well-organized facilities, and excellent hiking opportunities. Campers appreciate the tranquility, plentiful shade, and friendly park rangers, making it a perfect base for exploring the island. While some concerns were noted about wildlife interactions and limited wind coverage, the overall experience is described as unforgettable, with many looking forward to returning.
What Guests Are Saying
The Santa Cruz Scorpion campground is highly praised for its stunning views, well-organized facilities, and excellent hiking opportunities. Campers appreciate the tranquility, plentiful shade, and friendly park rangers, making it a perfect base for exploring the island. While some concerns were noted about wildlife interactions and limited wind coverage, the overall experience is described as unforgettable, with many looking forward to returning.
Review Summary
Camryn F
VerifiedJuly 29, 2025 • Stayed at: 018, Loop: Lower Loop
Great campsite perfect for one larger tent (4-person) and one smaller tent (2-person), some shade from the hills and trees, close to the bathroom, but not too close to get any sort of smell. Bathrooms were decently clean for vault toilets, lots of flies. There's little privacy in the campground, given it is just a sparse eucalyptus grove. If I come again, I will try for site #11 or #14, they were the most private. Got pretty windy at night, I was glad I brought my fleece (even in July!), and the island foxes and ravens are no joke, be very careful with food storage (each site has a "fox box"). Short hike uphill for stunning sunset views.
Julio D
VerifiedJuly 26, 2025 • Stayed at: 021, Loop: Lower Loop
Great outdoor experience
Gregory F
VerifiedJuly 25, 2025 • Stayed at: 020, Loop: Lower Loop
Great location and beautiful island!
Noah Z
VerifiedJuly 24, 2025 • Stayed at: 023, Loop: Upper Loop
Fantastic! Although a bit further to walk, highly recommend upper campground. #23 is pretty secluded, and all these at the end of the campground have a beautiful unobstructed view up the valley into the mountains. There's NPS-reserved site in between 23 & 24 that's not on the map, which creates separation or, if you have both 23 & 24, a huge joint space (it was unused when we were there). 24 & 25 are pretty close to one another but otherwise secluded and so would make a great pair. Highly recommend kayaking despite the price. If you can manage the extra distance (steadily but not severely uphill), getting to the Montanon Ridge off the Scorpion Loop was spectacular.
Todd L
VerifiedJuly 22, 2025 • Stayed at: 014, Loop: Lower Loop
A truly unique and wonderful experience. Stand at the front of the boat on the way over, you will likely see dolphins. Bring warm layers (even in summer), because the wind will be be omnipresent. Other tips: fly a kite on the beach, plan to hike as many trails as possible, rent a kayak cave tour, watch the sunset from Cavern Point (arrive early to see the entire light show), and bring a wetsuit for snorkeling. We limited ourselves to only what would fit into our backpacks, but a cart with extra luxuries or food on ice is perfectly acceptable (just stay within your weight limits).
Brendan M
VerifiedJuly 19, 2025 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: Lower Loop
one of the best parks I've ever been to. Unique and beautiful. Will return!
Zachary B
VerifiedJuly 14, 2025 • Stayed at: 022, Loop: Lower Loop
Saw a whale on the ferry ride over and a huge pod of dolphins on the way back! Campsite was great, quiet and just the right walk for anyone transitioning from car camping. Hike to watch the sunset is super close and I would recommend renting snorkel gear for the kelp forest in the harbor.
Marisa L
VerifiedJuly 11, 2025 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: Lower Loop
What an incredible experience. A California native, I had heard of the Channel Islands but was never sure where they were or what they were all about. The easiest "backpacking" experience I can imagine, with 60 lbs. weight limit, running water (no showers or sinks, just a spigot) on the island, it was a short walk from the boat to the campgrounds. People were quiet (though those foxes were pretty sniffy around the tent in the night) and respectful. The hikes were well-curated and gorgeous - wish I'd been able to go for more than one night!
As promised - foxes - hungry! Adorable.
Ravens - giant! Vocal!
Scrub jays - ... exist!
Watch for the weird sticky brown tiny oval bugs... they'll climb on your pen while you're journaling and it'll be hard to get them off your things. ;)
The rangers were incredible. This administration can **** it if they mess with locations like this.
Casey W
VerifiedJuly 10, 2025 • Stayed at: A, Loop: Upper Loop
Love.
Amelia Kay W
VerifiedJuly 9, 2025 • Stayed at: 021, Loop: Lower Loop
NIce campground. Beautiful location, cute foxes, smart ravens, and nice shady sites. The Channel Islands are beautiful. The pit toilets are a bit rough but that's okay.
Location Santa Cruz Scorpion
Address:
1901 Spinnaker Drive
Ventura, CA, 93001
United States
Boat transportation can be arranged with Island Packers from Ventura Harbor.
To park headquarters in Ventura, Ca: exit Highway 101, at Victoria or Seaward to Ventura Harbor.
The campground is accessible via Highway 101, with interchanges at Victoria or Seaward providing access to Ventura Harbor.
Latitude & Longitude: 34.0482 / -119.562
Elevation: 7 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.
- Camping reservations are required prior to arriving on the island. There are NO walk-ups at this facility.
- There are 25 individual campsites. Max 6 people per site. Max 3 tents per site. A party or group of 12 or less may reserve a maximum of 2 individual sites per visit.
- A party or group of 13 or more are not allowed in individual sites and must use the group sites (A-F) in the upper campground.
- There are 6 group sites. Minimum 13 people per site. Max 15 people per site. No more than 3 group sites per party or group.
- A party or group of 46 or more may not reserve any sites through recreation.gov and must contact the park to obtain a special use permit: https://www.nps.gov/chis/learn/management/special-use-permits.htm.
- 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.
- 1/2 mile to 1 mile hike to campground. Visitors must carry all their own gear.
- 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 drinking water provided. No stores or services.
- 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.
- Visitors who have known allergies to yellow jacket venom should consider going to an alternate location other than Scorpion Ranch campground during the summer and early fall. Since yellow jackets are attracted to the water at the Scorpion Ranch campground water spigots, visitors that are allergic to yellow jacket stings may want to consider bringing their own water to the island.
- 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
