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
Amy S
VerifiedJuly 9, 2025 • Stayed at: A, Loop: Upper Loop
This was an incredible internet-free get-away with my family. We hiked, kayaked and sat in the sun. Highly recommended.
Geneva R
VerifiedJuly 8, 2025 • Stayed at: 019, Loop: Lower Loop
The campsite was extremely clean and was very spacious. There were rangers always available if you had a question or issue and I felt extremely safe as a solo female camper.
Miranda N
VerifiedJuly 8, 2025 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: Lower Loop
Great time! Ranger Karen is a total rockstar.
Pamela A
VerifiedJuly 1, 2025 • Stayed at: 021, Loop: Lower Loop
Do not visit the Channel Islands. It’s amazing!
Elizabeth G
VerifiedJuly 1, 2025 • Stayed at: B, Loop: Upper Loop
The vibrant peaceful energy of this island is a dream. We are so lucky it is so close to Los Angeles. The group campsites are quite large. This one has trees on both sides and is directly adjacent to the bathrooms and potable water. The bathrooms is both a good and a bad thing. It was very windy the whole time we were there until day 3 when and when the wind died down, we could smell the bathroom when we were close to it's we were able to set up our tents pretty far away though, so it was a non-issue. Trees are very large trunks so bring extenders for your hammock. During the day, there are no bad views- the island is a California paradise, and the night sky is hypnotizing. You can see the milky way. My son counted 66 fox sightings and we even saw babies multiple times. Bring stuff for wind (windbreakers) and sun (hats and sun shirts). Plan your food well. Overall an amazing experience.
DAVID W
VerifiedJune 30, 2025 • Stayed at: 009, Loop: Lower Loop
Santa Cruz and Scorpion Campground are amazing. Lovely hikes—Potato Harbor, Smugglers Cove—both delightful. Although we didn’t participate, there seemed like plenty of water activities available—snorkeling, kayaking. On the trip over and back the ferry captain took us through a large pod of dolphins (hundreds of dolphins, without exaggeration).
Briana C
VerifiedJune 30, 2025 • Stayed at: 010, Loop: Lower Loop
The weather was perfect and mild! The crowds weren't too bad. The hiking trails were maintained and had excellent views. There's only cell service at the dock, so keep that in mind if you need to contact anyone. Something else to consider is there is no running water on the island, so be prepared for the bathrooms. My group brought heavy duty sanitizing wipes and next time we'll bring a shower bag to wash our hands. Other than that this is truly a Treasure in the Sea!
Jacqueline R
VerifiedJune 27, 2025 • Stayed at: 014, Loop: Lower Loop
This is a unique - one-of-a-kind opportunity to visit a beautiful other-worldly type place without going far. It is an adventure for sure, but with not too many inconveniences. We loved the kayak cave tour, swam, enjoyed seeing fox cubs frolic and the beautiful blue island jays stopped by the tree next to our tent often. The campground has running water, the nearby hiking trails have breathtaking views, and the ferry trip was an adventure in itself. Our advice is to book the ferry right after you book your site. We had a little bit of trouble booking the ferry we wanted - but somehow it all worked out.
Nicole S
VerifiedJune 23, 2025 • Stayed at: 009, Loop: Lower Loop
Campers during our stay were quiet and respectful of our space. The campground's layout is open, so it is quite easy to see when others are up. Oftentimes in situations like this, campers tend to run over each other. During this visit other campers respected boundaries while still open to polite socialization.
Summer S
VerifiedJune 17, 2025 • Stayed at: 011, Loop: Lower Loop
We had site #11 which is tucked away in the back of the lower loop. Site #11 is the most privacy you're going to get because it backs up to an empty creek, whereas all the other sites are pretty much out in the open, and the sites are tight with very little shade or privacy. Spigots are around for clean drinkable water.
Upon arrival, please be warned that you will need to carry all of your belongings to the campsite. It says 1/4 mile walk which doesn't sound bad, but it's not a nice walk! You walk through sand, through gravelly dirt, through wood chips, and more dirt/sticks/rocks. If you have a physical disability like myself, ask a ranger for a ride on their golf carts to get to your site. I didn't know this was an option until I asked at the end of the trip.
The bathrooms at this campsite (and Channel Islands as a whole) were unacceptable throughout our stay. Pit toilets were nearly overflowing with HUNDREDS of flies swarming you as you attempted to use it. Weeks old fly traps, too. Horrible experience with that. NPS needs to clean the pit toilets, or be prepared for people to go in the forest because the condition of the toilets was unacceptable.
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
