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
Report Incorrect Information
Help us improve by reporting any incorrect amenity information for Santa Cruz Scorpion.
Rates, Sites & Availability
31 Sites Available
No sites found matching your criteria.
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Site Details
Select a site to view details
31 Sites Available
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
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
Nikki Y
VerifiedJune 16, 2025 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: Lower Loop
I had an amazing time at this campground. The site itself was well-maintained, offering nice campsites, fantastic hiking opportunities, and breathtaking ocean views. The vault restroom was clean, though the smell was quite bad.
A big highlight was the park ranger, who provided valuable information about the island, the campsite, and emergency procedures, which added to the overall experience. Their guidance made me feel more prepared and informed.
I enjoyed this trip so much that I’m already planning to explore other campsites soon!
Joseph S
VerifiedJune 16, 2025 • Stayed at: 009, Loop: Lower Loop
One of the best places the US has to offer to spend a weekend!
Ivan A
VerifiedJune 12, 2025 • Stayed at: 022, Loop: Lower Loop
Amazing well-spaced out campground with plenty of water spigots. Rangers are awesome and explain things well. Hikes were great and camping allows you to do more of the park! Ravens and foxes will eat your stuff if you leave it out, very opportunistic.
Ryan S
VerifiedJune 6, 2025 • Stayed at: 018, Loop: Lower Loop
Great outdoor experience
Wen Y
VerifiedJune 5, 2025 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: Lower Loop
Excellent camping locations. Great for hiking, snorkeling, and kayaking. There is water available on site as well as toilets with septic tanks. No showers.
Would recommend 2 nights if you want to take it easy the first day, spend one day hiking and seeing the island, and the last day kayaking before ferrying back in the late afternoon.
If you think camping on the weekdays will be less busy you are wrong, there are many kids and field-trips. at least during the end of May when I was there.
Theresa B
VerifiedJune 3, 2025 • Stayed at: 009, Loop: Lower Loop
Gorgeous scenery, delightful foxes, the weather was great and we would come back!
Zach S
VerifiedMay 28, 2025 • Stayed at: 020, Loop: Lower Loop
The only reason it wasn’t a 5star was the bathroom smells. The recent staffing cuts by the president has reduced a staff of 7 down to 1 person to fulfill all the repairs and maintenance needs. He’s doing a great job for being by himself but I’m nervous that things will get worse as time goes on and the increased numbers of summer happens
Jonathan S
VerifiedMay 27, 2025 • Stayed at: 014, Loop: Lower Loop
Absolutely amazing place! The boat ride over was a bit rough due to sea conditions, but we took otc motion sickness medication and followed other advise to make the trip over as comfortable as possible. The campsite was great and it felt like we had this entire island to ourselves. The giant coreopsis were in full bloom which was spectacular. Hiked to potato harbor the first afternoon and then back up to Cavern Point to watch the sunset. Truly magical! Got up somewhat early and hiked to Smugglers Cove and had a nice picnic table available to set up on, spent several hours there wandering along the beach and relaxing under the eucalyptus trees. Possibly the best national park I’ve ever visited.
Linda V
VerifiedMay 26, 2025 • Stayed at: 022, Loop: Lower Loop
The campground was very quiet and peaceful. I loved having the orientation upon our arrival. It made me feel better having that information as a second time visitor, first time camper there. I would highly recommend this trip to friends and family who are interested in visiting the Channel Islands.
Ruben O
VerifiedMay 26, 2025 • Stayed at: 013, Loop: Lower Loop
This place is truly a national treasure! We arrived here after a long hike from Del Norte Campground. Once we settled we went on several day hikes, snorkeling and kayaking, all of which were wonderful! The pit toilets are not for the faint of heart, but the National Park Service staff do a phenomenal job keeping them clean and in great condition.
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.
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby destinations
Last updated: June 3, 2026
