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
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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
Jennifer E
VerifiedNovember 26, 2024 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: Lower Loop
Loved this site! Right next to the bathrooms. There are little foxes there so make sure to store your food away.
Amazing views!
10/10
Lauren S
VerifiedNovember 20, 2024 • Stayed at: 013, Loop: Lower Loop
Clean, good tasting water was the best surprise! Plenty of ravens and foxes, but the rangers give you plenty of guidelines to keep your belongings safe and the animals wild. I was so grateful for the fox boxes by the dock to leave our packs while hiking after checking out from the site and before our evening ferry.
Definitely recommend checking out El Montanon Loop if looking for a longer hike. Even though it is technically unmaintained, it was super easy to follow the trail and we never got lost. As an intermediate hiker who burned out toward the end, I would definitely try this hike again going clockwise instead of counterclockwise so that there were more outlooks at the end to keep me motivated! If you've got bad knees, counterclockwise is probably your best bet so that you're going uphill on the steepest incline. Absolute favorite view point was the Scorpion Cove Overlook off of Smugglers Road!
Amy M
VerifiedNovember 18, 2024 • Stayed at: C, Loop: Upper Loop
We lucked out with beautiful weather--not too windy. Enjoyed kayaking and hiking and relaxing at our camp site. Magical place.
Claire A
VerifiedNovember 11, 2024 • Stayed at: 008, Loop: Lower Loop
Spacious campground under beautiful eucalyptus trees. We backpacked in from Del Norte/Prisoners Harbor. Drop toilets have toilet paper. There are many trails nearby to enjoy exploring the island. We opted for a kayaking excursion, which was a blast!
Benjamin S
VerifiedOctober 30, 2024 • Stayed at: 025, Loop: Upper Loop
Lovely site! Upper Scorpion gives a bit more privacy and views, assuming no large groups at group sites. 23-25 are the best.
Make sure not to miss out on kayaking tour from Channel Island Adventures. They’re pricey but worth every penny.
Kathleen L
VerifiedOctober 30, 2024 • Stayed at: 023, Loop: Upper Loop
#23 is the closest to the trailhead if arriving from Prisoners/Del Norte, and was definitely a welcome site after that hike. There were no groups present when I was there, so the upper sites were very isolated and quiet. Had a few island foxes milling around. A very quick ~mile to the beach from the furthest campsite. Upper & Lower have similar views/conditions but upper sites seem quieter and further apart, would highly recommend those sites despite the slightly further distance from the pier.
gerald s
VerifiedOctober 29, 2024 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: Lower Loop
Santa Cruz Island is beautiful and has a fascinating history. Seeing the foxes as well as all the birds was really cool and kayaking in the sea caves was awesome.
Ronn D
VerifiedOctober 25, 2024 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: Lower Loop
phenomenal views and experiences that we will cherish for a lifetime
Sarah P
VerifiedOctober 22, 2024 • Stayed at: 016, Loop: Lower Loop
Rangers were super helpful and everything was clean and maintained.
Ruben O
VerifiedOctober 21, 2024 • Stayed at: 016, Loop: Lower Loop
This was a uniquely different National Park experience. It involved a ferry crossing with amazing marine wildlife sightings, helping unload the ferry, and opportunities for water activities such as snorkeling and kayaking. The campground was perfect and just the right distance from the beach. The hikes were beautiful.
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
