Santa Cruz Scorpion

Fantastic campsite, two water spigots for convenient access and large fox boxes for food storage - we ended up storing our packs too. Great access to all of the east Santa Cruz trails, Smuggler’s Cove is a must-hike. Stayed one night each at 11 and 14 , wonderfully secluded sites.

Santa Cruz is a beautiful island, very simple and peaceful. There are several hiking options from the campgrounds offering hikes of different lengths. Snorkeling is wonderful along the kelp beds near Scorpion beach.

Excellent clean campgrounds. The staff here are were the most friendly out of any park I've been to.

It would have been nice to have been given more advance notice that there would be 8a-5p tree trimming (and felling) at the campsite for the whole time we were there. Also, the pit toilets nearby were closed off (and stinky!) because they needed to be emptied and it was a bit of a walk to get to the next nearest toilets. But such a cool island with beautiful hiking and friendly rangers.

It was hard to fully enjoy the campground and area when there was both tree cutting taking place, starting at 7:30 AM, which was quite disruptive, as well as construction and repair work going on at the pier. I understand that work needs to be done, but it would have been more relaxing if I'd known to come a different week.

Very fun place to relax and forget about the fast moving world we live in. Camp ground is very clean and quiet. Hiking is amazing on pristine trails.

The head ranger went out of his way to ensure the campers were doing well. From the detailed orientation, to answering lots of questions, to regularly coming through the campground to give updates on ferries, to offering food and tents to stranded campers. Cancelled ferries were unfortunate for those that couldn't make it to the island or were stuck there, but for my group (two) it meant no crowds and great solitude while hiking. The island was beautiful and the Scorpion Ranch area was well-maintained.

I had a particular weekday day in mind and nabbed a cancellation a week prior. Make sure to check ferry availability too.

I stayed at the lower campground, which is in a valley with eucalyptus trees and is well-positioned for a variety of hikes. Lower campground is a short flat 10 min walk on a dirt trail from the anchorage. I travelled solo and it was easy for me to transport everything in one trip in a large day pack, grocery tote, and a drawstring bag (pretty empty, used as a carry-on for the boat), although there are lockers and it's an easy walk if you need multiple trips. Channel Islands Adventure Company is along the trail between the anchorage and campground, so very convenient to hop onto a kayaking trip (as I did) or rent snorkeling gear (if water conditions are clear/calm).

Lower campground was pretty windy when I went; the valley acts as a wind tunnel. The sites are good sized and have soft ground for staking tents, and eucalyptus trees give some branches to hang wet clothes if you go kayaking or snorkeling, although their branches could fall so don't recommend pitching a tent right underneath them. You can definitely see and hear the adjacent/across campsites. Campground pit toilets were surprisingly not too bad, perhaps because they're only really used by campers. Water spigots were available to fill up empty water bottles you bring. Do use the fox/bear lockers for storing food. I made the mistake of eating some snacks inside my tent to avoid the wind and had a curious fox sneak under my rainfly - we each gave the other a little scare. Lots of big scrub jays around the campground too.

Didn't have signal (T-Mobile) at the campground, but had signal at the anchorage, occasionally while walking on the North Bluffs Trail to Potato Harbor/Cavern Point, and on the ferry. As for the ferry, keep an eye on the front sides of the boat for dolphins, during migration season look southwards for northbound whales, and bring binoculars and extra layers.

No complaints.