Santa Cruz Scorpion

My recent stay at Santa Cruz, Channel Islands National Park, was a journey into pure tranquility and natural wonder. From the moment I stepped foot on the ferry and witnessed dolphins playing in the waves and majestic whales breaching in the distance, I knew I was in for a special experience. The ferry ride offered a breathtaking view of the open ocean, setting the tone for the adventure that awaited me on the island. Upon arrival, I was greeted by the park rangers, whose warmth and knowledge enhanced my stay immensely. They were not only extremely friendly but also went above and beyond to accommodate my preferences, even arranging a campground swap to ensure I could enjoy a more secluded spot away from the crowds. The campground itself was well kept, with clean restrooms and some of the freshest drinking water I've ever tasted. It was the perfect base for exploring the island's hiking trails and the endemic wildlife.
On my first day, I took the park rangers' advice and spent time settling in and embarking on a leisurely hike, soaking in the solitude and beauty of the island. The guided kayaking tour on the second day was the perfect way to immerse myself in the island's coastal splendor, paddling alongside sea caves, rocky cliffs, and even exploring the giant kelp forests.\
Overall, my stay at Santa Cruz, Channel Islands National Park, was an unforgettable adventure. The sense of isolation and connection with nature rejuvenated my spirit, while the park rangers' hospitality and expertise added an extra layer of warmth to the experience. I highly recommend Santa Cruz, Channel Islands National Park, to anyone seeking an escape from the ordinary and a chance to reconnect with the nature. I'm already counting down the days until my next visit to this hidden gem off the California coast!

Staff were super friendly, would suggest booking early for the snorkel or kayak sessions

With all the rain, the island was beyond beautiful. The facilities were fantastic. I attended the Ranger movie night and really appreciated the two island films. The orientation on the first day was wel-done. I was traveling alone and my second night was at Del Norte. I appreciated that the ranger kept me informed and knew where I was scheduled to be. The overall experience was fantastic.

Upper campground is fantastic - one of the best campgrounds I’ve ever stayed in!

While Del Norte is a nice campground, getting there is quite a beast, particularly on Navy Rd. Since you need to bring your own water--which I recommend tailoring to the weather conditions--pack as lightly as possible to help with the climb up. Another thing to note: if you are going to walk on Navy Road instead of the Del Norte trail, it may be muddy, depending on recent weather and maintenance activities. I hiked back from Del Norte to Prisoners Harbor along Navy Rd and much of it was a muddy mess.

Amazing campsite-an absolute gem. We stayed on a holiday weekend and it was quiet and beautiful. There were lots of island foxes-don’t forget to put any food in the fox box at your site! Water was fine and the bathrooms were well-stocked and maintained.

Site 14 is absolutely perfect. It’s the last site so you only have one neighbor and the other side is trees and greenery. There was also a creek running through the back and was really peaceful to listen to. The restrooms are a short walk and so is the potable water. Site 14 and the others facing the creek are the few private/ish sites, the others are out in the open so if you want more privacy I recommend them. Overall we really enjoyed the location but my only complaint is for Recreation.gov. We booked our site about 3 weeks in advance, and as the date approached, we noticed there would be a rainstorm. Island Packers cancelled our boat ride so we had no other way to get to the island. I reached out to Recreation.gov and they charged a $10 cancellation fee on top of the $15 we originally paid to book the site, all for something totally out of our control. We ended up rebooking for later in the week. So In total it’s like we paid $40 for the site.

Had a very good time. Campgrounds are very nice and we plan to go back soon.

Short walk from the pier. Site #25 is relatively seclusive and beautiful. Right next to an open field and I saw three cute island foxes outside my tent. Bathroom is clean and the campsite has portable water. There is a notice board outside the bathroom - ranger will post any boat schedule changes there. Be aware of yellow jackets when is warm. When I visited in October 2023, there are a lot of yellow jackets at the campsite looking for water.

The site is great. Bathrooms and water are close by, water tastes fine and the bathrooms are ok. The only downside is the wind can blow really strong in the winter and you have to pack your stuff in the fox boxes anytime you aren’t at camp. We saw multiple ravens picking at campers bags that were left on tables.