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
Vandit A
VerifiedSeptember 11, 2023 • Stayed at: 006, Loop: Lower Loop
Good time
Kelsey W
VerifiedSeptember 9, 2023 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: Lower Loop
Beautiful, such a special place.
Kimberly G
VerifiedSeptember 5, 2023 • Stayed at: B, Loop: Upper Loop
It seemed overwhelming at first… but it wasn’t at all… just follow the steps. Great experience on the island… magical place.
Daniel D
VerifiedAugust 31, 2023 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: Lower Loop
Smugglers Cove 4 ever
Kathlyn Q
VerifiedAugust 31, 2023 • Stayed at: D, Loop: Upper Loop
One of the most beautiful camping spots we've experienced. Lots of space between sites, so it never felt cramped. Clean pit toilets that were serviced at least twice a day. Huge fox-proof cabinets to store your stuff, and a large picnic table for the group. We had a magical time and can't wait to come back.
Mike S
VerifiedAugust 17, 2023 • Stayed at: A, Loop: Upper Loop
Stanta Cruz island at Scorpion bay is awesome. The sights are inspiring, hiking up into the hills can be as challenging and long as you want. The shear cliffs provide a thrill to creep toward. Island foxes and ravens are enjoyable campsite characters. Water was 68 and very clear. Swimming and kayaking into huge caves and long tunnels is an experience of a lifetime. It's like it's smaller channel island cousin, Catalina but so much more in its raw state and beauty. Took a group of 9 boyscouts and 5 adult leaders for 3 days. Everyone had a great experience. One of our best campout experiences ever.
Mari F
VerifiedAugust 15, 2023 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: Lower Loop
Loved the campsites, which are well maintained. Liked that there weren't too many people/campers on Santa Cruz after the last ferry left
McKenna B
VerifiedAugust 13, 2023 • Stayed at: 013, Loop: Lower Loop
This campground exceeded my expectations. What a beautiful corner of the world. The only thing I would complain about would be that the campsite smelled like sewage due to its proximity to (what I'm assuming is) a septic tank. It is also ridiculously difficult to get a seat on the ferry.
Alex V
VerifiedAugust 11, 2023 • Stayed at: 020, Loop: Lower Loop
This was our first time camping at a national park, let alone island camping. Upon arrival, the large group next to us “invaded” our campsite space on numerous levels. They set up two tents right on the edge of our campsite, put their stuff in our fox box, hung their hammock on the other side of our campsite so we were pretty much boxed in. Their kids were yelling & screaming day & night compared to the group of other kids who made no noise. We had to ask the ranger to move a site down just to feel like we had any kind of space. Definitely taught us what NOT to do and what campsite number to reserve next time for any kind of peace & quiet.
Amelia C
VerifiedAugust 8, 2023 • Stayed at: 009, Loop: Lower Loop
This campground and location are really nice. The park rangers are absolutely fantastic and go out of their way to answer questions and make people feel welcomed (also amazing with junior rangers). The major advantage to camping on the island is getting the whole place to yourself before and after boat arrivals. Start hiking before 9 am and the trails have few if any people on them. Sunset hikes were also amazing. The campground itself is well spaced out and pretty peaceful. The site we stayed at was well-shaded throughout the day. We also got to see our fair share of foxes, ravens and other wildlife. As a note, although you have to pack out your trash, all the pit toilets have feminine hygiene disposal boxes!
The two downsides to this campground are the yellow jackets and the pit toilets. They are not kidding about the yellow jackets swarming the water! Tip: The water spigot farther into the campground has the less angry ones. The pit toilets are fine for pit toilets. The only problem we had at our site is what we fondly referred to as "poop o'clock". We got wafts of sewage smell everyday for about an hour midday. We just always made sure to be away from the site when we knew the smell was about to hit and had no problems with smelliness otherwise. The downsides definitely would not keep me from camping here again. We had an amazing experience, 10/10 would recommend!
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 4, 2026
