Sites & Rates
Average nightly rates31 total sites
Tent Sites
31 sites
About Santa Cruz Scorpion
Number of accommodations: 31
Activities & Attractions
Nearby
Birding
Hiking
Kayaking
Year-round
Birding
Hiking
Spring
Kayaking
Summer
Kayaking
Fall
Kayaking
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Open year round
This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Picnic Table
Restrooms
Water and Hygiene
- Potable Water
- Restrooms
Cooking and Fire
- Picnic Table
Water Access
- Beach Access
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Rates, Sites & Availability
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Site Details
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31 Sites Available
No available sites
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Reviews (622)
What Guests Are Saying
Santa Cruz Scorpion Campground offers a beautiful and peaceful setting with excellent opportunities for kayaking, snorkeling, and hiking, making it a fantastic destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Visitors praised the well-maintained campsites, stunning views, and friendly ranger staff, highlighting the unique wildlife and serene atmosphere. However, some noted issues with restroom cleanliness and accessibility from the ferry, but overall, the experience was highly positive, encouraging repeat visits.
What Guests Are Saying
Santa Cruz Scorpion Campground offers a beautiful and peaceful setting with excellent opportunities for kayaking, snorkeling, and hiking, making it a fantastic destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Visitors praised the well-maintained campsites, stunning views, and friendly ranger staff, highlighting the unique wildlife and serene atmosphere. However, some noted issues with restroom cleanliness and accessibility from the ferry, but overall, the experience was highly positive, encouraging repeat visits.
Review Summary
Shanon S
VerifiedNovember 9, 2023 • Stayed at: 020, Loop: Lower Loop
This was a beautiful campground. One needs to take into consideration that nature rules here. And the bullies for ravens, screaming foxes at night and swarm of yellow jackets around the only water source really remind you of this. But the tips to get water from the menacing yellow jacket spigot worked. Move slow. Don’t panic. And don’t splash the water. It was a true character building exercise so that you don’t want to miss out on.
Rasmus N
VerifiedNovember 3, 2023 • Stayed at: 019, Loop: Lower Loop
Awesome campsite. Endless fun watching the foxes. Superior nature experience. The toilets were rather stanky.
Dumeni Mattias D
VerifiedNovember 3, 2023 • Stayed at: 017, Loop: Lower Loop
Site is great, sadly generator hours are not enforced. Bring earplugs to sleep.
Matthew M
VerifiedOctober 27, 2023 • Stayed at: 023, Loop: Upper Loop
Santa Cruz really is a paradise. Marine wildlife, island flora and fauna, caves, cliffs, ocean views. The hiking is fantastic and, if you are up for it, do yourself a favor and hike up to Montañan Ridge. Bring plenty of water, but the views are the absolute best on the eastern part of Santa Cruz.
James C
VerifiedOctober 20, 2023 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: Lower Loop
Overall, a very good experience. The campsites are large and in close proximity to water and restrooms. The campsite 004 picture is not accurate and has the least amount of tree coverage. The campground is a close and easy walk to/from the ferry drop off. There is not much privacy between campsites and we experienced yellow jackets around the water spigot.
Candice M
VerifiedOctober 16, 2023 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: Lower Loop
Nice spacious sites, drinking water near by, bathrooms are a bit spaced out but the campground is pretty open so they are easy to find.
John Y
VerifiedOctober 3, 2023 • Stayed at: 014, Loop: Lower Loop
Nice for our first time camping.
Well maintained camping sites.
Rangers helpful.
Had a great time.
Enjoyed hiking.
Beautiful sunset
Ravi S
VerifiedOctober 2, 2023 • Stayed at: 009, Loop: Lower Loop
great island with great hiking trails with superb views!
Julie O
VerifiedSeptember 29, 2023 • Stayed at: 025, Loop: Upper Loop
I think we were given a wealth of information before we arrived. We knew exactly what to expect
Naomi S
VerifiedSeptember 29, 2023 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: Lower Loop
Obsessed with this island. Pretty beginner friendly and so beautiful and underrated
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.
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: September 10, 2026
