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
Margarita K
VerifiedMay 9, 2023 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: Lower Loop
We had a great time at the campground, definitely recommend!
Hassan B
VerifiedMay 7, 2023 • Stayed at: B, Loop: Upper Loop
Absolutely gorgeous location. We were in group site B, there is tons of room to set up tents. Bathrooms & potable water were both right next to our site (no issues with bathroom smells though). Plenty of foxes visit you and they are quite the little daredevils going for any food they can find so definitely keep stuff locked away in the fox boxes. There aren't a ton of trees but still enough to find a location for a hammock. Our site was one of the farthest ones from the dock but still not a bad walk, you really don't have to limit yourself to backpacking gear. You can also hike to the potato harbor from right across the site.
Danielle J
VerifiedMay 6, 2023 • Stayed at: 003, Loop: Lower Loop
Too much fun, highly recommend camping a night to enjoy the island fully… The foxes are too cuteeee…
Raymond L
VerifiedMay 4, 2023 • Stayed at: 008, Loop: Lower Loop
Four trips to the islands with the fourth trip being a two night stay at lower Scorpion campground. Area was clean and well maintained. Park Rangers were knowledgeable, informative, and friendly. Hiking trails were well marked and scenic.
Athena C
VerifiedMay 3, 2023 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: Lower Loop
Great campsite. Each spot has a picnic table and fox box. Make sure not to leave anything out, the foxes will come take it right away. No yellow-jackets when we went in April, but my partner got several tick bites. Toilets are regularly cleaned. Several hikes are accessible from here. We also did a kayak tour that I would recommend.
Katrina L
VerifiedMay 2, 2023 • Stayed at: 003, Loop: Lower Loop
This is the second time my daughter (8) and I have camped out on Santa Cruz Island but it will definitely won't be the last. We LOVE this place! The campground is beautiful with ravens and Island foxes wandering around, and great trees for stringing your hammock which you will want to relax in after a day of hiking. We did the scorpion loop trail this time, which is about 4.4 miles, and some other smaller hikes on the second day. It is a little challenging for a child, but the good news is that once you reach the halfway point it is all flat and downhill and my daughter ultimately loved it! The visitors' center is just the right size to pop in for a bit and learn about the island. We camp a lot and this is one of our top spots. Just remember to bring extra food since there isn't anywhere to get food here and you may be more hungry than you think after all the walking and hiking (I made this mistake and ended up eating trail mix for lunch before getting on the boat home).
Michael W
VerifiedApril 30, 2023 • Stayed at: 018, Loop: Lower Loop
Nicely maintained.
Yajing G
VerifiedApril 29, 2023 • Stayed at: 013, Loop: Lower Loop
Beautiful island! Campground is nicely maintained and vault toilet are a lot more nice than my expectation. Site 13 though has no shade and no windshield trees so bring nice tent spikes if you picked this site. Sites on the other side of the path seems a lot nicer with trees and stuff. But I’m glad to have gotten any site last minute.
Kaila P
VerifiedApril 29, 2023 • Stayed at: 012, Loop: Lower Loop
As residents of SB for many years, we never realized how easy it was to camp on the Channel Islands. Be sure to follow all Island Packers gear guidelines and it will be a breeze! The Scorpion Campground is very clean and the water is safe to drink. I would recommend going on a weekday if you like it quieter. We stayed 3 nights and our last night was Friday and it was significantly louder. Many big groups and college kids roll in on the weekends so the noise tends to go right up to the “quiet hours”. During the week it was a lot of solo travelers and older folk and everyone was basically quiet by 8pm. Right now (April ‘23) the whole island is green and beautiful! The water is around 55° and you can rent snorkel gear with a wetsuit from the Kayak company for the entirety of your stay! All in all, the campground was excellent and will definitely be back sometime soon.
Diane L
VerifiedApril 28, 2023 • Stayed at: 019, Loop: Lower Loop
This was our first time visiting Channel Islands National Park and we were blown away! Absolutely beautiful. The campground is well maintained, bathrooms are fairly clean, and the staff/rangers are very friendly and helpful. We had an amazing weekend camping, hiking, and taking in the views!
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
