About Santa Cruz Scorpion
Number of accommodations: 31
Campground Amenities
-
Beach Access -
Potable Water
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Open year round
This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.
Sites & Availability
31 Sites Available
No sites found matching your criteria.
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Site Details
Select a site to view details
31 Sites Available
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Reviews (561)
What Guests Are Saying
The Santa Cruz Scorpion campground is highly praised for its beauty, tranquility, and the abundance of wildlife, particularly island foxes. Campers appreciate the well-maintained facilities, easy access to hiking trails, and the support from friendly park rangers. However, visitors noted some challenges with campsite congestion and occasional bathroom cleanliness issues, but overall, the experience is described as unforgettable and worth recommending.
What Guests Are Saying
The Santa Cruz Scorpion campground is highly praised for its beauty, tranquility, and the abundance of wildlife, particularly island foxes. Campers appreciate the well-maintained facilities, easy access to hiking trails, and the support from friendly park rangers. However, visitors noted some challenges with campsite congestion and occasional bathroom cleanliness issues, but overall, the experience is described as unforgettable and worth recommending.
Review Summary
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!
Leo S
VerifiedApril 28, 2023 • Stayed at: 014, Loop: Lower Loop
Excellent
Wilson S
VerifiedApril 25, 2023 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: Lower Loop
My husband and I camped on Santa Cruz Island for 2 nights on 4/17 and 4/18. We camped at the Scorpion campground in lot #2. We loved our lot as it was peaceful and a bit tucked away from the other campers. We also had a gorgeous view from our site of the side of the mountain. It was beautiful but a bit chilly and with the breeze it was very cold after the sun went down so if you come in April be prepared with some warm clothing. We hiked up to Potato Cove and we were rewarded with beautiful shoreline views! We did the sea cave kayaking with Adventure Kayaks and it was an amazing excursion. We absolutely loved our time on the Island. Also on the Island Packers ferry on the way out to the Island we were able to see humpback whales very close to the boat that were quite active. That was a real treat!
Shirley S
VerifiedApril 25, 2023 • Stayed at: 009, Loop: Lower Loop
The rangers and staff members were beyond amazing. Every volunteer was so knowledgeable and every ranger was so helpful. It was an amazing experience
Kallie R
VerifiedApril 20, 2023 • Stayed at: 003, Loop: Lower Loop
Camping on the island is a dream, especially if it's not too busy and rains so bad that they cancel boats for the day. Downside you have to navigate the rain. We loved out site. Little fox coming and going all day long. Bathrooms were not bad especially the one that had the automatic freshener. Plenty of space. So quiet and peaceful.
Brian M
VerifiedApril 17, 2023 • Stayed at: 014, Loop: Lower Loop
Great experience
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.
Latitude & Longitude: 34.0482 / -119.562
Elevation: 7 feet
Policies & Rules
| Category | About |
|---|---|
| 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. |
| General |
Camping reservations are required prior to arriving on the island. There are NO walk-ups at this facility. |
| General |
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. |
| General |
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. |
| General |
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. |
| General |
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. |
| General |
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. |
| General |
1/2 mile to 1 mile hike to campground. Visitors must carry all their own gear. |
| General |
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. |
| General |
Quiet time is enforced at 10:00 pm. Check-in and check-out times are at 11:00 a.m. |
| General |
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. |
| General |
Visitors are required to pack out what they pack in, including garbage. |
| General |
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. |
| General |
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. |
| General |
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. |
| General |
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. |
| General |
No fishing in marine reserves. California fishing license and ocean enhancement sticker required to fish outside marine reserves. |
| General |
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. |
