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
Elizabeth M
VerifiedFebruary 20, 2023 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: Lower Loop
One of my favorite trips ever.
Katherine B
VerifiedFebruary 18, 2023 • Stayed at: 009, Loop: Lower Loop
The campground was excellent. The rangers did a great job keeping everyone informed about the boat changes/ cancellations. The nightly movies were welcome and overall we really enjoyed our time on the island and at the campground despite some crazy weather.
Stacy B
VerifiedFebruary 16, 2023 • Stayed at: A, Loop: Upper Loop
Clean campsite, great shade, adorable foxes but keep things in fox boxes!
Brian G
VerifiedJanuary 24, 2023 • Stayed at: 016, Loop: Lower Loop
Great experience!
Andre G
VerifiedJanuary 10, 2023 • Stayed at: 008, Loop: Lower Loop
Not a lot of infos once on the Island.
Campgrounds are ok, need a Little bit of cleaning. Wasn't impressed by the trails and the park itself.
This was our 7th National Park, I would say the once we were the less impressed overall.
Reilly J
VerifiedJanuary 8, 2023 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: Lower Loop
Loved this campground! It’s small and quiet but beautiful. Very clean, excellent views of the surrounding hills, Island foxes, and the endemic island scrub jay! Would definitely camp here again.
Andrew C
VerifiedJanuary 6, 2023 • Stayed at: 023, Loop: Upper Loop
Great place to spend a holiday away from the human built environment. I highly recommend at least one night camping over a day trip because you’ll have a sunrise and a sunset. Awesome winter light at the golden hour.
Cassio A
VerifiedJanuary 4, 2023 • Stayed at: 013, Loop: Lower Loop
Great island to visit and camp at. Kayaking was great
Sarah V
VerifiedDecember 27, 2022 • Stayed at: 018, Loop: Lower Loop
A great trip. We had 4 kids and 2 adults. At island packers they gave us maps of the island and jr ranger books for the kids. A ranger meets you at the dock and gives you all the information you need and answers your questions. The water in the campground tasted fine. The sites are pretty big. It would have been nice to have a second fox box per campsite. The ranger suggested that when it was windy we could use our campstove in the fox box to cook our food. The day you leave you can store your gear in fox boxes by the dock since you need to be out of your campsite before the boat picks you up. Weather was bad the day we left and the ranger found us a couple times that morning to make sure we knew when the boat would be picking us up. Everyday we were there a school group came for day trip and they spend more time than necessary walking through the campground. It spoils the quiet for a bit.
Kiana S
VerifiedDecember 25, 2022 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: Lower Loop
We had a wonderful stay in mid December! Island foxes are the cutest little guys ever. Thank you for maintaining this beautiful island.
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
