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
Report Incorrect Information
Help us improve by reporting any incorrect amenity information for Santa Cruz Scorpion.
Rates, 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 (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
Matt M
VerifiedDecember 25, 2022 • Stayed at: 024, Loop: Upper Loop
Great site - lots of space and quick access to some of the trails
Carl H
VerifiedDecember 20, 2022 • Stayed at: 016, Loop: Lower Loop
Absolutely one of the most beautiful camping experiences
Loan V
VerifiedDecember 11, 2022 • Stayed at: B, Loop: Upper Loop
A beautiful place, with amazing sights from vast grasslands to steep cliffs. The campsites have easy access to drinkable water and good bathrooms. If you enjoy camping in Nature far away from civilization (and can handle carrying your food and the absence of showers), this is for you. Kayaking and hiking are the two main activities, both taking advantage of the island's many caverns and coves.
Tyler L
VerifiedDecember 8, 2022 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: Lower Loop
Our Santa Cruz experience was excellent. The campsite and vault toilets were clean and the park rangers were approachable and helpful. Remember to keep your gear tucked away in the boxes, the foxes are very mischievous!
Justine B
VerifiedDecember 4, 2022 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: Lower Loop
Campground was great and very quite. Tons of foxes around, we also saw a few yellow jackets but not too bothering. The walk from the boat is pretty quick.
Christine S
VerifiedDecember 2, 2022 • Stayed at: 024, Loop: Upper Loop
It is as described. Water spigot and pit toilets are all that are provided for visitors. We stayed 2 nights and hiked around the Scorpion Bay areas with one trip on 2nd day to Smuggler’s Cove. All hikes have amazing and beautiful views. Smuggler’s Cove was especially beautiful. For people who want a little more adventure, a good itinerary might be to be dropped off at Scorpion, and then hike to Prisoner’s Bay (16 miles) and be picked up there (or visa versa). We stayed at upper loop #24 and it had beautiful views of the canyon.
Natalie A
VerifiedNovember 30, 2022 • Stayed at: 024, Loop: Upper Loop
Such an amazing experience on Santa Cruz Island! We got a lot of hiking done in our 3 days and 2 nights stay. The views at the top of the Montanan Ridge are epic. (Pack lots of water). The camp spots were very nice and spacious in the upper loop, the lower loop looked a bit crammed. The island foxes are adorable, however if you turn your back they will try and snatch anything they can. There are so many beautiful birds alone with the bald 🦅 which we got the pleasure of seeing. Wish we would have packed swimsuits because it was still very warm in the sun during our mid November trip. Also, the trip with Island Packers was amazing. We got to see several humpback whales 🐋 and 1000 + dolphins 🐬
We can’t wait to get back and visit the other islands!
10/10 recommend!
Jenny B
VerifiedNovember 30, 2022 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: Lower Loop
Santa Cruz Island was such a cool place and I would love to go back. Lots of birds, the foxes are almost always present, dolphins, sea lions and whales to see from the boat ride and/or the island overlooks, a good mix of easy and moderate trails taking you to pretty places.
We camped at the lower loop because we needed that accessibility - my 70 year old mom has some mobility issues. (She can walk ok but can’t hike carrying gear. And we flew to LA from CO so we didn’t have a cart.) She did fine getting from the pier to the campground. She was also able to do the Potato Harbor hike. For more privacy, book a site at the upper loop if you can lug your gear the mile on a gravel path/service road.
A note to new campers: When they say to “fox-proof” your stuff, they should also explain that the foxes like to pee on things on the ground (not just steal your stuff).
If I were to go back, I’d want to go when the temperature was warmer to make the water activities more desirable. We visited around Thanksgiving and it was too cold for us to want to try the snorkeling. However, there were plenty of people at the beach and trying out the water activities. Once the sun went down, it got quite chilly. Without the option for campfires, most people went to bed pretty early and the (full) campground was quiet by 8:00pm. On the flip-side, the November temps were great for the hiking.
Shanshan Z
VerifiedNovember 29, 2022 • Stayed at: D, Loop: Upper Loop
Group site is a bit far. About 1 mile walk. But you can see sky and lots of open space there.
Tessa M
VerifiedNovember 29, 2022 • Stayed at: C, Loop: Upper Loop
The rangers and visitor center are a wealth of knowledge about this precious 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.
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby destinations
Last updated: June 4, 2026
