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
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 (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
scott h
VerifiedJune 20, 2026 • Stayed at: C, Loop: Upper Loop
Don’t bring anything heavy they won’t allow you to transport with carts, and don’t offer the UTV they drive around for any help.
Kelly F
VerifiedJune 20, 2026 • Stayed at: A, Loop: Upper Loop
Beautiful island, rough welcome from the dock rangers.
We brought a group of about 60, twelve-year-old boys and their fathers from three congregations of our church, for a high-adventure trip, camping in the group sites at Scorpion. The camping itself was great. The reception was not.
The lead ranger met us at the dock with hostility instead of information. He was short and dismissive, and told us the real problem was that the park didn't want groups "like ours monopolizing the campsites." That was said in front of kids who had looked forward to this for months. You can enforce every rule on the books and still be decent to people. We weren't given that.
Fair warning to other group leaders: confirm the special-use-permit threshold for large parties (it's on the recreation.gov site pages), and check Island Packers' updated cart policy before you pack, since folding wagons are no longer allowed. We missed both and own that. It still didn't warrant being treated like we weren't wanted.
The island is worth the trip and the boys had a good few days. Just don't expect a warm hello at the dock.
Kitchener W
VerifiedJune 18, 2026 • Stayed at: 018, Loop: Lower Loop
The island is beautiful and rugged, campsites clean and shaded, Smuggler's Cove is a fantastic day hike, but the pit toilets are just nasty and almost ruin the entire experience for campers. I'm no stranger to pit toilets but these are just poorly maintained, smelly, flies everywhere, and don't seem to be washed down much. I saw a kid run out of one and yell to his parents "That was soooo scary, there was poo EVERYWHERE!". I totally understand the challenges in maintaining pit toilets on a remote island, but if the Channel Islands wants to stop being the least visited national park I'd suggest they improve the toilets first.
Nathan B
VerifiedJune 17, 2026 • Stayed at: 025, Loop: Upper Loop
We stayed 3 nights which I think is about the most I would want to do. We hiked all the trails within a day of the campground.
Chris G
VerifiedJune 16, 2026 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: Lower Loop
Campsite was well maintained to provide good shade, clean table, and clean food locker. Very convenient potable water and bathrooms. Short walk to beach as well as many local hiking trailheads. Wetsuit rental was great for snorkeling.
Mario L
VerifiedJune 15, 2026 • Stayed at: 006, Loop: Lower Loop
I really enjoyed my visit to Scorpion Campground on Santa Cruz Island. The island is beautiful, the campground location is great, and overall the experience was very positive. The ranger at the pier was also very informative and helpful, which made the arrival and orientation much easier. It’s a special place and I would definitely recommend it.
The only thing I think needs improvement is the cleanliness of the bathrooms and the food storage vaults. I completely understand that they are pit/vault toilets, and that part is not a problem. The issue is that they seemed like they had not been cleaned in quite a while. The food storage vaults also looked like they could use more regular cleaning and maintenance.
Other than that, everything was great. I really appreciated the natural beauty, the peaceful setting, and the overall experience at Scorpion.
Theresa N
VerifiedJune 13, 2026 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: Lower Loop
The camp and the trails are well maintained and very nice. My only complaint is the pit toilets. They are very horrible and do not seem to be emptied regularly. One of the bathrooms was covered in rollypollys along with many flies. As a female camping more than one day with these bathrooms is really tough. I wish there was at least one different type of restroom!
Bryan O
VerifiedJune 12, 2026 • Stayed at: 024, Loop: Upper Loop
Create campsites. More water spigots at the group campsite would be awesome!
Shraddha L
VerifiedMay 29, 2026 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: Lower Loop
This backpacking experience was unique and extraordinary. The campsites are large, well shaded and excellent for birding, especially to see the endemic island scrub jay. The campsites are 0.5 to 1 mile hikes from the pier, so be prepared to carry all your gear, and to pack everything in and out. The bathrooms are not the cleanest, to be expected for pit toilets however. They are well supplied with TP, seat covers and sanitizer, which helps. Overall, I would definitely recommend this campground as a way to experience the unique ecosystem of the Channel Islands
Kathy H
VerifiedMay 26, 2026 • Stayed at: 020, Loop: Lower Loop
👍
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.
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby destinations
Last updated: September 6, 2026
