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
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Site Details
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31 Sites Available
No available sites
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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
Kelli D
VerifiedMarch 10, 2023 • Stayed at: 011, Loop: Lower Loop
Beautiful place with very little "civilization" - perfect.
Aaron E
VerifiedMarch 7, 2023 • Stayed at: 014, Loop: Lower Loop
Great beautiful campsite, gets a little muddy after rain
Troy E
VerifiedFebruary 23, 2023 • Stayed at: 023, Loop: Upper Loop
Our group of 4 had an awesome 3 day 2 night trip to Santa Cruz Island where we stayed our first night at Del Norte and the second night at Scorpion Ranch. We took the 9am Island Packers ferry from Ventura and were able to step out on the Prisoners Harbor pier a little after 11am. The ferry makes a stop at Scorpion first and then we got lucky to watch a juvenile Grey Whale play in the water on the trip westward to Prisoners for about 20 minutes. Once at Prisoners we decided to drop our bags in a bear locker on the beach and take day packs to Pelican Bay. We would highly recommend the roughly 4 mile round trip hike as we scored a quiet, well maintained trail to an empty beach. This also gave us a later start time (roughly 2:30 pm) to start the trek up Navy Road and towards our first night's campground. We arrived at Del Norte and were surprised but happy to see that we were the only ones in the campground. We spread out across sites 3 and 4 for protection from high winds after enjoying an awesome sunset and dinner at site 1. Luckily, we had 5G service and were able to call the Island Packers status line early the next morning to get the update that all ferries for the day had been cancelled. We took our time getting out of Del Norte and made our way across a beautiful, but very windy trail over to Scorpion. We got to Scorpion Upper Campground early in the afternoon and rejoiced in the open campground, well maintained campsites, and water. We left the next day at 330pm from Scorpion and landed at Ventura a little after 440pm. IMHO the trails and facilities make this a great introductory backpack, but DO NOT undersell your contingency plans to spend an extra night or 2 on the Island due to ferry cancellation.
Yu Chen H
VerifiedFebruary 20, 2023 • Stayed at: 020, Loop: Lower Loop
Cell signal available on high ground and at the pier!
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.
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.
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Last updated: September 10, 2026
