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
Jomel S
VerifiedAugust 10, 2022 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: Lower Loop
Amazing rangers! Thank you Josh and Karen.
Winona R
VerifiedAugust 7, 2022 • Stayed at: 025, Loop: Upper Loop
Our trip was fantastic.
Scott B
VerifiedJuly 29, 2022 • Stayed at: 020, Loop: Lower Loop
Amazing Park and Campground! Fun hike to Smugglers Cove. Bring goggles for a light weight snorkeling experience on the shorelines. Really enjoyed the cave tours!!!
courtney j
VerifiedJuly 21, 2022 • Stayed at: 021, Loop: Lower Loop
Clean, basic campground. Nice shade. Had a blast.
Noah L
VerifiedJuly 21, 2022 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: Lower Loop
Well set up campground
Hailey L
VerifiedJuly 19, 2022 • Stayed at: 009, Loop: Lower Loop
I had an incredible time. Beautiful and varied scenery, lots to see in a small space. Loved that I got the nps app and downloaded offline info about the island before hand, read about it when not hiking. Loved hiking to smugglers cove to tide pool and swim, that beach is sandy and if you’re up for a strenuous hike it’s well worth checking out, I had a different experience there than the scorpion beach and the hike itself has lots of cool views! Loved it, lots to see, and very relaxing :)
Emily Z
VerifiedJuly 12, 2022 • Stayed at: 017, Loop: Lower Loop
We LOVE SCI! The island is very busy with daytrippers, though. It's not so bad, but they do like to walk right through your camp so they can take photos of the island foxes. They love to take pictures with picnic tables, camp chairs and tents in the background:)
The kayak guides who take the day trippers out onto the sea in kayaks have the right of way and they let you know it! Every day we were "in their way" apparently caves are one way and if you're swimming, you are second class👍
So the island is great, the Chumash people who inhabited the island for thousands of years, you can feel their presence, and the kayak guides are awesome, I bet, if you get a guided tour with them.
We love the rangers, they are great!
All in all, go to scorpion bay, stay for a few days, have a blast:)
Shreyas B
VerifiedJuly 12, 2022 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: Lower Loop
Easy water/toilet access. About a half mile from boat landing.
eliana s
VerifiedJune 28, 2022 • Stayed at: F, Loop: Upper Loop
Beautiful in every way. It felt like it was golden hour for the entirety of our stay. Having shade from the eucalyptus, gorgeous sunset views, and barren rolling hiking trails made this an unbeatable experience!
David N
VerifiedJune 26, 2022 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: Lower Loop
Santa Cruz Island was beautiful, and the campsites were a comfortable place from which to enjoy it. Fox boxes were good for food storage, sites had shade and shelter with the trees, and water and toilets close enough for convenience. The walk from the boat landing took a little time but was flat and not difficult. Highly recommended!
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 13, 2026
