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
Yu-hsuan S
VerifiedMarch 22, 2022 • Stayed at: 008, Loop: Lower Loop
Enjoy the stay. The camp ground is clean. Foxes are cute :)
Luciane D
VerifiedMarch 21, 2022 • Stayed at: 011, Loop: Lower Loop
Absolutely breathtaking experience; be sure to prepare for lots of sun and lots of wind. Highly recommend!
Lauren H
VerifiedMarch 19, 2022 • Stayed at: 008, Loop: Lower Loop
I had an excellent time at Channel Islands national park. The Park Ranger gave everyone an informative orientation as we departed the boat. The trails are well maintained and the sights are gorgeous!
Jacob C
VerifiedMarch 12, 2022 • Stayed at: 008, Loop: Lower Loop
This is an incredible area! We went right as a big windstorm was coming so we were glad to have a strong tent and extra food since we got stuck out for an extra day. All of the hikes from scorpion anchorage are worth doing, especially scorpion canyon and smugglers cove. The beach at smugglers is the better beach for sure.
Jonathan G
VerifiedMarch 8, 2022 • Stayed at: 016, Loop: Lower Loop
The campsite was nice, the water tasted perfectly fine, and there were hikes of various skill levels and lengths. China pines was worth the distance and a beautiful variation from the rest of the island. Great views from Montañan ridge. Smugglers cove was peaceful and a great picnic spot with tables and a bathroom.
The bathrooms are pretty luxurious for camping in my opinion - they are stocked with toilet paper and hand sanitizer and have locking doors.
The adorable foxes on Santa Cruz are quite sneaky and when the ranger tells you that they will get anything you leave unattended they mean it! I saw a number of people think that "just a minute" was ok and they came back to a fox trying to make off with their trash or food. So take the fox protection boxes seriously and you won't have any disappearing items!
Meghan O
VerifiedMarch 8, 2022 • Stayed at: 025, Loop: Upper Loop
Gorgeous sites with large canopy cover. Composting toilets were very well maintained. Trails are easy to navigate and water is available at both upper and lower campground.
Foxes and ravens are persistent!
daniel c
VerifiedMarch 1, 2022 • Stayed at: 016, Loop: Lower Loop
Small campground and very quiet. Close to the beach and anchorage. Nice clean flush toilets. Great hikes and views. Highly recommend bringing or renting a kayak and snorkel. There are so many cool sea caves to explore. Can't wait to come back!
Perry S
VerifiedMarch 1, 2022 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: Lower Loop
All info on the site was accurate. Had a great trip
Paola B
VerifiedFebruary 28, 2022 • Stayed at: B, Loop: Upper Loop
Great place to visit. Potable water was a plus. Enjoyed the slide show :)
Philip M
VerifiedFebruary 27, 2022 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: Lower Loop
Superb scenery! The camp is very convenient to the ferry landing and facilities are good.
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 3, 2026
