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
Nicholas K
VerifiedFebruary 1, 2022 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: Lower Loop
Easy walk to the scorpion campsite, probably about 1/3rd of a mile. The toilets are better than expected. Hole in the ground yes, but clean, with good toilet paper and well-filled hand sanitizer. The island itself is a beautiful walkers playground and a new beautiful view at every turn. You do have to hike in and hike out your trash(no trash cans anywhere) but its well worth it. No mountain lions or bear so it would be potentially a good place to do some light non-car camping with children. There are few people around and I found it very comfortable to just leave my stuff at the campsite and take a day pack and hike around the island.
Alicia K
VerifiedJanuary 26, 2022 • Stayed at: 020, Loop: Lower Loop
The campground is a short walk away from where the ferry drops you off. Each site has a "fox" box and a picnic table. There is a lot of tree and wind coverage as the site is in a valley. Great campground :)
Harrison F
VerifiedJanuary 25, 2022 • Stayed at: 014, Loop: Lower Loop
Very cool experience
Katherine S
VerifiedJanuary 24, 2022 • Stayed at: 008, Loop: Lower Loop
Love this campground. Very quiet minus the foxes fighting at night. But it’s part of the experience. I suggest bringing plenty of lights for night time as it gets very dark.
Ramesh N
VerifiedJanuary 18, 2022 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: Lower Loop
Wonderful campground and facilities. Very clean restrooms and there is potable water in the campground near camp site #5. Awesome island and has a lot of trails.
Thomas H
VerifiedJanuary 16, 2022 • Stayed at: 013, Loop: Lower Loop
I was not able to go on this scheduled trip because of the illness of my father whom I had to take care of. I tried repeatedly to reschedule my January 7th and 8th night stays at scorpion but was not able to succeed. It was very frustrating you had a malfunctioning website that did not allow me to change my reservation. Nor were you accessible by phone.
aaron h
VerifiedJanuary 16, 2022 • Stayed at: 024, Loop: Upper Loop
The island is amazing and peaceful
Kimberly G
VerifiedJanuary 13, 2022 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: Lower Loop
Unbelievable experience. Perfect weather, very few people. Absolutely gorgeous. Campsite had everything I needed. Restrooms were clean. Hiking was a great adventure!
Jennifer S
VerifiedJanuary 12, 2022 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: Lower Loop
We loved our visit and are looking forward to returning in the future. Our favorite was the night hikes to the lookouts so we could enjoy and take in the amazing views of the night sky. We loved our day hikes and time kayaking in ocean checking out the sea caves. There is rentals on the island for tours or you can rent on mainland and explore on your own. I highly recommend at least 2 nights if not more to camp on the island.
Cindy B
VerifiedJanuary 11, 2022 • Stayed at: 010, Loop: Lower Loop
Really fun place to stay -- nicely spaced but you still feel like you're in a little community!
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 3, 2026
