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
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
Victor W
VerifiedJune 13, 2022 • Stayed at: E, Loop: Upper Loop
Great time at Scorpion campground, clean bathrooms considering that they don't have flushable water. Excellent rangers/attendants, love chatting with Sam and Karen; they gave some pointers where to go and were always very helpful and super-nice.
Places we visited and recommend:
Sunset at Potato Harbor, Smugglers cove and of course, kayaking to the caves.
Christian Y
VerifiedJune 9, 2022 • Stayed at: 003, Loop: Lower Loop
So clean and cozy
Samuel B
VerifiedJune 7, 2022 • Stayed at: 006, Loop: Lower Loop
Nice campground! Good (pit) toilets, water, and nice trails nearby. We hiked from Prisoner's Harbor to Scorpions and the trip was spectacular.
Mark I
VerifiedJune 4, 2022 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: Lower Loop
Great trip. Lack of privacy in the campground, though.
john m
VerifiedMay 27, 2022 • Stayed at: 010, Loop: Lower Loop
Large tent sites, plenty of space. Bathrooms kept clean. Quiet.
maddie g
VerifiedMay 22, 2022 • Stayed at: 006, Loop: Lower Loop
Scorpion Campground was amazing! just a quick half mile from the harbor and bathrooms on both ends. There is a potable water pump, and the campgrounds are a good size with picnic tables and fox boxes. I very highly recommend! We had a great time.
Edwin T
VerifiedMay 21, 2022 • Stayed at: 003, Loop: Lower Loop
We brought a high profile tent but it was great even it was little windy. Plenty shade and protection from wind. We loved this site, near the water/not too far from toilet but not too close to it.
It was very handy to bring the foldable cart with us.
We did hiking, kayaking, viewing the beautiful sunset and magnificent full moon. Cute Island foxes everywhere. Park rangers are very friendly and helpful.
Superb holiday!
BTW, we stayed in April but we got bitten by mosquitos...
Julia D
VerifiedMay 21, 2022 • Stayed at: 023, Loop: Upper Loop
We stayed at scorpion for 2 nights in Site 11, lower campground. Would highly recommend upper campground. More private and greener. Surprised it was so brown for early May. Great hikes but you definitely don’t need more than 2 days. Wish we’d gone to other islands but transport between island is my only complaint! Not often enough. Take water on hikes as it’s plentiful at Scorpion….and then double that! Fabulous ride over and back.
John W
VerifiedMay 18, 2022 • Stayed at: 016, Loop: Lower Loop
Great campsites - plenty of space between sites. Smooth areas for tents, good picnic tables at sites, and good pit-toilets. Potable water was easy to access in campground and tasted fairly decent with no treatment. The curious island foxes and birds are no joke - button down your gear! Looking forward to returning.
Anastasia P
VerifiedMay 9, 2022 • Stayed at: 021, Loop: Lower Loop
Clean, excellently maintained site. Wonderful hikes. Loved the experience and booked another trip to Santa Cruz.
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
