About Santa Cruz Scorpion
Number of accommodations: 31
Campground Amenities
-
Beach Access -
Potable Water
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Open year round
This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.
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 (561)
What Guests Are Saying
The Santa Cruz Scorpion campground is highly praised for its beauty, tranquility, and the abundance of wildlife, particularly island foxes. Campers appreciate the well-maintained facilities, easy access to hiking trails, and the support from friendly park rangers. However, visitors noted some challenges with campsite congestion and occasional bathroom cleanliness issues, but overall, the experience is described as unforgettable and worth recommending.
What Guests Are Saying
The Santa Cruz Scorpion campground is highly praised for its beauty, tranquility, and the abundance of wildlife, particularly island foxes. Campers appreciate the well-maintained facilities, easy access to hiking trails, and the support from friendly park rangers. However, visitors noted some challenges with campsite congestion and occasional bathroom cleanliness issues, but overall, the experience is described as unforgettable and worth recommending.
Review Summary
sarah y
VerifiedAugust 12, 2025 • Stayed at: 011, Loop: Lower Loop
Deeply wonderful. We had two 5 year olds, a 9 year old, two 16 year olds, and four 40-somethings, and everyone was happy between hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, and just wandering around exploring. It's so lovely to feel safe to let even the little kids wander on their own near the campgrounds and visitor's center. Having pit toilets and potable water both easily accessed made everything super relaxed. Rangers and volunteer guides were friendly and helpful.
Beau D
VerifiedAugust 5, 2025 • Stayed at: A, Loop: Upper Loop
The campground was well maintained with daily visits from park staff. For being a pit toilet it was clean and the smell was well maintained. It was nice that water was close and that campers were given a briefing before being able to go to the campground. I feel this aided in the campers following the rules.
Tony D
VerifiedAugust 5, 2025 • Stayed at: D, Loop: Upper Loop
No showers, good enough pit toilets, no campers on wheels would have been so peaceful without the noise of the neighbors (not the parks fault) the sites are big enough.
Franklin M
VerifiedAugust 4, 2025 • Stayed at: B, Loop: Upper Loop
It is difficult to get your stuff from the boat to the camp spot. That should be focused on when packing. Make sure to zip your tent to the top to avoid the foxes getting in your tent. They are relentless. No fires. Some of the tables are not level at all so plan on trying to level your stove since that's all you can cook on. I was a little disappointed on how there seem to be not much care at all for the tables being level. Otherwise, the island is AMAZING!
Jacob B
VerifiedAugust 4, 2025 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: Lower Loop
Incredible.
Camryn F
VerifiedJuly 29, 2025 • Stayed at: 018, Loop: Lower Loop
Great campsite perfect for one larger tent (4-person) and one smaller tent (2-person), some shade from the hills and trees, close to the bathroom, but not too close to get any sort of smell. Bathrooms were decently clean for vault toilets, lots of flies. There's little privacy in the campground, given it is just a sparse eucalyptus grove. If I come again, I will try for site #11 or #14, they were the most private. Got pretty windy at night, I was glad I brought my fleece (even in July!), and the island foxes and ravens are no joke, be very careful with food storage (each site has a "fox box"). Short hike uphill for stunning sunset views.
Julio D
VerifiedJuly 26, 2025 • Stayed at: 021, Loop: Lower Loop
Great outdoor experience
Gregory F
VerifiedJuly 25, 2025 • Stayed at: 020, Loop: Lower Loop
Great location and beautiful island!
Noah Z
VerifiedJuly 24, 2025 • Stayed at: 023, Loop: Upper Loop
Fantastic! Although a bit further to walk, highly recommend upper campground. #23 is pretty secluded, and all these at the end of the campground have a beautiful unobstructed view up the valley into the mountains. There's NPS-reserved site in between 23 & 24 that's not on the map, which creates separation or, if you have both 23 & 24, a huge joint space (it was unused when we were there). 24 & 25 are pretty close to one another but otherwise secluded and so would make a great pair. Highly recommend kayaking despite the price. If you can manage the extra distance (steadily but not severely uphill), getting to the Montanon Ridge off the Scorpion Loop was spectacular.
Todd L
VerifiedJuly 22, 2025 • Stayed at: 014, Loop: Lower Loop
A truly unique and wonderful experience. Stand at the front of the boat on the way over, you will likely see dolphins. Bring warm layers (even in summer), because the wind will be be omnipresent. Other tips: fly a kite on the beach, plan to hike as many trails as possible, rent a kayak cave tour, watch the sunset from Cavern Point (arrive early to see the entire light show), and bring a wetsuit for snorkeling. We limited ourselves to only what would fit into our backpacks, but a cart with extra luxuries or food on ice is perfectly acceptable (just stay within your weight limits).
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.
Latitude & Longitude: 34.0482 / -119.562
Elevation: 7 feet
Policies & Rules
| Category | About |
|---|---|
| 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. |
| General |
Camping reservations are required prior to arriving on the island. There are NO walk-ups at this facility. |
| General |
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. |
| General |
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. |
| General |
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. |
| General |
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. |
| General |
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. |
| General |
1/2 mile to 1 mile hike to campground. Visitors must carry all their own gear. |
| General |
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. |
| General |
Quiet time is enforced at 10:00 pm. Check-in and check-out times are at 11:00 a.m. |
| General |
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. |
| General |
Visitors are required to pack out what they pack in, including garbage. |
| General |
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. |
| General |
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. |
| General |
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. |
| General |
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. |
| General |
No fishing in marine reserves. California fishing license and ocean enhancement sticker required to fish outside marine reserves. |
| General |
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. |
