Visit Santa Cruz Island at Channel Islands National Park

By Kathryn Frazer

We have visited 43 of the 63 United States national parks, and so far Channel Islands National Park is the most unique experience we’ve had. With a scenic boat ride, coastal views, wildlife, camping, and many opportunities to escape the crowds, Channel Islands offers a remote, untouched, and peaceful national park adventure. We were fortunate to spend three days backpacking on Santa Cruz Island, and we’re so excited to share all we learned about visiting the Channel Islands, including the logistics and how we would recommend spending one to three days there.

About Channel Islands National Park

The Channel Islands are eight islands off the coast of Ventura in Southern California, and Channel Islands National Park consists of five of these islands – Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara.

For thousands of years, these islands were inhabited by native Chumash communities. In the nineteenth century, the islands became home to many sheep and cattle ranches before they were designated a national park on March 5, 1980. It is the least visited of California’s nine national parks, but it is more than worth the trek.

The islands have been referred to as the Galapagos of North America due to their biodiversity. Each island offers a different experience with endless coastal scenery and many wildlife, including 23 endemic animals.

How To Get There

Unless you have your own boat or plane, the only way to get to Channel Islands National Park is with Island Packers Cruises. Island Packers offers trips from Ventura to all the islands, depending on the time of year and conditions. You may get the chance to see some wildlife along the way – We saw dolphins and gray whales!

DID YOU KNOW?

● The park is the least visited of California’s nine national parks.

● The national park consists of five of the eight Channel Islands.

● It is home to 23 endemic animals, including the island fox.

When To Visit

Channel Islands National Park has mild temperatures and is a great place to visit any month of the year, but your experience will vary slightly with the seasons.

In the winter and spring, the islands are more green with tons of wildflowers. This is a great time to visit if you want to hike and see the island’s terrain at its most colorful. We visited in early March and it was perfect!

The summer and fall are the best times to snorkel, kayak, or dive, as the water is warmer and the visibility is deeper. However, the island is a bit more dry and much less colorful.

Regardless of when you visit, you’ll have plenty of wildlife opportunities with different whales migrating in the area, tons of birds, seals and sea lions, and the always-present island foxes.

Where To Stay

If you’re planning a day trip, the coastal city of Ventura – which is ninety minutes northwest of Los Angeles – will be your best option.

For those camping on the islands, each island offers at least one campground with Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa having multiple options. Each campground costs $15 per night and you must reserve campgrounds in advance before visiting.

During our visit to Santa Cruz Island, we camped at both the Del Norte Campground, which has four campsites and is accessed via a three and a half hike, as well as the Scorpion Canyon Campground, which has 25 sites, plus group sites, and is a short walk from the boat dock.

What To Know Before Visiting

● Entrance fee: There is no entrance fee to visit Channel Islands National Park. The only fee you’ll pay to visit the islands is to ride the boat.

● Boat Reservations: Be sure to reserve your spot on the boat in advance! The schedule is limited and they fill up.

● Dogs are not allowed: Dogs are not allowed on the Channel Islands. During our visit, we boarded our pup in Santa Barbara for a few days.

● Water: Some areas of the islands – including the Prisoners Harbor area of Santa Cruz Island – do not have access to potable water, so you will need to pack enough water with you.

● Foxes: Six of the Channel Islands (including Santa Cruz Island) are home to island foxes, which are descendents of gray foxes but one-third the size. They are absolutely adorable and harmless, and they will come up to your camp or your gear to try to get food. Please always store your food in the provided fox boxes at campsites and around the island.

How To Spend One To Three Days On Santa Cruz Island

Santa Cruz Island is the largest of the eight, and with daily cruises to and from the island, a variety of hiking and activity options and multiple camping experiences, we think it’s the perfect island to choose for your first visit.

The island has two different harbors to start your adventure. Scorpion Cove – which is the most popular and offers the most to do – or Prisoners Harbor – which is great for those who want to get off the beaten path or backpack.

We visited both areas of the island during our three days there and had the best time! We were both sad as we pulled away from the dock to head back to the mainland.

Here are ideas on how you can spend your time on Santa Cruz Island depending on how long you plan to stay.

One Day

Take the Island Packers boat from Ventura to Scorpion Cove, which will likely get you to the island by 10:00 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. Once on the island, you’ll have about five hours before heading back to the mainland, and there are a variety of ways you can fill this time.

Go Kayaking with Channel Islands Adventure Company

This kayaking outfitter is located right at Scorpion Cove and will take you out to explore sea caves and, during the summer months, to snorkel as well. These tours range from one to five hours, with most leaving time to explore the island.

Hike Around the Island

Scorpion Cove has a variety of trails to hike, including:

● Potato Harbor (five miles): This hike takes you to one of the best views on the island! Potato Harbor is a gorgeous cove with rocks jutting out of the ocean and clear, bright blue water. You can’t go down to the cove, but the view from above is incredible.

● Cavern Point Loop (two miles): This short hike will take you above Scorpion Cove, giving you amazing views of where you got off the boat before arriving at Cavern Point. You can admire the different cliffs along the shoreline here!

Note: This hike shares most of the trail with Potato Harbor

● Smugglers Cove (eight miles): This trail provides great views of Anacapa Island and takes you to a large, private beach. Since this hike is so long, it would need to be your only hike for the day to ensure you make it back to the boat in time.

Scorpion Ranch

See the History at Scorpion Ranch

After stepping off the boat, you will likely notice old ranching equipment and buildings. These are the remains of

Scorpion Ranch, which operated in the late 1800s. There are a handful of informative signs that are worth reading to provide insight into the history and buildings!

Two Days

Day One

Take the Island Packers boat from Ventura to Scorpion Cove and drop off your camping gear at one of the lockers near the dock as it will likely be too early to check into your campsite. Spend the afternoon going for one of the hikes listed above before heading back to the campsite and relaxing for the rest of the night.

Day Two

For your second day on the island, you’ll only have until mid to late-afternoon to explore before heading out. You could either go for more hikes or go for a kayaking tour!

THREE DAYS (our Itinerary)

Day One

Take the Island Packers boat from Ventura to Prisoners Harbor. Once on the island, enjoy a picnic lunch at one of the picnic tables near the beach.

Hike three and a half miles to the Del Norte Campground. For the best views, try to reserve site Number One! Spend the rest of the day at the campsite, which has nice ocean views.

Day Two

Get up early to hike across the island to the Scorpion Canyon campground, which is about 10 miles and takes the majority of the day. While difficult and long, this hike gives you great views of the island and we saw zero people the entire day on the trail.

Day Three

For your final day, you could kayak or complete one or two of the hikes listed above. We ended up hiking to Potato Harbor and Cavern Point.

Regardless of how much time you spend on Santa Cruz Island, you’ll experience the island’s beauty and have a memorable national park experience that is unlike any other in the United States! ■

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