Several locations on Santa Cruz Island offer good surfing. For kayak guide and outfitting services in other areas of Santa Cruz Island (excluding Scorpion area), visit the Visitor Services List. Kayaking from Prisoners Harbor is also very scenic.įor the authorized kayak guide and outfitting concession in the Scorpion Anchorage area on Santa Cruz Island visit: Channel Islands Adventure Company. ![]() Kayaking east towards Scorpion Rock or west towards Cavern Point provides great wildlife viewing and sea caves. Beach access is also available at Prisoners Harbor and by hiking over to Smugglers Cove, but the snorkeling is not as good at these locations. For snorkeling and diving, the easiest kelp beds to access are the ones near the pier and those to the eastern end of of the bay. However, there are no lifeguards on the island. The mixed sand and cobblestone Scorpion Beach is a world-class destination for swimming, diving, snorkeling, and kayaking because of easy beach access, clear ocean waters, nearby camping, year-round Island Packers boat transportation, extensive kelp forests, and a spectacular shoreline with sea caves to explore. This is currently the only backcountry campground on the island. Backcountry camping is available year round at the Del Norte campsite near Prisoners Harbor. This is the most family friendly campground on the islands. Distance from landing is a flat one-half mile. Water, picnic table, food storage box, and pit toilet are provided. ![]() Primitive camping is available at the Scorpion Canyon Campground (31 sites $15 per night per site reservations required). The boundary is the property line (marked by a fence line) between Prisoners Harbor and Valley Anchorage. ![]() While visitors may explore the national park property on Santa Cruz Island, no hiking is allowed beyond the national park boundary onto The Nature Conservancy property. These trails and roads range from the maintained, relatively flat, signed trails of Scorpion Valley to the unmaintained, rugged, mountainous paths of the Montañon area. Several trails and roads traverse eastern Santa Cruz Island, providing visitors with spectacular hiking opportunities. Hikes generally begin 30 minutes after the Island Packers boats arrive on the island. If they are not available to lead hikes, self-guided interpretive trail booklets are available. On days that the concessionaire boats run to Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoners Harbor, guided hikes may be offered by national park volunteers or concessionaire naturalists. The visitor center includes an orientation area that helps visitors plan a safe trip on the island and a variety of interactive exhibits that describe the island's tremendous biodiversity, rich cultural history, and current resource issues. There are no other visitor centers on the island. At Prisoners Harbor, tables are located near the beach.Ī visitor center is located in the historic Scorpion ranch house. However, there is no water at Prisoners Harbor so visitors must bring all their water with them.Īt Scorpion Anchorage, picnic tables are available at the beach and near the ranch area. There is water available at Scorpion Anchorage. ![]() Visitors must bring all their own food and supplies. T here are no other goods, services, or accommodations (lodging) available on the island. More.Ĭhannel Islands Adventure Company, the authorized kayak guide and outfitting concession in the Scorpion Anchorage area, operates guided sea kayak tours (there are NO kayak rentals on the island), limited convenience item sales (no food items), snorkel equipment rentals, and guided snorkel tours at Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island only. Trips are either to Scorpion Anchorage or Prisoners Harbor. Since there are no services on the islands, there are no remedies for poor planning once you have arrived. As with all the Channel Islands, visiting Santa Cruz Island is an exercise in preparation and self-reliance. This is the easiest island to get to, has the best weather, and offers the most recreational activities. Santa Cruz Island is the perfect place for a one-day trip and short or long overnight camping trips.
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